#3 Different People Have Different Needs
Many supplements and multivitamins are designed for specific needs. For example, three recent clinical trials (AREDS, AREDS2, and LAST) showed that multivitamins designed to promote eye health can actually prevent macular degeneration. There are other multivitamin formulations designed for specific needs such as sleep, cognitive performance and immunity, and these were not included in the study mentioned above.
#4 Gut Health
Your gut is incredibly important for your immune system and neurotransmitter production. For this reason, multivitamins or supplements with probiotics, digestive enzymes or natural antibacterials and herbs can have positive health effects such as reducing sensitivity to food allergies or helping alleviate irritable bowel syndrome , but none of the studies referenced investigated variables such as frequency of sickness, neurotransmitter balance or gut health.
More: 3 Reasons Athletes Need Probiotics
My takeaway: I think a lot of multivitamins do indeed have a "shotgun" approach and are full of potentially dangerous fillers, surfactants, coatings and additives. So instead of taking a multivitamin, I take targeted nutrients, such as fish oil, Vitamin D, magnesium and probiotics. Sure this results in a few more bottles in my fridge, but in my opinion—especially for active, exercising individuals—it's a healthier way to go.
More: Why (Most of) Your Vitamins Should Come From Real Food
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