4 Tips for Picking a Multivitamin
And do you really need one anyway?
Multivitamins are far and away the most popular supplement in the U.S. (PDF), but there is a dizzying array of choices. In reality, the only people who clearly need a multivitamin are those with "a problem absorbing food or on an extremely restricted diet," says Pieter Cohen, MD, of Harvard Medical School.
But it’s reasonable for some people—especially anyone with concerns about whether they’re eating enough healthy foods—to consider taking a multi as a sort of insurance policy, says JoAnn E. Manson, MD, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
You can also take a multivitamin rather than individual supplements if you have more than one special dietary need—for example, if you’re a vegetarian, your healthcare provider may recommend taking a supplement that contains iron, vitamin B₁₂, and other nutrients commonly found in animal products.
If you decide to try a multivitamin, be sure you find one that’s certified by an independent third party such as U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), NSF International, or UL (see "How We Picked Products," in our companion supplements story), and keep these tips in mind.
Editor’s Note: This article also appeared in the September 2024 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
