Vitamin takers more likely to get flu?

People who pop vitamin supplements regularly appear to be slightly more likely to catch the flu than those who don’t, according to a Dutch study.

30,000 Dutch and Belgians were surveyed over two years, and asked to fill in a questionnaire on their health, lifestyle and food. Vitamin users were found to have a slightly higher incidence of flu. However, the researchers speculate this result might be because people with unhealthy lifestyles tend to use supplements to counter their bad habits, like smoking.

Stress was also associated with an increased susceptibility to the flu: people who were stressed-out were a third more likely to come down with a fever than more relaxed people. The study is ongoing and now heads into its third year.

Source: nutraingredients, January 2006