Vitamins: Go For It!

It is in fact true that a well-balanced diet should provide most of the nutrients you need. However, a majority of people don’t have healthy eating habits. That is simply why adding a multivitamin into your daily regimen can help supplement one’s diet, and in fact, may contain added health benefits.  Not all scientists agree on multivitamins and some do not recommend them because of claims that there is not enough evidence that multivitamins boost health. Some say that there’s not enough proof that multivitamins boost health. There are also others who reference studies that seem to show an association between use of a multivitamins and an increased risk of death. However, Harvard School of Public Health claims these studies to be flawed. Scientific data demonstrates that dietary supplements are favorable for overall health and for managing some health conditions. (The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: National Institute of Health, 2011). Looking at all the evidence, the potential health benefits of taking a standard daily multivitamin seem to outweigh the potential risks for most people (Harvard School of Public Health).

According to a study performed in 2011 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics, multivitamins are the most commonly used dietary supplement. The study found that 110 million Americans use vitamins and supplements every year, which amounted to close to 50 percent of the population (Gahche et. al, 2011).The dietary habits of many Americans do not satisfy recommended nutrient intake levels. Many people in developed countries are not consuming recommended amounts of nutrients (Troesch et al., 2012). Multivitamin supplements allow for people to acquire the vitamins and minerals their bodies need (Fulgoni et al., 2011). Dietary surveys report insufficient intake of vitamins and minerals among the population that are outlined in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture) Additionally, these supplemental vitamin recommendations for some population groups are also highlighted in reports from the Institute of Medicine relating to Dietary Reference Intakes (Insititute of Medicine, 1998).

            A study surveyed several nurses and physicians to investigate if they personally used multi-vitamins (dietary supplements) on a daily basis.  The Healthcare Professionals Impact Study (HCP Impact Study) showed that 72% of physicians and 89% of nurses in this sample used dietary supplements regularly, occasionally, or seasonally (Dickinson, A., Boyon, N., & Shao, A., 2009). The study also reported that most common reason provided for using dietary supplements was for overall health and wellness (40% of physicians and 48% of nurses). Interestingly enough, the survey also found that close to 80% of doctors and nurses recommend dietary supplements to their patients. Moreover, the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee supports that if parents wish to give their children supplements, a standard pediatric multivitamin generally poses no risk.

            Due to the fact that multivitamins pose as a greater benefit than harm, is recommended by an overwhelming majority of doctors, and its affordability, a daily multi-vitamin seems logical for most adults. Taking daily multi-vitamins typically costs between $20-$40 per year. The cost of a multivitamin supplement is affordable and comparable to about a quarter serving of vegetables. Therefore, it is not likely to compromise nutritious foods in a persons’ grocery budget. According to the Harvard School of Public Health Nutrition Source, A daily multivitamin is an “inexpensive nutrition insurance policy” and recommends that you try to take one every day.

 American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Nutrition, Feeding the Child (2009). Pediatric Nutrition Handbook: 145-174.

Dickinson, A., Boyon, N., & Shao, A. (2009). Physicians and nurses use and recommend dietary supplements: report of a survey. Nutr J, 8, 29.

Fulgoni, V. L., Keast, D. R., Bailey, R. L., & Dwyer, J. (2011). Foods, fortificants, and supplements: where do Americans get their nutrients?. The Journal of nutrition, 141(10), 1847-1854.

Gahche, J., Bailey, R., Burt, V., Hughes, J., Yetley, E., Dwyer, J., ... & Sempos, C. (2011). Dietary supplement use among US adults has increased since NHANES III (1988-1994). NCHS data brief, (61), 1-8.

Harvard School of Public Health, the Nutrition Source: What Should I Eat?

Institute of Medicine: Dietary Reference Intakes for thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6, folate, vitamin B-12, pantothenic acid, biotin, and choline. Washington, D.C., National Academies Press; 1998.

Troesch, B., Hoeft, B., McBurney, M., Eggersdorfer, M., & Weber, P. (2012). Dietary surveys indicate vitamin intakes below recommendations are common in representative Western countries. British Journal of Nutrition, 108(04), 692-698.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S.Department of Agriculture. In Dietary Guidelines for Americans, Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office; 2005.

Willett, W. C., & Stampfer, M. J. (2001). What vitamins should I be taking, doctor? New England Journal of Medicine, 345(25), 1819-1824.