Taking multivitamins: Necessity or ripoff?
No one likes being sold something that isn’t actually worth it. We’ve probably all been there at one point. You finally bought the As-Seen-On-TV blender or the facial cream that promised a bump-free complexion, and after weeks of use, the only change in your life is the withdrawal of money from your bank account. Unfortunately, the health and fitness world is full of gimmicks, and sometimes researching a sketchy product can save more money than expected. In recent years, multivitamins have come under some scrutiny for making overpromising claims. While it’s undeniable that vitamins and minerals are essential to life, there's debate on how beneficial these supplements are for the general public.
Even though supplements are popular, with sources like Johns Hopkins citing that half of all Americans take at least one a day, there is limited evidence that they offer any significant health benefits. In fact, a study published in 2018, by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, found that the four most commonly used supplements (multivitamins, vitamin D, calcium and vitamin C) did not protect against cardiovascular disease. Harvard School of Public Health states that, for those eating a healthful diet, a multivitamin may have little or no benefit. If a diet includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, good protein sources and healthy fats it should provide most of the nutrients needed for good health.
Unfortunately, not everyone manages to eat a balanced diet. This leaves some Americans with less than adequate amounts of certain nutrients, according to criteria set by the National Academy of Medicine. Someone too busy to be eating a healthy diet every day, has increased nutritional needs or is eating less than normal is a perfect candidate for a multivitamin. If this would be the case, it would be worth considering visiting a dietitian who could evaluate the diet to determine which nutrients are missing.
There is no arguing that multivitamins are important when nutritional needs are not met through diet alone. The debate is whether vitamins are needed when the diet is adequate to prevent deficiency in nutrients, with research showing little to no benefit when taking supplemental vitamins and minerals. Based on this evidence, it’s clear that multivitamins are useful and may be very beneficial for certain individuals. As for the rest of the people who can improve their diet or are already eating a balanced diet, it’s probably worth saving the money or spending it on whole foods instead.
By Nicole Hardt