In recent decades, they have skyrocketed in popularity.
Multivitamins have been touted by its proponents as a way to prevent illness, boost immunity, and even make up for unhealthy diets.
Here we take a look at the research that supports the use of multivitamins.
Multivitamins are dietary supplements that typically include a wide variety of vitamins and minerals.
Since there is no agreed-upon definition of a multivitamin, the nutritional make-up of different brands and products might vary widely.
Vitamins, multiples, or multis are all names for multivitamins.
Tablets, capsules, chewable candies, powders, and liquids are just some of the forms they come in.
Multivitamins are typically taken twice day. Please read the label carefully and take the medication exactly as directed.
You can buy a multivitamin at any drugstore, supermarket, or big-box retailer, as well as online.
Multivitamins are dietary supplements that provide a wide range of nutrients. Multiple formats are readily accessible.
The contents of a multivitamin.
There are 13 vitamins and roughly 15 minerals that your body cannot function without.
- To name just a few of their many benefits, many of these molecules create enzymes and hormones, strengthen your immune system, and maintain healthy neurons and organs.
- These nutrients are also essential for reproduction, maintenance, development, and the control of other biological functions.
- Numerous of these nutrients could be found in multivitamins, but often in insufficient quantities. Herbs, amino acids, and fatty acids are examples of possible additional components.
- Since the FDA does not carefully control dietary supplements like it does with prescription pharmaceuticals, certain supplements may include different amounts of nutrients than what is listed on the label.
- It’s also important to discuss any new supplements with your doctor before beginning them in case their contents clash with any drugs you’re already taking.
- It is also important to get vitamins from a trustworthy company since the ingredients in multivitamins may come from actual sources or be created synthetically.
- Herbs, amino acids, and fatty acids are sometimes included in multivitamins along with the vitamins and minerals that are expected.
- Taking many vitamins and reducing your risk of heart disease
- Among the biggest causes of death across the globe is heart disease.
- Some people think that multivitamins may help stave against heart disease, but there isn’t enough evidence to back this up.
Some research has linked multivitamin use to a lower risk of heart disease and mortality; other research has shown no such link.
Over 14,000 middle-aged male physicians participated in the Physicians’ Health Study II, which examined the effects of daily multivitamin usage for over a decade. The study concluded that multivitamin use was not associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, or death.
However, a more recent research found that multivitamin use for more than three years was associated with a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease in women, but not in men.
Some research has established a link between multivitamin use and reduced cardiovascular disease risk, while other research has found no such link. The available data is contradictory.
Cancer risk and multivitamin use
There is also conflicting data on the topic of multivitamins and cancer risk.
Conflicting evidence suggests that multivitamin consumption may either raise or have no impact on cancer risk.
Five randomized controlled trials with a total of 47,289 participants were analyzed in one systematic review. Women showed no benefit from taking multivitamins, whereas males had a 31% reduction in cancer risk.
Long-term usage of multivitamins has been linked to a decreased risk of colon cancer in two observational studies, one including just women and the other included both men and women.
Finally, the Physicians’ Health Study II found that regular usage of a multivitamin for an extended period of time lowered the incidence of cancer in both men with and without a family history of the illness.
Multivitamin consumption has been linked to a lower risk of cancer in certain studies, while others have shown no such relationship.
Is there any additional advantage to taking a multivitamin?
Researchers have looked at the effects of multivitamins on a variety of different outcomes, such as cognitive performance and visual acuity.
Psychology and Neuroscience: How the Brain Works
Supplementing with multivitamins has been shown in many small trials of certain demographics to enhance memory in older persons.
Taking multivitamins might alter your disposition. In addition to showing a correlation between low mood and nutritional deficiencies, studies have also shown a lowering of anxiety and depressive symptoms while taking nutritional supplements.
Vision loss from age-related macular degeneration is a common problem all over the globe.
Taking antioxidant vitamins and minerals may help prevent or reduce its development, according to one research.
Cataracts are another common eye illness, although there is some evidence that taking multivitamins may lower your chance of acquiring them.
