Various vitamin and mineral supplements are observed to increase mortality risk in older women, with the exception of calcium, which decreases risk
- Department of Nursing, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, USA
- Correspondence to Neva L Crogan
Department of Nursing, Gonzaga University, E. 503 Boone Ave., Spokane, WA 99258, USA; Crogan{at}gonzaga.edu
Implications for practice and research
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■ Antioxidant use could be harmful to older women.
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■ Calcium use is associated with lower mortality risk in older women.
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■ Dietary supplements should be used to treat symptomatic nutrient deficiency disease.
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■ Further research is needed to explore the relationship between dietary supplement use and mortality risks.
Context
Within the context of the Iowa Women's Health Study, Mursu et al assessed the relationship between dietary supplement use and total mortality risk among a large, population-based sample of older women. Previously, antioxidant use …
