Do you need a Multivitamin?

Many people take Multivitamins. They can also be very expensive. But do we need to take the one-a-day pill in order to fulfill a healthy lifestyle, especially with an increase in physical activity?

Claims: Athletes have increased needs for many micronutrients involved in the metabolic and physiologic pathways of exercise. Multivitamin supplements help meet these needs.


Facts: Regular exercise, especially long and intense exercise, may result in increased needs for certain vitamins and minerals, but supplementation isn't necessary for most athletes. Nonetheless, a deficiency in one or more of the micronutrients may result in impaired health and performance. The most common deficiencies are for the B-vitamins, antioxidants, vitamin D, calcium, iron, zinc, and magnesium. Athletes most at risk for deficiencies are those who restrict caloric intake to achieve or maintain a low body weight, those who don't eat a well-balanced diet, those who frequently eat fast foods, and those who eat too few fruits and vegetables. Most athletes serious about performance eat a diet sufficient in calories to meet increased energy needs, which usually results in a diet supplying adequate amounts of micronutrients, making supplementation unnecessary.


Bottom Line: More isn't better. Vitamin and mineral supplements won't improve performance in athletes consuming adequate diets. Athletes at risk of vitamin deficiencies may be able to improve performance by taking a multivitamin that contains about 100 percent of the daily value for most vitamins and minerals, which should be taken once daily or every other day with food.