Page 28 - Men’s Health - USA (December 2019)

BODY

SUPPLEMENT LAB
Why You Almost Definitely

(Maybe? Probably!)

Don’t Need a Multivitamin

Twenty years ago, if you weren’t taking a thumb-sized pill containing every
vitamin in the alphabet, you were at risk of heart disease, diabetes, and
mockery at the health-food store. Science has since updated its thinking,
STEPHANIE ECKELKAMP reports, and it might be time to update yours.

1. START WITH YOUR DIET

If you’re healthy and have
no dietary restrictions 5. THE BOTTOM LINE
(vegan, gluten free, etc.),
you can go ahead and skip If you’re a healthy man
the multivitamin. A 2019 without dietary restric-
study found that despite tions, forget the multi-
the supplement indus- vitamin and continue
try’s $43 billion value, spending your money
people who took a multi on a diet that’s rich
lived no longer than those in fruits, vegetables,
who didn’t. (This is whole grains, healthy
good!) In fact, “some fats, and lean proteins.
people who take a mul- Scientists agree that
tivitamin use them to this is a smart way to
justify less healthy eating eat and reduces your
habits,” says JoAnn risk of disease.
Manson, M.D., a profes-
sor at Harvard Medical
School. (This is bad!)

4. KNOW EXACTLY
WHAT TO BUY
Warning: The FDA
2. BUT IF YOU’RE deems multivita-
WORRIED ABOUT mins a supplement,
CANCER . . .
so it doesn’t have to
One 2012 clinical approve or inspect
trial found an 18 them. Look for a
percent reduced third-party seal,
cancer risk in like USP or NSF,
healthy, older which verifi es that
men who took a what’s on the label
daily multi for a is what’s actually
decade or more. in the pill, says Dr.
But that’s loooong- Roizen. And choose
term. “The data 3. OR YOUR DIET NEEDS A LI’L HELP . . . a brand that has the
on multivitamins active (and more
If you have a highly restricted or poor diet, suff er from a Food styling: Jamie Kimm. Prop styling: Elyse Remenowsky.
in the short term benefi cial) form
GI issue that impairs nutrient absorption, or take certain
isn’t benefi cial for of folate, called
medications (including proton-pump inhibitors), then
otherwise healthy methylfolate, not
you may need a multivitamin. That being said, it’s best
men,” says Michael folic acid.
to talk to your doctor about a multi before you buy one.
Roizen, M.D., of the
Cleveland Clinic.

26 December 2019 / MEN’S HEALTH PHOTOGRAPH BY TED + CHELSEA CAVANAUGH