So should you ditch your multi?
Researchers from the National Institutes of Health wanted to know, too.
Heres what they found from their study published on June 26, 2024, inJAMA web connection Open.
Photo:Getty Images
How Was This Study Conducted & What Did It Show?
During that time, 164,762 participants died49,836 to cancer, 35,060 to heart disease and 9,275 to cerebrovascular diseases.
In other words, taking a multivitamin wont help you live longer.
That risk disappeared, though, during the last 15 years of follow-up.
How Does This Apply to Real Life?
People who have difficulty eating enough or who have difficulty absorbing nutrients may also benefit from taking a multivitamin.
And if you just want to check that youre covered, its OK to take one, too.
Just remember that multivitamins are intended to supplement a balanced diet, not replace it.
And take only the recommended dose.
Itseasy to overdo it on vitamin and mineral supplements.
Some stamps of approval to look for includeConsumer Lab,NSF InternationalandUS Pharmacopeia (USP).
If you decide to take one, choose one that has been independently verified.
And above all, engage in healthy habits and keep a smile on your face.
CDC National Center for Health Statistics.Dietary Supplement Use Among Adults: United States, 2017-2018.
