Are Multivitamins Really Good for Your Health?



For decades, research has shown that many vitamins do not do any good, if any, prevent chronic diseases. But a third of American adults go out one every day, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). If you still wonder if you need a multi, here are the experts who want to know.


What Are Multivitamins Really?

The word "multivitamin" has a misnomer, especially since these ingredients often contain more than just vitamins. "Manufacturers may combine a combination of vitamins and minerals, but they may also add other ingredients, such as herbs, antioxidants, and amino acids," says Sonya Angelone, RDN, a nutritionist in the San Francisco Bay area. "Depending on the product, the formulas can vary greatly and are usually tailored to a particular group based on age, gender, or health status."


Although diversity has existed since the 1940s, according to previous research there is still no general definition of nutrients. That is surprising as it is considered a popular dietary supplement in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).


What Are the Common Nutrients in Multivitamins?

In a complete world, multivitamin can deliver all the vitamins and minerals you need to stay strong and healthy at the right amounts. In fact, that is not always the case, and the growing number of multis exceeds the daily dose (DV; recommended amount of nutrients consumed by most people per day) in many vitamins and minerals. Why?


“There is a lot of competition in the supplement market, and adding a large amount of nutrients looks like a‘ good pleasure ’to the consumer,” said Lisa Young, PhD, RDN, a New York City nutritionist and author of the book Ultimate Full. , Finally Slim. "However, that could be a problem, as most of the nutrients in the supplement form could not be improved."


Take fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E, and K, for example. Because we store these nutrients in our fatty tissue, excess amounts can accumulate to the point of being dangerous, according to Mount Sinai. Too certain minerals, such as iron, can also be harmful and can interfere with the absorption of other nutrients, according to the NIH.


While the composition varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, most commonly, for example One A Day by Bayer, contains the following nutrients:


  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin E
  • Vitamin K
  • Thiamin
  • Riboflavin
  • Niacin
  • Vitamin B6
  • Folate
  • Vitamin B12
  • Biotin
  • Pantothenic acid
  • Calcium
  • Phosphorus
  • Iodine
  • Magnesium
  • Zinc
  • Selenium
  • Copper
  • Manganese
  • Chromium
  • Molybdenum

In addition, some female formulas contain iron. Just know that when you take gummies the list can be very short. This is because some nutrients, especially iron, have a sweet-smelling aroma that can make gums more popular, reports ConsumerLab, an independent nutritional testing company.


What Are the Benefits of Multivitamins?

If you do not eat well all the time, bulk can be a useful way to fill the gaps in nutrients, says the CDC. Real nutrient deficiencies are rare in the United States, and less than 10 percent of Americans are affected, according to data collected between 2003 and 2006 by the CDC. For the most part, these deficiencies are limited to four nutrients: vitamin B6, vitamin D, iron, and - to a lesser extent - vitamin C. In addition, there is no supplement such as a package of nutritional supplements that can provide, says Drs. The little ones. After all, food not only provides vitamins and minerals; it also delivers protein, carbohydrates, fats, and fiber.


Although many decades of study in multivitamin studies have concluded that taking one will not be immune to chronic diseases, the NIH recognizes that most of those studies are not high-quality. More often than not, this research organization relies on people’s reports of their diet for a relatively short period of time. That is less likely to be reliable or effective as studies where researchers give a person a daily dose and follow it for decades to see if they have a heart attack or cancer.


So apart from solid research, here is what we now know about the effect of multivitamins on various conditions.


Cancer The largest and longest trial of multivitamins, known as Physician Health Study, looked at multivitamin use among 14,000 American male physicians aged 50 or older. The results showed a modest decrease in total cancer incidence in men taking multivitamin compared to those who did not, but the group also had lower normal BMI and incidence of smoking than the general population. "Some studies have supported these claims, while others have not shown the same effect, so we do not know for sure," said Alexander Michels, PhD, research coordinator and communications officer at Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University.


Heart Disease When it comes to cardiovascular health, Medical Doctors had no less hope. After following 13,316 male physicians for an average of 11 years, it is concluded that most people do not offer protection against heart attack, stroke, or death due to heart disease.


Brain health "Like cancer, the evidence here is mixed," says Drs. Michels. "One [major] recent multivitamin clinical trial, called the COSMOS study, reported a decrease in dementia, but the Physicians Health Study did not report a similar effect."


Orthopedic Health Although the findings are mixed, Michels is still a fan of taking a multivitamin to get strong bones. “Bone health is more than just vitamin D and calcium,” he explains. "Healthy bones need a lot of different minerals and vitamins - most of which are supplied with a multivitamin supplement."