The Importance of Multivitamin & Minerals for Wellbeing
By Beth Addy - Registered Associate Nutritionist (ANutr)
Worldwide, multivitamins are the most commonly consumed supplement. Generally, multivitamins contain varying proportions of vitamins and minerals deemed essential for human health due to their multitude of roles in the body. Supporting the immune system, healing injuries and producing energy are just a few of the functions these micronutrients may play.
Ideally, we would be obtaining each of these essential nutrients through the food we consume. However, research suggests adults in the UK spend just 1 hour preparing and cooking food every day (1). This includes all meals and snacks, and food for others they may be catering for, such as partners or children. It’s understandable that it therefore may not be realistic to prepare meals that provide every vital nutrient necessary for optimal health.
Likewise, older adults may experience decreased nutrient absorption and vegetarians and vegans may struggle to obtain vitamins and minerals that are found more often in animal products. These groups may therefore also be less likely to obtain enough of each essential nutrient throughout the day.
This is where multivitamins step in.
Multivitamins are designed to make up for nutritional shortfalls in our diets and ensure we are obtaining the recommended daily amounts of these essential micronutrients.
So, why is it important we stay topped up in vitamins and minerals?
Amongst the numerous, above mentioned functions that vitamins and minerals play in the body, supplementing with multivitamins has also been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease in both males and females and cancer in males (2,3). Similarly, multivitamin supplementation has been suggested to improve mood and cognitive function in individuals with nutritional deficiencies (4).
Overall, supplementation with multivitamins reduces the risk of nutritional deficits in our diets. This allows our bodies to function optimally, leading to improved wellbeing and health.
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