People take multivitamins or multivitamin minerals without prescriptions from doctors, believing that it will provide body nutrients and extend their lifespan.
However, recent studies have found that daily multivitamin use does not increase the lifespan of healthy adults.
Those people who are identified to have vitamin deficiency are recommended to take multivitamins on the advice of the doctors. The unintentional overdose of supplements can cause harm to humans as well.
The experts downplay the common notion of multivitamins extending lifespan or having any specific health benefits for normal adults.
What are multivitamins?
Multivitamins are the combination of different vitamins generally found in foods and natural resources. These vitamins are considered essential to health.
The daily use of multivitamins through supplements has been increasing recently, with around 33% of adults in the US and around 35% above the age of 16 in India taking the supplements.
Routine use is not recommended.
The studies conducted so far have not found any evidence that daily multivitamin use extends the lifespan.
Dr Aarathi Bellary, Consultant Internal Medicine at KIMS Hospitals Hyderabad said, “There is no real benefit of taking multivitamins, unless diagnosed with a specific deficiency. The multivitamins are not required if an individual is taking a healthy, balanced diet”.
Consume multivitamins for deficiency.
An individual diagnosed with any vitamin deficiency is advised to take the multivitamin as a supplement. The deficiency of specific vitamins can lead to several physical and psychological conditions.
“Vitamin B12 deficiency can result in neuropsychiatric manifestations including tingling and numbness in hands, feet and anemia. Vitamin D supplements shall be necessary for people with diabetes, hypertension, and heart ailment, Dr Aarathi said.
Women are most affected by deficiency.
Women of higher age groups are prone to different vitamin deficiencies, including hemoglobin, vitamin B12, vitamin D, micronutrient deficiency, and Iodine.
“Women, in particular post menopause may require vitamin B12 and calcium supplements. In some women, hemoglobin could be normal, but iron deficiency would prevail. Such deficiencies require corrections”, Dr Aarathi added.
Multivitamins available in fruits, vegetables, and meat
The general perception that consuming multivitamins will increase health and lifespan is untrue in different studies.
Dr L Kiran Kumar Reddy, interventional cardiologist at Onus Hospital, Hyderabad said, “We hardly recommend multivitamin supplements for healthy people. The required multivitamins can be obtained by taking whole grains including cereals, pulses, and nuts. We must ensure that unprocessed grains are consumed.
Food items including vegetables, fruits, fish, and chicken are recommended to satisfy the need for multivitamins.
