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MVI7.2
Multivitamin Research
Probably helpsHigh safety
64 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Probably helps
Multivitamin helped in about half (3/6) of the studies that measured an effect — promising, but not unanimous.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 2003–2026 with a typical study size of 1,078 participants.
Based on 64 studies · 18 meta-analyses · 29 RCTs · 64,302 total participants
Confidence
High
What the studies found
3helped2unclear1didn't help· 58 more without graded effect data
Heart & blood pressureModest cardiovascular benefit primarily in those with nutritional gaps; no strong primary prevention effect in well-nourished populations · 3-12 months
Mostly mechanism / observational10 studies
Immune supportReduced frequency and duration of common infections; improved immune cell function · 4-8 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational6 studies
Longevity & agingPotential reduction in cancer incidence in men; antioxidant support for cellular aging · 6-24 months
Mostly mechanism / observational5 studies
Anxiety & stressB-complex vitamins and magnesium may reduce perceived stress and anxiety · 4-8 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational3 studies
Safety profile
Mostly mechanism / observational3 studies
Vision & eye healthReduced risk of age-related cataracts and macular degeneration with specific formulations (AREDS-type) · 6-24 months
Too few graded studies2 studies
Bone healthSupports bone mineral density and skeletal strength · 8-12 weeks
Too few graded studies2 studies
Recovery
Too few graded studies2 studies
Depression & moodModest reductions in stress and mood disturbances associated with B-complex and magnesium repletion · 4-8 weeks
2Global cognitionMeta-AnalysisCited 25×n=5,765 · very large study2024
Multivitamin-mineral supplementation showed a beneficial effect on global cognition compared with placebo, with the pooled analysis across COSMOS cognitive studies estimating a treatment benefit equivalent to 2.0 years of age-related cognitive decline.
Vyas CM et al. · The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2024)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Multivitamin-mineral supplementation significantly improved global cognition vs placebo (pooled meta-analysis)
Treatment benefit estimated at equivalent of 2.0 years of age-related cognitive decline
Episodic memory was particularly improved in the clinic subcohort
Extended follow-up from one of the largest RCTs on multivitamins and cognition, reinforcing the potential for multivitamins to protect against age-related cognitive decline.
Baker LD et al. · Alzheimer's & Dementia (2024)
Daily multivitamin supplementation slowed global cognitive decline by the equivalent of ~2 years over 3 years
Benefits were more pronounced in participants with cardiovascular disease history
Memory and executive function domains showed the strongest protective effects
The topic of this review is the impact of bariatric surgery procedures on vitamin and mineral absorption and the role of dietary supplements in maintaining a healthy nutritional balance during the postoperative phase.
Gasmi A et al. · Critical reviews in food science and nutrition (2023)
Therefore, adequate multivitamin and mineral supplements become essential to prevent/overcome micronutrient deficiencies.
Bariatric surgery also raises the risk of small for gestational age (SGA) babies.
Hence, a 12 - 24 months gap is recommended between bariatric surgery and pregnancy to achieve desired weight loss targets.
Moderate-certainty evidence suggests that antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplementation (AREDS: vitamin C, E, beta-carotene, and zinc) probably slows down progression to late AMD.
Evans JR et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2023)
These studies enroled 11,952 people aged 65 to 75 years and included slightly more women (on average 56% women).
People taking antioxidant vitamins were less likely to progress to late AMD (odds ratio (OR) 0.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.58 to 0.90; 3 studies, 2445 participants; moderate-certainty evidence).
Low-certainty evidence from one study of 110 people suggested higher quality of life scores (measured with the Visual Function Questionnaire) in treated compared with non-treated people after 24 months (mean difference (MD) 12.30, 95% CI 4.24 to 20.36).
Evidence was insufficient to recommend multivitamin/mineral supplements for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or cancer in the general adult population.
Fortmann SP et al. · Annals of internal medicine (2013)
Evidence was insufficient to recommend multivitamin/mineral supplements for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or cancer in the general adult population.
No consistent benefit was found across the included trials.
Evidence was insufficient to prove or disprove that multivitamin/mineral supplements prevent cancer or chronic disease in adults without known nutritional deficiencies.
Huang HY et al. · Annals of internal medicine (2006)
Evidence was insufficient to prove or disprove that multivitamin/mineral supplements prevent cancer or chronic disease in adults without known nutritional deficiencies.
13HIV disease progression and mortalityRCTCited 261×n=1,078 · large study2004
Multivitamin supplementation (B vitamins, C, and E) significantly reduced disease progression and mortality in HIV-infected adults not yet on antiretroviral therapy.
Fawzi WW et al. · The New England journal of medicine (2004)
Multivitamin supplementation (B vitamins, C, and E) significantly reduced disease progression and mortality in HIV-infected adults not yet on antiretroviral therapy.
Supplementation also improved CD4 cell counts and reduced viral load.
14Cancer recurrence riskRCTCited 166×n=1,134 · large study2020
Use of antioxidant supplements (vitamins C and E, carotenoids, coenzyme Q10) during chemotherapy was associated with increased risk of recurrence and mortality in breast cancer patients.
Ambrosone CB et al. · Journal of Clinical Oncology (2020)
Large harm
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Antioxidant vitamin supplementation during chemotherapy was associated with higher recurrence risk (HR 1.41)
All-cause mortality was higher in antioxidant supplement users during chemotherapy
Vitamin B12 supplement use was also associated with increased recurrence risk
15Global cognition scoresRCTn=2,262 · very large study2024
Provides compelling long-term RCT evidence that daily multivitamin use meaningfully slows cognitive aging in older adults, a key finding for the cognition and longevity categories.
Baker et al. · Alzheimer's & Dementia (2024)
Daily multivitamin supplementation significantly improved global cognition scores versus placebo over 3 years
Episodic memory showed the most consistent benefit, particularly in participants with cardiovascular disease history
The cognitive benefit was estimated to be equivalent to slowing approximately 2 years of age-related cognitive decline
Periconceptional multivitamin supplementation was associated with significant reductions in neural tube defects, cardiovascular defects, urinary tract defects, and limb defects.
Ingrid Goh Y et al. · Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada (2006)
Large benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Periconceptional MVI use significantly reduced risk of neural tube defects (OR 0.67)
Significant reduction in congenital cardiovascular defects (OR 0.78)
Urinary tract anomalies reduced by 46% with MVI supplementation
19Incident clinical fractureRCTCited 3×n=442 · medium study2025
Forty percent of older US adults take multivitamin/multimineral (MVM) supplementation.
Crandall CJ et al. · Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (2025)
No clear effect
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Forty percent of older US adults take multivitamin/multimineral (MVM) supplementation.
Compared with placebo, cocoa extract was not significantly associated with lower risk of incident clinical fracture (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.03, 95% CI 0.95-1.12) or nonvertebral fracture (aHR 1.05, 95% CI 0.96-1.14).
MVM supplementation was not associated with lower risk of total clinical fracture (aHR 1.09, 95% CI 1.00-1.19), hip fracture (aHR 1.06, 95% CI 0.80-1.42), or nonvertebral fracture (aHR 1.10, 95% CI 1.00-1.20).
Standard-dose multivitamin/mineral supplements at RDA-level doses are safe for long-term use in the general adult population, with a well-characterized safety profile and no evidence of harm at recommended doses.
Biesalski HK et al. · Nutrition (2017)
Comprehensive safety review found no evidence of harm from standard-dose MVI supplementation
Micronutrient insufficiencies are prevalent in both developed and developing nations despite food fortification
Standard MVIs at RDA levels do not approach upper tolerable intake levels for any nutrient