What is Multivitamin:
Multivitamins are supplements that contain many different vitamins and minerals, sometimes alongside other ingredients. Given that there’s no standard for what constitutes a multivitamin, their nutrient composition varies by brand and product. Multivitamins are also referred to as multis, multiples, or simply vitamins. They’re available in many forms, including tablets, capsules, chewable gummies, powders, and liquids. Most multivitamins should be taken once or twice per day. Make sure to read the label and follow the recommended dosage instructions.
Thirteen vitamins and about 15 minerals are essential to your health. Many produce enzymes and hormones, boost your immunity, and keep your nerves and organs functioning properly. Your body also needs these nutrients for reproduction, maintenance, growth, and the regulation of bodily processes. Multivitamins may offer many of these vitamins and minerals — but in varying amounts. They may also contain other ingredients like herbs, amino acids, and fatty acids. Because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t regulate dietary supplements as strictly as it regulates prescription drugs, some may contain higher or lower levels of some nutrients than stated on the label. Additionally, some supplements may contain ingredients that can interact with medications, so speak with your healthcare provider before starting a new supplement (5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source). Furthermore, the nutrients in multivitamins may be derived from real foods or made synthetically, making it essential to purchase your vitamins from a reputable manufacturer.
Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. While some believe that taking multivitamins can help prevent heart disease, research doesn’t seem to support it conclusively. Some studies suggest that multivitamins are correlated to a reduced risk of heart attacks and death, while others show no effects. The Physicians’ Health Study II investigated the effects of daily multivitamin use in over 14,000 middle-aged male doctors for over a decade and found no reductions in heart attacks, strokes, or mortality. However, a more recent. study revealed that among women — but not men — taking a multivitamin for more than 3 years was linked to a lower risk of dying from heart disease .
The evidence regarding multivitamin use and cancer risk is also mixed. Some studies suggest no effect on cancer risk, while others link multivitamin use to increased cancer risk. One review examined five randomized controlled trials including 47,289 people. It found a 31% lower risk of cancer in men who took multivitamins, but no effect in women . Two observational studies, one including only women and the other including both men and women, tied long-term multivitamin use to a reduced risk of colon cancer . Finally, the Physicians’ Health Study II noted that long-term, daily multivitamin use reduced cancer risk in men with a history of cancer, as well as those with no history of the disease .
Brain function
Several small studies examining specific populations have found that multivitamins can improve memory in older adults. Multivitamins may also affect your mood. Research has not only revealed links between poor mood and nutrient deficiencies but also between nutritional supplements and reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression. However, other studies reveal little to no changes in mood .
Eye health
Age-related macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide .One study found that taking antioxidant vitamins and minerals may slow its progression and help prevent it. Furthermore, some evidence indicates that multivitamins may reduce your risk of developing cataracts, another widespread eye disease
.
Comments