Is routine multivitamin supplementation necessary in US chronic adult hemodialysis patients? A systematic review.

Abstract

Because of concern that United States (US) chronic hemodialysis patients are at high risk for the development of vitamin deficiencies, the great majority of such patients are routinely supplemented with a multivitamin. This policy is supported by major US dialysis providers and nonprofit organizations. Yet routine multivitamin supplementation expands hemodialysis patients' already large pill burden, probably accounts for many millions of dollars in annual costs, and in light of previous reports may even carry with it the possibility of increased risk of adverse outcomes. An analysis of the benefits of routine multivitamin supplementation in US patients is therefore in order. We performed a systematic review of the medical literature between 1970 and 2014 using the Ovid MEDLINE database to address this question. We conclude that there is insufficient evidence to support routine multivitamin use and recommend that the decision to supplement be made on an individual basis.

• Authors: Bryan M Tucker, Sami Safadi, Allon N Friedman
• Journal: Journal of renal nutrition : the official journal of the Council on Renal Nutrition of the National Kidney Foundation (J Ren Nutr) Vol. 25 Issue 3 Pg. 257-64 (May 2015) ISSN: 1532-8503 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25446839 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review, Systematic Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2015 National Kidney Foundation, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Vitamins

Topics

• Adult
• Avitaminosis (prevention & control)
• Dietary Supplements (adverse effects)
• Drug Costs
• Humans
• Nutritional Requirements
• Renal Dialysis
• Renal Insufficiency, Chronic (therapy)
• United States
• Vitamins (administration & dosage, adverse effects, economics)