It can be confusing. On the one hand, we're told that vitamins and minerals are a waste of time, maybe even hazardous to our health. Yet, on the other hand, doctors use vitamins and minerals to treat critically ill patients and get good results. And some of these doctors are writing in medical journals about their success with vitamins and minerals.
Dr. Jeffrey Dach offers selenium as an illustration. A few years ago, some doctors discovered that critically ill patients given selenium improved more than patients who did not. Other doctors gave a combination of selenium and other anti-oxidants to their critically ill patients as well and found great improvement.
"What happens when there is depletion of selenoproteins and oxidative byproducts build up in the body? This is what happens in severe illness, and the body's defenses may be overwhelmed leading to catastrophic outcomes. Replenishing selenium and other anti-oxidants in this setting makes sense, and is in fact extremely beneficial."
I was told once if someone has you confused, stop focusing on what they say and start heeding what they do. By this method, it becomes clear that some doctors are endorsing vitamins in a big way.
http://www.healthiertalk.com/selenium-your-vitamins-are-killing-you-1852