Study Finds Healthy Adults May Not Need Multivitamins, Emphasizes Diet Over Supplements

A recently released medical study says healthy adults may not need to take multivitamins to get all the nutrients they need, according to the National Institutes of Health.

This study, which spanned roughly 20 years and analyzed more than 390,000 people from different backgrounds, was about whether or not multivitamins improved a person's health. Those behind the study said they tried to remove bias by figuring in different education levels, income levels, race, and gender to make it as comprehensive as possible.

The study shows that for most healthy people, there is no noticeable improvement in their overall health when taking multivitamins.

Dr. Matthew Else with Utica Park Clinic in Tulsa said using multivitamins came up because people were trying to ensure they got all their nutrients.

However, Else said talking with your doctor and focusing on a healthier diet is a better option before starting a multivitamin.

“The science is showing that if we just focus on healthy habits and a diet with whole foods, you're going to get not only those nutrients, but additional things that will help your body be healthy,” Else said.

There are some exceptions where multivitamins could be beneficial, including for elderly people, those who have undergone gastric surgery recently or those who have malabsorption issues.