Do Multivitamins Work? The Surprising Truth
Written by Hrefna Palsdottir, MS on July 18, 2019
Multivitamins are the most commonly used supplements in the world.
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Their popularity has increased rapidly in the past few decades (1, 2).
Some people believe that multivitamins can improve health, compensate for poor eating habits, and even reduce your risk of chronic diseases.
However, you may wonder if these supposed benefits are true.
This article examines the scientific evidence behind multivitamins.
What are multivitamins?
Multivitamins are supplements that contain many different vitamins and minerals, sometimes alongside other ingredients (3).
As there’s no standard for what constitutes a multivitamin, their nutrient composition varies by brand and product.
Multivitamins are also called multiminerals, multis, multiples, or simply vitamins.
They’re available in many forms, including tablets, capsules, chewable gummies, powders, and liquids.
Most multivitamins should be taken once or twice a day. Make sure to read the label and follow the recommended dosage instructions.
Multivitamins are available in pharmacies, large discount stores, and supermarkets, as well as online.
SUMMARY
Multivitamins are supplements that contain many different vitamins and minerals. They’re available in various forms.
What do multivitamins contain?
Thirteen vitamins and at least 16 minerals are essential to your health.
Many of them aid enzyme reactions in your body or function as signaling molecules or structural elements.
Your body also needs these nutrients for reproduction, maintenance, growth, and regulation of bodily processes.
Multivitamins may offer many of these vitamins and minerals — but in varying forms and amounts. They may also contain other ingredients like herbs, amino acids, and fatty acids.
Because dietary supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), multivitamins may contain higher or lower levels of some nutrients than the label states (4).
In some cases, they may not even provide all of the listed nutrients. The supplement industry is notorious for fraud, so it’s important to purchase your vitamins from a reputable manufacturer.
Keep in mind that the nutrients in multivitamins may be derived from real foods or created synthetically in laboratories.
SUMMARY
Multivitamins may contain herbs, amino acids, and fatty acids in addition to vitamins and minerals — though the amount and number of nutrients can vary. It’s important to note that label fraud is common.
Multivitamins and heart disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide (5).
Many people believe that taking multivitamins can help prevent heart disease, but the evidence is mixed.
Some studies suggest that multivitamins are correlated to a reduced risk of heart attacks and death, while others show no effects (6, 7, 8, 9).
For more than a decade, the Physicians’ Health Study II investigated the effects of daily multivitamin use in over 14,000 middle-aged, male doctors.
It found no reductions in heart attacks, strokes, or mortality (10).
A more recent study revealed that among women — but not men — taking a multivitamin for at least 3 years was linked to a 35% lower risk of dying from heart disease (11).
SUMMARY
Several observational studies indicate that people who take multivitamins have a lower risk of heart disease. However, several others have found no connection. Overall, the evidence is mixed.
Multivitamins and cancer
The evidence regarding multivitamin use and cancer risk is also mixed.
Some studies suggest no effect on cancer risk, while others link multivitamin use to increased cancer risk (6, 8, 12, 13).
One review examined 5 randomized, controlled trials in 47,289 people. It found a 31% lower risk of cancer in men who took multivitamins but no effect in women (14).
Two observational studies, one including women and the other including men, tied long-term multivitamin use to a reduced risk of colon cancer (15, 16).
The Physicians’ Health Study II noted that long-term, daily multivitamin use reduced the risk of cancer in men with no cancer history. Still, it had no effect on the risk of death during the study period (17).
SUMMARY
Some studies link multivitamin use to a reduced risk of cancer, while others find no benefit — and some even assert an increased risk.
Do multivitamins have any other health benefits?
Multivitamins have been studied for several other purposes, including brain function and eye health.
Brain function
Several studies have found that multivitamins can improve memory in older adults (18, 19, 20).
