Multivitamins are a combination of many different vitamins that are normally found in various foods and natural sources. Over the year, popularity of multivitamins has increased and now millions of people are including these supplements in their daily routine.
Interestingly, these multi-vitamins are often marketed as a medium to fill nutritional gaps, boost overall health and prevent chronic diseases. But do you need to consume multivitamins daily?
A recent study from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) examined the efficacy of daily multivitamin use in promoting longevity among generally healthy adults. During the study, the researchers analysed health records from nearly 400,000 adults with no major long-term diseases to see whether daily multivitamins reduced their risk of death over the next two decades. The researcher concluded that consuming multivitamins daily didn’t have an significant impact. However, doctors maintain the consuming multivitamins may do more harm than good.
According to Dr Tushar Tayal, Consultant, Internal Medicine, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, taking multivitamins continuously may seem beneficial, but there are several reasons why this practice can be unnecessary or even harmful.
“First, excessive intake of certain vitamins and minerals can lead to toxicity. For example, fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K are stored in the body and can accumulate to dangerous levels, causing health problems like liver damage, heart issues, or impaired blood clotting,” Dr. Tayal told Financial Express.com.
Another concern is that long-term use of multivitamins can create nutrient imbalances, Dr. Tayal highlighted. High doses of one nutrient can interfere with the absorption of others. For instance, too much zinc can reduce copper absorption, while excess calcium can block magnesium uptake, he said.
“Multivitamins are often not tailored to individual needs, so taking them without considering your specific dietary deficiencies can lead to overconsumption of certain nutrients while missing others. Moreover, people who eat a balanced diet with a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and proteins typically get the nutrients they need from food alone, making multivitamin supplements redundant,” he explained.
Finally, relying on multivitamins can create a false sense of security, leading individuals to neglect healthy dietary choices, assuming that a pill will cover their nutritional needs, he said.
While the general healthy population may not benefit from daily multivitamin use, there are specific groups for whom supplementation can be beneficial or even necessary like people with nutrient deficiencies, pregnant women, older adults, people with restrictive diet, athletes etc.
However, to avoid potential risks, multivitamins should only be used when advised by a healthcare professional, based on an individual’s specific health needs or deficiencies, Dr. Tayal highlighted.