Thinking of Multivitamin Supplements to better your health but not sure about it, are you? Well, the jury is still out on multivitamins.
While some doctors upheld the health benefits of multivitamins others simply aren’t convinced. A new study from Harvard juxtaposes these contradictory pieces of evidence and perceptions and advises judicious use of multivitamins according to your diet and health conditions.
So, let’s take a look at what clinical trials and research say about multivitamins.
1. Reduces Cancer Risk in Men
Some studies suggest that multivitamins reduce the risk of cancer in men substantially, especially bladder and colon cancer. There’s direct evidence that multivitamins reduce men’s cancer risk by 8%.
Efficacy of a multivitamin in preventing diseases like cancer depends on age, gender and diet. In men, multivitamins have no effect in preventing prostate cancer but other cancers can be substantially reduced by measured intake of it.
2. Reduces Colon Cancer Risk in Women
Breast cancer and cervical cancer are the two most health scares for women. But here too, multivitamins supplements might not be that helpful for you. However, long term use of multivitamins reduces the risk of colon cancer in women. An NIH study on a large group of women found that measured intake of folate multivitamins for 15 years or more reduces colon cancer risk in women.
3. Boosts Energy & Fat Metabolism
The energy-boosting quality of multivitamins health supplements is the primary reason for its popularity. Most people take multivitamins to energise themselves. A randomised controlled study in the elderly found an increase in total energy and fat metabolism after 8 weeks of intake of multivitamins supplements. Researchers also found that this energy boost works in a dose-dependent manner where effects are seen within a few hours of higher dose intake.
4. Increases Working Memory in Elderly Women
While the effect of multivitamins in enhancing memory and cognitive abilities are still dubious, some studies in the elderly show positive effects in women.
A 16-week study in elderly women increased their working memory capacity. Most of this was due to the increase in Vitamin B6, B12 and Vitamin E.
Although this doesn’t show any improvement in cognitive abilities like speaking and reading, their memory was found to be in better condition with the enhanced power of remembering.
5. Helps in Controlling Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes can be controlled by diet and multivitamins seem to help in this process. Studies show that taking multivitamin supplements with your regular diet can normalize your blood sugar level as they contain Vitamin D and C which helps in the process.
6. Helps in Fighting Fatigue
Both physical and mental fatigue can be addressed by using multivitamins. In fact, a multivitamin is taken because of this particular health benefit. Multivitamins reduce mental fatigue by enhancing the activity of neurotransmitters. Vitamins like Vitamin B1 thiamine, Vitamin B9 folate, Vitamin C are crucial for the proper functioning of our neurotransmitters. Similarly, Vitamin B complexes and Vitamin C are essential for the many metabolic pathways of the body including the transport of oxygen.
So, a regular dietary intake of multivitamins provides all the necessary vitamins and minerals to rejuvenate the body.
7. Reduces Age-Related Cataracts
Multivitamins have a direct impact in lowering cataract incidents in elderly men and women. Several studies have indicated that regular intake of multivitamin supplements reduce the different cataract problems in the eye.
The direct link between cataract and multivitamins was established in a large randomised trial where men above 50 were given multivitamins for 11 years and more. The study found more incidents of cataract in men without multivitamins than with multivitamins.
This indicated the long term impact of multivitamin intake on cataract formation
Thus, research suggests that taking a multivitamin supplement religiously is beneficial for health. But be mindful of the amounts. Large doses of multivitamins can be toxic for your body. Talk to your doctor to know which multivitamin you might need to bridge nutritional gaps.
References:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/mens-health/do-multivitamins-make-you-healthier
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9758570/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4750202/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22006207/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5691218/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7019700/
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