Multivitamin Nihilism: Is it Actually Worthless to Supplement? (SNP37)

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Introduction

Multivitamin and multimineral supplements have long been a topic of both scientific inquiry and public debate. While they are often marketed as convenient solutions for achieving nutritional adequacy, their true value remains contentious.

Are these supplements essential insurance policies against nutrient deficiencies, or are they merely expensive placebos?

Importantly, how should we weigh their potential benefits against the lack of robust evidence for long-term health outcomes such as reduced mortality or chronic disease risk? These questions demand a nuanced exploration, grounded in the context of specific populations and individual needs.

Ultimately, the role of multivitamin supplements cannot be assessed in isolation but must be viewed through the lens of context and specificity. How do we balance the biological plausibility of benefits against the variability of individual diets, the presence of fortification policies, and the challenges of achieving dietary adequacy in certain life stages?

These considerations invite a more thoughtful and less binary discussion about whether, when, and for whom multivitamins are a worthwhile addition to the diet.

The Hosts

Dr. Alan Flanagan has a PhD in nutrition from the University of Surrey, where his doctoral research focused on circadian rhythms, feeding, and chrononutrition.

This work was based on human intervention trials. He also has a Masters in Nutritional Medicine from the same institution.

Dr. Flanagan is a regular co-host of Sigma Nutrition Radio. He also produces written content for Sigma Nutrition, as part of his role as Research Communication Officer.

Danny Lennon has a master’s degree (MSc.) in Nutritional Sciences from University College Cork, and he is the founder of Sigma Nutrition.

Danny is currently a member of the Advisory Board of the Sports Nutrition Association, the global regulatory body responsible for the standardisation of best practice in the sports nutrition profession.

Timestamps

• [00:22] The debate on multivitamins: worthless or beneficial?
• [00:53] Rationale behind multivitamin use
• [04:04] Modern nutritional adequacy and multivitamins
• [07:10] Evidence supporting multivitamin use
• [23:39] Long-term health outcomes and multivitamins
• [41:43] Cognitive outcomes
• [50:18] Pregnancy and multivitamin use

Related Resources

• Join the Sigma email newsletter for free
• Subscribe to Sigma Nutrition Premium
• Enroll in the next cohort of our Applied Nutrition Literacy course
• Shaun Ward Article: Multivitamin Madness: There’s More to Life than Death
• Studies mentioned:
  • MacPherson et al., 2013 meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
  • Jenkins et al., 2021 meta-analysis
  • COSMOS trial – Vyas et al., 2024 analysis of three substudies
  • Loftfield et al., 2024 – Multivitamin Use and Mortality in 3 Cohorts
  • Blumberg et al., 2017 nutritional adequacy paper

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