Are you one of the many who has a pot of  vitamins by the kettle or in the bathroom that you vow to take every day — but  don’t? There may be no need to feel guilty after all.

Ten million of us take vitamins regularly — whether for general health or specific conditions. And we spend a whopping £175 million a year on supplements and pills which contain antioxidants that are  claimed to help combat disease.

But despite all the promises, the pros and  cons of vitamins and supplements are still very debatable — and studies show  that some can be bad for your health.