Do Multivitamins Work and Are They Worth It?
Vitamins and Mineral supplement producers, including multivitamins, are among the highest income-generating companies in most countries today. This is owing to the fact that most people believe in supplements and their abilities to impart nutrients, facilitate recovery from diseases, and improve health and longevity. But are these true about multivitamins?
Prescribers often prescribe multivitamins after severe illnesses, majorly to encourage eating and to boost the immune system. Many people, however, take multivitamin supplements once or twice every single day. The question is, are these multivitamins worth it?
Well, we cannot outrightly state that multivitamins do not work, but we can safely say that they do not take the place of ensuring a healthy diet. This guide contains details about multivitamins – what they are when they can be used, and also tells us if they are worth it. To get a grasp on all, you need to know, ensure you keep reading.
What Are Multivitamins?
Multivitamins are dietary supplements containing various vitamins and minerals needed by the body. For example, there are multivitamins for diabetes. Sometimes they also contain other excipients, like colorants, flavors, and the like. Medically speaking, there are about 13 vitamins and 16 minerals that are of utmost importance to the body. They help to perform vital roles such as aiding wound healing, boosting the immune system, repairing cell damage, shoring bones, etc.
They are usually available in various dosage forms; capsules, tablets, coated tablets, caplets, powders, solutions, etc. The FDA does not have strict regulations for these supplements like they do for prescription drugs, so they have no standard list of ingredients. Instead, each brand or company has its unique list of ingredients. These multivitamins are either synthetically produced or extracted from natural foods. Therefore, it is wise that one purchases a credible brand. Multivitamins are usually available in supermarkets, pharmacies, and stores, both online and offline.
Are Multivitamins Worth It?
Prescribers often prescribe multivitamins after severe illnesses, majorly to encourage eating and to boost the immune system. Many people, however, take multivitamin supplements once or twice every single day. The question is, are these multivitamins worth it?
Interestingly, these nutritional elements have their unique roles in the body, but the truth is that they do not totally work as the majority of people think. For instance, various research results show that they really make no difference in preventing certain terminal ailments.
The best multivitamin for men and women is one you will take regularly, so it is important to build good habits.
Mental Health
Researchers assigned almost 6,000 male physicians that were greater than 65 years of age and above, and in good health conditions, to multivitamins, either pills or placebo pills. The state of their memories was checked every few years for a total of 12 years. At the end of 12 years, it was discovered that about 84% of the test population were faithful to their pills, and there was no difference between both samples in terms of mental health.
Most multivitamin supplements are prescribed to help with mental health and prevent age-related memory degradation, but from this research, it was concluded that they play no role in enhancing mental health.
Heart Attacks
In another study, about 1,700 survivors of heart attack were placed on either placebo pills or multivitamin supplement pills, with everyone taking six pills daily. Over a period of 55 months, many could not consistently continue due to the pill’s burden, so an evaluation was made. There was no significant difference in the number of patients who had second heart attacks, episodes of angina, strokes, and deaths between the two groups. Another study in the US involving about 450,000 people showed that these multivitamin pills do not play any role.in helping heart conditions or preventing early deaths.
Cancers and Cataract
In the second and third research studies, researchers also evaluated research samples for the eye condition-cataract and for cancers. It was discovered, however, that for the groups placed on multivitamin supplement pills, the risk for cancers was reduced by 8%, and the risk for cataracts was reduced by 9% when compared with those placed on a placebo.
Many people are of the opinion that daily multivitamin supplementation will help to prevent them from a lot of terminal diseases like cancers, amnesia, and heart attacks. But research has shown that this is not totally true.
Researchers are of the opinion that the time has come for people to stop spending money on more research to prove more points.
Multivitamin Overdose
Multivitamins can also be harmful when taken in excess, especially the fat-soluble ones, which are not easily flushed out of the body. This overdose can be life-threatening sometimes too. For instance,
1. Pregnant women should be careful with the consumption of vitamin A, as an overdose can cause congenital malformations in their babies.
Studies also show that Vitamin A toxicity is the most common of all vitamins.
2. An overdose of iron can also cause fainting, constipation, and other problems – thankfully, there are supplements for that. Iron toxicity can also lead to decreased absorption of zinc.
Additionally, those with sickle cell disease are to avoid multivitamins with iron and other iron-containing supplements. This is because their condition is not due to iron deficiency, and excess iron can cause toxicity.
3. For those who smoke, vitamin A and multivitamins containing beta carotene may increase the risk for lung cancer.
Do Multivitamins Work?
However, multivitamins cannot be totally struck out. The body is in need of vitamins and minerals for vital body functions; in the same way, these multivitamins are of great benefit when there are deficiencies. Let’s see some benefits.
1. Vitamin C is indicated for scurvy and bleeding gums.
2. Vitamin A prevents blindness.
3. Vitamin D prevents rickets and weak bones that can even lead to deformities.
4. Vitamins D, K, Magnesium, Calcium, and Phosphorus all work together to produce stronger bones and teeth.
5. Folic acid in pregnancy helps to prevent spinal cord and brain defects in the fetus.
If you eat healthily and consume a lot of fruits, vegetables, and sea foods, you do not need multivitamin supplements, as they can lead to an overdose of certain nutrients.
Final Thoughts
Many people are of the opinion that daily multivitamin supplementation will help to prevent them from a lot of terminal diseases like cancers, amnesia, and heart attacks. But research has shown that this is not totally true. Although multivitamins are still beneficial, their benefits are more appreciated in those with vitamin or mineral deficiencies. However, taking multivitamin supplements when you already consume healthy meals is risky and can lead to toxicity. So, are multivitamins worth it? A healthy meal is!
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