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Re-activateThe National Institutes of Health says there's no reason to recommend multivitamins in general but notes a few combinations that might help some people, such as beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, and zinc for those with age-related macular degeneration.
But multis can make sense for certain groups:
So-called women's multis often pack extra calcium, which can be fine for both genders, but if you need more than 200 mg you'll have to take a separate calcium supplement. Stick with the basic nutrients: the herbs and phytochemicals sometimes included have dubious value and are often present in such small quantities that they have little effect. Finally, avoid supplements that contain more than 9 mg of iron unless advised by your doctor, since excess iron can lead to organ damage in people with hemochromatosis, a common genetic disorder.
This article first appeared in the September 2008 issue of Consumer Reports On Health.
Read more on special precautions (free) you should follow when taking a multivitamin, find out which vitamins fill your nutritional gaps and which you should avoid (free), and if you're taking a multivitamin or supplement, visit our Natural Medicine Ratings (subscribers only) section to check the effectiveness and interactions.
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