The Latest on Multivitamins

Questions about whether multivitamins improve overall health and increase longevity have been bubbling up for years. A recent study evaluating the link between daily multivitamin use and mortality risk is fanning the flames on this debate once again.

This very large study combining 3 observational cohorts shows that daily multivitamin use does not reduce the risk of death from any cause in healthy adults when compared to those who don’t take a multivitamin. This supports two earlier meta-analyses of clinical studies with similar findings. Some proponents of multivitamins suggest that these results don’t account for potential improvements in quality of life, which this study didn’t evaluate. However, previous preliminary clinical research suggests multivitamins don’t improve quality of life.

If patients want to take a multivitamin, there’s no reason to persuade them otherwise as they’re generally well-tolerated – but explain that the evidence of benefit for most conditions is limited. Earlier this year multivitamins were getting a lot of attention for potential benefits on cognitive function, but the clinical evidence didn’t quite support the buzz – it’s still unclear if multivitamins are beneficial for improving cognitive function. For now, manage expectations about potential benefits and reinforce the importance of picking quality products.

Check out our recently updated multivitamins monograph to learn more.