My Mom would always place with my breakfast a multivitamin and an additional Vitamin C vitamin. When I would balk at taking these she would firmly insist that vitamins are important for my long term health. Let’s fast forward to current times: Americans are spending almost $6 billion dollars a year on multivitamins. Are we getting our money’s worth?
First, Multivitamins typically contain a combination of various vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, D, E, and K, as well as B vitamins like folic acid and B12. They may also include minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, and zinc. The specific ingredients and amounts can vary between different brands and formulations, including those targeted for specific age groups or health conditions.
Question: Does the normal U.S. daily diet contain enough of these vitamins and minerals OR do we need supplementation? The answer: Yes, the usual dietary intake for most people provides more than the daily requirements of these vitamins and minerals.
Question: Are there many/any studies that show that taking a daily multivitamin prevents heart disease, cancer or prolongs life? The answer: No. There really is no substantial data that proves that the daily use of a multivitamin prevents disease in people with no known deficiencies of these vitamins and minerals.
So, it appears that we all should save our hard earned money and not spend it on the daily multivitamin (unless you own stock in the pharmaceutical companies that make these!)
And in 1966 when 10 year old Bobby Posner was being forced-fed a daily multivitamin by Frances, here was the Number One song of the year. Enjoy the Mamas and Papas.
