News Health & Medicine

Vitamin D supplements don’t prevent heart disease or cancer

In the largest clinical trial yet, taking a supplement or a placebo made little difference

bottle of vitamin D

D DUD?  A large clinical trial investigated whether taking a daily vitamin D supplement could help prevent heart problems and cancer.

Mark Lennihan/AP Photo

By Marcia Frellick

- More than 2 years ago

CHICAGO — Taking a vitamin D supplement does not reduce the risk of having a potentially fatal heart attack or stroke or for getting an invasive cancer, according to highly anticipated results of a large clinical trial.