NIH OFFICE OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS Multivitamin mineral Supplements QuickFacts Multivitamin mineral MVM supplements contain a combination of vitamins and minerals and sometimes other ingredients as well They go by many names including multis and multiples or simply vitamins The vitamins and minerals in MVMs have unique roles in the body For more information about each one see our dietary supplement fact sheets What kinds of MVM supplements are available More than one third of Americans take MVMs There are many types of MVMs in the marketplace Manufacturers choose which vitamins minerals and other ingredients as well as their amounts to include in their products Among the most common MVMs are basic once daily products containing all or most vitamins and minerals with the majority in amounts that are close to recommended amounts Higher potency MVMs often come in packs of two or more pills to take each day Manufacturers promote other MVMs for special purposes such as better performance or energy weight control or improved immunity These products usually contain herbal and other ingredients such as echinacea and glucosamine in addition to vitamins and minerals The recommended amounts of nutrients people should get vary by age and gender and are known as Recommended Dietary Allowances RDAs and Adequate Intakes AIs One value for each nutrient known as the Daily Value DV is selected for the labels of dietary supplements and foods A DV is often but not always similar to one s RDA or AI for that nutrient The label provides the DV so that you can see how much what percentage a serving of the product contributes to reaching the DV Who takes MVM supplements Research has shown that more than one third of Americans take MVMs About one in four young children takes an MVM but adolescents are least likely to take them Use increases with age during adulthood so that by age 71 years more than 40 take an MVM Women the elderly people with more education more income healthier diets and lifestyles and lower body weights and people in the western United States use MVMs most often Smokers and members of certain ethnic and racial groups such as African Americans Hispanics and Native Americans are less likely to take a daily MVM What are some effects of MVMs on health People take MVMs for many reasons Here are some examples of what research has shown about using them to increase nutrient intakes promote health and reduce the risk of disease Multivitamin mineral Supplements QuickFacts Increase nutrient intakes Taking an MVM increases nutrient intakes and helps people get the recommended amounts of vitamins and minerals when they cannot or do not meet these needs from food alone But taking an MVM can also raise the chances of getting too much of some nutrients like iron vitamin A zinc niacin and folic acid especially when a person uses more than a basic once daily product Women who might become pregnant should get 400 mcg day of folic acid from fortified foods and or dietary supplements to reduce the risk of birth defects of the brain and spine in their newborn babies Some people take an MVM as a form of dietary or nutritional insurance Ironically people who take MVMs tend to consume more vitamins and minerals from food than those who don t Also the people least likely to get enough nutrients from diet alone who might benefit from MVMs are the least likely to take them B reastfed and partially breastfed infants should receive vitamin D supplements of 400 IU day as should non breastfed infants who drink less than about 1 quart per day of vitamin D fortified formula or milk Health promotion and chronic disease prevention For people with certain health problems specific MVMs might be helpful For example a study showed that a particular highdose formula of several vitamins and minerals slowed vision loss in some people with age related macular degeneration Although a few studies show that MVMs might reduce the overall risk of cancer in certain men most research shows that healthy people who take an MVM do not have a lower chance of getting cancer heart disease or diabetes Based on current research it s not possible to recommend for or against the use of MVMs to stay healthier longer One reason we know so little about whether MVMs have health benefits is that studies often use different products making it hard to compare their results to find patterns Many MVMs are available and manufacturers can change their composition at will It is therefore difficult for researchers to study whether a specific combination of vitamins and minerals affects health Also people with healthier diets and lifestyles are more likely to take dietary supplements making it hard to identify any benefits from the MVMs Should I take an MVM MVMs cannot take the place of eating a variety of foods that are important to a healthy diet Foods provide more than vitamins and minerals They also have fiber and other ingredients that may have positive health effects But people who don t get enough vitamins and minerals from food alone are on low calorie diets have a poor appetite or avoid certain foods such as strict vegetarians and vegans might consider taking an MVM Health care providers might also recommend MVMs to patients with certain medical problems Some people might benefit from taking certain nutrients found in MVMs For example P regnant women should take an iron supplement as recommended by their health care provider A prenatal MVM is likely to provide iron I n postmenopausal women calcium and vitamin D supplements may increase bone strength and reduce the risk of fractures P eople over age 50 should get recommended amounts of vitamin B12 from fortified foods and or dietary supplements because they might not absorb enough of the B12 that is naturally found in food Can MVMs be harmful Taking a basic MVM is unlikely to pose any risks to health But if you consume fortified foods and drinks such as cereals or beverages with added vitamins and minerals or take other dietary supplements make sure that the MVM you take doesn t cause your intake of any vitamin or mineral to go above the upper safe levels Use the U S Department of Agriculture Online DRI tool to learn the upper safe level of each nutrient Pay particular attention to the amounts of vitamin A beta carotene which the body can convert to vitamin A and iron in the MVM Women who get too much vitamin A during pregnancy can increase the risk of birth defects in their babies This risk does
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