Multivitamins are a combination of three or more dietary vitamins and minerals. Whether or not multivitamins are beneficial to a person’s health is a question that has triggered an ongoing debate. Regardless of the debate, the multivitamin industry has grown to become a billion dollar industry in the United States.
Due to recent studies on vitamin supplements, researchers believe Americans are wasting their money when it comes to multivitamins, but consumers are convinced they need them. In order to understand how this faith in multivitamins came about, we have to start from the beginning.
Roots in Deception
The history of multivitamins begins with two-time Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling. In 1966, Pauling began advocating the potential positive effects of vitamin C. Four years later in 1970, he published Vitamin C and the Common Cold ,which became a bestseller. In the book, Pauling claimed that the common cold could be eliminated if one consumed 3,000 mg of vitamin C daily, and he didn’t stop there. He also claimed that cancer and AIDS could be cured by vitamins A, E, and beta-carotene. However, even studies from this era provided evidence that contradicted his claims.
The FDA and Multivitamins
To investigate these false claims, the FDA became involved in 1972, when they proposed to regulate vitamin supplements. This meant vitamin manufacturers would have to provide evidence that their products were safe if they intended to keep selling them.
The vitamin industry, however, fought the proposed FDA bill and introduced a bill of their own that prevented the FDA regulation of multivitamins. Inexplicably, the bill became law in 1976. Thanks to it, consumers continue to be largely unaware of the health risks that may come with taking unregulated supplements.
However, since 1976, the involvement of the FDA has changed for the better. Today, the FDA provides manufacturers with guidelines they must follow. For example, if a company makes a claim about a product, they have to notify the FDA for review and provide the FDA with evidence that their product is both effective and safe
Consumers and Multivitamins
Despite continuous evidence that shows the ineffectiveness of multivitamin supplements, the industry has convinced millions of American consumers that supplements will make them healthier. Multivitamin consumers believe manufacturers’ claims that they are not receiving an adequate amount of vitamins and minerals from their diet alone. Additionally, many Americans assume that taking excess amounts of vitamins is not harmful, even though studies show they may be when supplementing a healthy diet.
Why is the industry still booming despite the lack of solid scientific proof of health benefits? The majority of multivitamin users take them by choice, not because a doctor suggested they should. The industry advertisements appeal to the consumers’ desire to be healthy. Many continue to purchase supplements in hopes of becoming healthy, maintaining their health, or preventing illness.
Multivitamins and the Future
Due to the billion-dollar success of the multivitamin industry, it looks like it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. The health benefits of multivitamins are still being studied and debated and will continue to be. In some cases, supplements, like prenatal vitamins, are needed and good, but consumers should be informed. Keep in mind that supplements are not regulated and may not contain what’s on the label. Talk with a doctor about whether or not taking a multivitamin is a good idea for you.
