13 Feb 2023
Are there any benefits to multivitamins?
What are multivitamins?
Multivitamins are among the most commonly used supplements in the world. Unlike many other types, they combine a selection of different nutrients into one tablet or capsule. This includes vitamins such as A, C and D, as well as minerals like iron, zinc, calcium, and magnesium. As such, they’re popular with people who want to boost their overall health, rather than counter a specific deficiency.
There’s no strict rule about exactly which nutrients multivitamins must contain, or how much of them. This means they tend to vary by brand and product. Some are marketed at specific groups, for example multivitamins for women or multivitamins for vegans. Others simply target anyone who wants to enhance their wellbeing.
Multivitamins often claim to provide a broad array of benefits. These range from reducing fatigue and improving your skin to boosting the immune system and building healthy bones. But is there any truth to these assertions?
Unfortunately, as we’ll discuss below, the evidence is somewhat mixed. One thing we can say for certain is multivitamins are not a substitute for eating a healthy and balanced diet. Handy though it would be, we cannot get all the nutrients we require by just taking multivitamins every day. They cannot fully compensate for a poor diet or unhealthy lifestyle.
So, does that mean there are no health benefits of multivitamins whatsoever? Not necessarily. Let’s take a closer look.
What are the benefits of taking multivitamins?
So, are multivitamins good for you? And if they are, in what way can they improve our health? Well, at this stage, the jury is still out on a lot of the potential benefits of multivitamins.
Studies indicate that multivitamins can be helpful for ensuring that people meet their nutritional needs when it’s not possible for them to get vitamins and minerals through their diet. However, for those able to obtain the necessary nutrients from food, multivitamins don’t appear to confer any additional advantages.(1)
To explore this further, we’re going to focus on four of the principal benefits people hope to get from multivitamins. We’ll examine whether the evidence suggests multivitamins can protect against heart disease, cancer, vision loss, or mental decline. We also discuss some more effective methods to achieve these goals.
Do multivitamins work to prevent heart disease?
Heart disease encompasses a wide range of cardiovascular conditions, and is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Therefore, it’s understandable to want to do what you can to protect the health of your heart. However, the evidence is mixed as to whether multivitamins are able to help with this.
For example, one of the most comprehensive studies into the benefits of taking multivitamins is the Physicians’ Health Study II. This revealed that the supplements offered men no protection against heart attacks, strokes, or death from cardiovascular disease.(2) However, another reputable study found that women who had taken multivitamins for over three years had a reduced risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.(3) Further research is necessary to clarify whether this is one of the genuine benefits of multivitamins for women or not.
There are often difficulties ascertaining exactly what advantages multivitamins confer. For instance, this could be because people who use supplements also take other actions to boost their health. Conversely, they may only begin taking multivitamins because they have noticed a decline in their wellbeing.
Do multivitamins work to prevent cancer?
When it comes to cancer, the evidence regarding the benefits of multivitamins is even murkier. Several studies have found that taking multivitamins has no effect on the risk of developing different types of cancer.(4)
More worryingly, other research indicates that they could actually raise the risk of some people developing certain forms of cancer.(5) For example, evidence suggests that multivitamins might increase cancer mortality for male smokers. On the other hand, results from the Physicians’ Health Study II show that multivitamins may lower men’s overall cancer risk.(6)
Overall, there is no clear-cut proof that multivitamins can work to stave off cancer. Moreover, there’s also a chance that taking them could be risky for some people. Conversely, the evidence supporting lifestyle changes like doing exercise and eating healthily as ways to reduce your likelihood of getting cancer is far stronger.
Do multivitamins work to boost eye health?
Researchers have found a modest amount of evidence to suggest that multivitamins could help support our vision and eye health.
For instance, studies indicate that one of the benefits of taking multivitamins is they reduce your chances of developing cataracts.(7) Likewise, they may additionally defend against age-related macular degeneration.
Both of these are common eye diseases that can lead to blindness, suggesting that multivitamins could help protect our vision. However, as with the other health conditions discussed, further research is required to clarify these results.
For more natural ways to care for your peepers, consider tucking into foods rich in vision-friendly nutrients. Leafy greens are a great source of lutein and zeaxanthin, while carrots and sea buckthorn berries are bursting with beta-carotene. These all help to keep your eyes healthy.
Do multivitamins work to protect your brain and prevent mental decline?
Most of us are just as concerned about our cognitive health as we are about our physical health. So, is improved brain health one of the benefits of multivitamins? As you’ve probably already guessed, the answer is still being debated.
There are studies which suggest multivitamins could help enhance memory in older people who are at risk of cognitive decline.(8) Research additionally indicates they could reduce anxiety and perceived stress in healthy young people.(9) This is important because both stress and anxiety can damage the brain and impair cognition function.
Yet other studies – including the Physicians’ Health Study II – have found no evidence that multivitamins protect against cognitive decline. Therefore, it’s difficult to say conclusively whether taking them to heighten your brain functions is worth the money.
A more effective technique is to concentrate on including delicious brain-friendly foods such as berries and nuts in your diet. For example, add a drizzle of walnut oil to your favourite meals to improve your memory and boost cognitive performance.(10)
