Are Multivitamins Good for You? 3 Health Benefits

Are multivitamins good for you? It’s a common question. Multivitamins are a convenient way to help fill possible nutrient gaps, can be formulated for your sex, age, and specific health goals, and can support healthy aging and overall health. But are they good for you? The answer to that question, dear reader, lies beyond this paragraph.^†

What Are Multivitamins?

Multivitamins, what are they? Well, let's start by breaking down the word; "multi" from the Latin "multus," meaning "many," and "vitamin," meaning "a nutrient that the body needs in small amounts to function and maintain health."[1] But that definition doesn’t always capture the full picture, as multivitamins often contain minerals and other ingredients in addition to vitamins. Multivitamins are a collection of many nutrients bundled together so you can help fill many nutrient gaps with one product. Many multivitamins, such as our Advanced Multivitamin for Adults Gummies, include a wide range of vitamins and minerals like Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D3, all eight B Vitamins, and Magnesium all in 3 daily gummies. That's a lot of nutrients packed into a multivitamin, but what are they good for?^†

The Benefits of Taking Multivitamins

Fill in Nutritional Gaps

Do multivitamins work? What do they do? One of the foremost benefits of multivitamins is helping to fill nutritional gaps in your diet. While the best way to get your body the nutrients it needs is through a balanced diet composed of nutritious foods, sometimes that's not always so easy! Consistent access to nutritious foods can sometimes be difficult.

That's where multivitamins come in. A multivitamin provides a solid foundation for your vitamin supplement regimen, helping to close possible nutrient gaps across a wide range of vitamins and minerals in a convenient package. You can supplement a multivitamin with additional vitamin and mineral supplements to tailor your regimen to your specific health goals.

Support Overall Health

How are multivitamins good for you? Multivitamins support several health benefits by providing your body with essential nutrients. For example, let's look at the benefits of Nature Made^®'s Multivitamin Tablets with Iron. This multivitamin provides 23 key nutrients including Vitamins A, C, and D and the mineral Zinc to support your immune system. B Vitamins in the formula also support brain cell function and cellular energy production. The addition of Iron supports red blood cell formation, healthy cognitive function, and it's an essential nutrient for women in their reproductive years.^†

One of the best things about multivitamins is how they support overall health by providing a wide range of nutrients in a convenient package. With 23 key ingredients for daily nutritional support in one daily tablet, Nature Made^® Women's Multivitamin Tablets are an excellent foundation for your supplement routine.^†

Support Healthy Aging

Taking a daily multivitamin can help support healthy aging; that's why we offer Women's Multivitamin 50+ Tablets and Men's Multivitamin 50+ Tablets, to help support healthy cardiovascular function, healthy cognitive function, and muscle and bone health. As our bodies change over time, so do our needs; a 50+ vitamin is designed to help you get the nutritional support you might need at that stage of life.^†

Supporting our bodies as we age is important, so these multivitamins provide a source of Vitamin D to support bone, teeth, muscle, and immune health. Brain health support is another important avenue to consider; Nature Made^® multivitamins are a source of Vitamins B6, Folate (B9), and B12, three B Vitamins often linked with supporting brain health. They work together to help brain and body cells produce SAM-e, which is important to mood health. Additionally, research shows that older adults who had higher intake of certain nutrients (including Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Magnesium, Potassium, Zinc, Vitamin K, and Lutein and Zeaxanthin) were associated with better cognitive function.[2]^†

Who Should Take Multivitamins?

Potential Nutritional Gaps Are Common in the United States

Now that you know the potential benefits of taking a multivitamin, you probably want to know who should take them. Most U.S. adults have at least one nutrient gap, and a multivitamin can help bridge these gaps and provide dietary support.[3]

People with Certain Health Conditions

Those affected by certain health conditions may also be interested in multivitamin supplements. A study shows that people with lower intakes of key nutrients were more likely to be absent from work or school.[4] These key nutrients play an important role in our lives, that’s why it’s important to give our body nutritional support. If you are taking medications or have certain conditions that may inhibit vitamin absorption, please consult a trained medical professional before taking multivitamin.

How to Choose a Multivitamin

There are so many multivitamins to choose from; how are you supposed to know which is the right one for you? The first thing to consider is that multivitamins are tailored to the specific needs of your sex, age, and life stage. For example, pregnant women should look to a prenatal multivitamin like our Prenatal Multi Folic Acid + DHA Softgels, which are formulated with Folic Acid plus 19 key nutrients to support the baby's development and mom's overall health.^†

Our Multivitamin Collection provides many options for various genders, ages, and life stages. Once you've found the type of multivitamin that fits your needs, pick the form you're most comfortable with. Gummies like our Advanced Multi for Adults is a tasty and convenient way to get nutritional support in three daily gummies. However, if you prefer tablets, check out our Women's and Men's Multivitamin Tablets. The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) tests and verifies the ingredients, potency, and manufacturing process of supplements, verifying their quality and safety. You can find supplements that have been USP Verified by looking for the “USP Verified” label on the packaging. Nature Made^® is dedicated to providing safe supplements with ingredients meeting our high-quality standards.^†

The Bottom Line: Multivitamins for Overall Wellness Support

So, are multivitamins good for you? If it wasn't obvious already, multivitamins can offer several health benefits, like helping to fill in possible nutritional gaps, supporting healthy aging, and supporting your overall health! However, it's important to remember that multivitamins supplement a healthy diet; they don't replace it. So try your best to provide your body with nutritious foods for the essential vitamins and minerals you need. If you want to begin or add to your supplement routine, consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice. If you’re looking for advice on when is the best time to take multivitamins, or should I take a multivitamin every day, check out these blogs!^†

† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

References

1. Office of Dietary Supplements - Dictionary of Dietary Supplement Terms. ods.od.nih.gov. https://ods.od.nih.gov/HealthInformation/dictionary.aspx
2. Devarshi, P.P., Gustafson, K., Grant, R.W. et al. Higher intake of certain nutrients among older adults is associated with better cognitive function: an analysis of NHANES 2011–2014. BMC Nutr 9, 142 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-023-00802-0
3. Reider CA, Chung RY, Devarshi PP, Grant RW, Hazels Mitmesser S. Inadequacy of Immune Health Nutrients: Intakes in US Adults, the 2005-2016 NHANES. Nutrients. 2020;12(6):1735. Published 2020 Jun 10. doi:10.3390/nu12061735
4. Ye Q, Devarshi PP, Grant RW, Higgins KA, Mitmesser SH. Lower Intakes of Key Nutrients Are Associated with More School and Workplace Absenteeism in US Children and Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study of NHANES 2003-2008. Nutrients. 2023;15(20):4356. Published 2023 Oct 13. doi:10.3390/nu15204356