Likely the latter. While 33% to 49% of the general US population takes a multivitamin, the benefits of doing so are still controversial.
A recent analysis of studies from 1970 to 2016 found that taking a multivitamin doesn't reduce the risk for heart disease, nor does it prevent stroke or death in people with existing heart disease. Some may argue that this data is not meaningful because multivitamins aren’t designed to prevent heart disease. But the reality is that many people are taking them for this purpose, and the evidence doesn't support this use.
Patients taking multivitamins to benefit heart health are better off focusing on more proven methods, such as regular exercise and maintaining a healthy diet. The DASH diet in particular has been linked to a 20% reduced risk for heart disease.
For more details on natural medicines and therapies studied for heart disease, check out our comparative effectiveness chart.
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