Medically reviewed by Kristie Reed, PharmD
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Health-GettyImages-2240928208-92b2118f9a00433ba07a995f6b4fae7f.jpg "Young asian woman wearing a striped button down shirt takes a vitamin while holding a glass of water. She is in a bright kitchen surrounded by windows.")
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- Overall, the evidence for the benefits of taking multivitamins is mixed. It’s generally advised to get the nutrients you need from food sources.
- Taking multivitamins will not reduce the risk of heart disease or cancer, and may increase cancer risk in some cases.
- While multivitamins can support normal growth and function in the body, most people do not need to take them daily unless advised by a healthcare professional.
Multivitamins have a modest benefit for overall health. They can help fill nutritional gaps in some people, such as pregnant people, older adults, and people with limited food choices (vegans or vegetarians). However, they are not always necessary and may cause harm in certain health conditions.
What Research Says About Multivitamins and Health
Multivitamins are supplements that contain multiple vitamins and minerals, along with other ingredients. Overall, the evidence for the benefits of taking multivitamins is mixed. Most experts advise getting the nutrients you need from food sources, if possible.
However, if you cannot obtain the required nutrients from food, multivitamins may help replenish your nutrient stores.
Brain Health
Multivitamins may help improve thinking and memory, especially in older adults. A 2024 study with over 500 participants found that older adults who took multivitamins daily had better memory and cognitive (thinking) skills over a two-year period than those who did not.
In another 2023 study, researchers found that people who took a multivitamin recalled information significantly better after a three-year follow-up than those who did not.
However, while many supplement brands promise multivitamins as a solution for slowing brain decline, there is not enough evidence to support this.
Taking multivitamins is also not likely to slow or prevent dementia. It may also not offer significant benefits in younger adults or in people without a deficiency.
Heart Health
The benefits of multivitamins for heart health are mixed. Overall, taking multivitamins cannot prevent or treat heart disease. Many experts do not recommend taking multivitamins to reduce the risk of heart disease.
In a long-term study that followed over 18,000 physicians for over twenty years, researchers found that men who took multivitamins had a lower risk of some heart-related conditions like stroke. They were also 14% less likely to need some types of heart surgery.
However, in another long-term study that followed over 390,000 participants for twenty years, researchers found no benefit of taking multivitamins in reducing the risk of heart conditions.
Eye Health
Taking multivitamins may have benefits for eye health and reduce the risk of developing advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an eye disease that leads to vision loss.
In one study involving over 4,700 individuals aged 55 or older with eye conditions such as cataracts and AMD, researchers found that taking multivitamins did not prevent or reduce the risk of either condition.
However, multivitamins reduced the risk of AMD worsening to an advanced stage by 28% and the risk of vision loss by 27%.
Some researchers note that people with intermediate AMD may be more likely to benefit from multivitamins for eye health, especially those containing vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, and zinc.
In addition, while the evidence is limited, taking eye multivitamins, especially those containing lutein or zeaxanthin, may reduce the need for cataract surgery. Lutein and zeaxanthin are antioxidant compounds that have been shown to support and protect eye health.
Cancer
Taking multivitamins is not likely to prevent, treat, or cure cancer, regardless of what claims you might see on social media. Some research shows that multivitamins might actually increase your risk of cancer.
In men, taking multivitamins, especially in high doses, has been found to increase the overall risk of the following cancers:
- Prostate cancer (2% higher risk)
- Lung cancer (8%)
- Prostate cancer (3%)
- Leukemia (16%)
In women, taking multivitamins did not seem to affect the risk of developing cancer, except for oropharyngeal cancer (cancer of the throat), which increased by about 46%. However, taking multivitamins seemed to help reduce the risk of leukemia in women by about 35%.
An exception is in colon cancer, where researchers found that taking a multivitamin daily may help reduce colon cancer risk in both men and women.
Due to the conflicting nature of multivitamins in cancer, it is best to avoid taking them or talk to your healthcare provider first, especially if you have cancer or are at high risk for developing cancer.
Pregnancy
Prenatal multivitamins have been linked to better overall birth outcomes. Taking prenatal multivitamins can help ensure pregnant people have sufficient nutrients for a healthy pregnancy.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that pregnant people take prenatal vitamins daily, in addition to eating a healthy diet.
Some studies also suggest that taking multivitamins during pregnancy leads to better outcomes than taking only iron and folic acid.
In one study that included over 15,000 pregnant women, especially pregnant adolescents and young women, researchers found that taking multivitamins was linked to the following outcomes compared to taking iron and folic acid alone:
- 13% lower chance of having a baby with low birth weight
- 12% lower chance of having a preterm birth
- 14% lower chance of having a baby that is smaller than expected for its age during pregnancy
People Who Might Benefit From Taking Multivitamins
Multivitamins are not for everyone, and no healthcare professional will recommend taking multivitamins without cause.
If you are eating a healthy diet and have not been diagnosed with any nutrient deficiency, multivitamins may be unnecessary. It is recommended to get the nutrients you need from a healthy diet.
That said, some people may benefit from taking multivitamins, including:
- People with limited diet choices, such as those with food allergies or who follow a vegan diet
- People who are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Older adults
- People with conditions that affect nutrient absorption
- People with low appetite
- People with increased nutritional needs
- People with limited access to a balanced diet
Will a Daily Multivitamin Help Keep You Healthy?
Current evidence does not suggest that taking vitamins daily will keep you healthy or prevent death, especially in people who do not have preexisting health conditions.
While multivitamins can support normal growth and function in the body, most people do not need to take them daily unless advised by a healthcare professional.
Instead of taking multivitamins daily, eat a nutritious, balanced diet consisting of whole grains, lean proteins, and vegetables.
If you think you might need a multivitamin, talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist. They can assess your nutritional needs and recommend a suitable multivitamin or a suitable single vitamin, if needed.
