Multivitamins
Multivitamins/multiminerals (MVMs) are popular dietary supplements taken by approximately one-third of adults and one-quarter of children and adolescents in the United States. Multivitamins is used for Meeting nutritional requirements and COVID-19.
Also called: Equaline (United States) · Paediatric Seravit (New Zealand) · Pharmaton Essential (Philippines)
Pronunciation: pronunciation varies by local usage.
- Generic name
- multivitamin/multimineral supplements
- Drug class
- Dietary supplement (vitamin and mineral product)
- Form
- Not specified by the supplied sources; product forms and contents vary by manufacturer.
- Route
- Oral
- Legal status
- Dietary supplement. Dietary supplements are not approved by the US FDA for safety or effectiveness before sale.
Availability and supply rules vary by country
Trade names by country: United States · New Zealand
Australia: · Full directory
What multivitamin/multimineral supplements is and how it works
Multivitamins/multiminerals (MVMs) are popular dietary supplements taken by approximately one-third of adults and one-quarter of children and adolescents in the United States. One definition used by the supplied sources is 20a product having 10 or more vitamins or minerals21. Vitamins and minerals are essential substances that our bodies need to function normally. (1) (2) (3)
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020212025 recommends that people should aim to meet their nutritional requirements through a healthy eating pattern that includes nutrient-dense foods. Some people who don21t get enough vitamins and minerals from food alone, including people who are on low-calorie diets or who avoid certain foods (such as strict vegetarians or vegans), may want to consider taking a vitamin and mineral supplement. Health care providers may recommend supplements for people with certain medical conditions. MVMs cannot take the place of eating a variety of foods that are important to a healthy diet.
Mechanism of action: how multivitamin/multimineral supplements works
Vitamins and minerals are essential substances that our bodies need to function normally. The known vitamins are vitamins A, C, D, E, and K and the B vitamins: thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), cobalamin (B12), biotin, and folate/folic acid. A number of minerals are essential for health, including calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chloride, magnesium, iron, zinc, iodine, sulfur, cobalt, copper, fluoride, manganese, and selenium. Each vitamin has specific jobs. If you have low levels of certain vitamins, you may get health problems. The supplied sources describe no pharmacokinetic parameters for multivitamin products. (1) (3)
What is Multivitamin/multimineral supplements used for?
Meeting nutritional requirements
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020212025 recommends that people should aim to meet their nutritional requirements through a healthy eating pattern that includes nutrient-dense foods. Some people who don21t get enough vitamins and minerals from food alone, including people who are on low-calorie diets or who avoid certain foods (such as strict vegetarians or vegans), may want to consider taking a vitamin and mineral supplement. Health care providers may recommend supplements for people with certain medical conditions. The best way to get enough vitamins is to eat a balanced diet with a variety of foods. It21s a good idea to ask your health care provider first. (1) (3)
What the science says about multivitamin/multimineral supplements
Most research shows that taking multivitamins doesn21t result in living longer, slowing cognitive decline, or lowering the chance of getting cancer, heart disease, or diabetes. Most studies have shown little or no effect of MVMs on the risk of health problems. The effects of MVMs on the risk of health problems are hard to study because products vary and because people with healthier lifestyles are more likely to take MVMs. The supplied sources state that evidence on these outcomes is weak, mixed, or insufficient; no benefit beyond what is quoted here is established. (1) (2)
Age-related macular degeneration (specific AREDS formulation, not a general MVM)
The National Institutes of Health sponsored the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), which showed that a dietary supplement formulation containing high doses of vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, zinc, and copper can help slow the progression to advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD). A second study, AREDS2, showed that removing beta-carotene from the AREDS formulation didn21t lessen its protective effect against developing advanced AMD. AREDS2 also showed that adding omega-3 fatty acids did not improve the effectiveness of the formulation. This finding applies to that specific high-dose formulation, not to multivitamins generally. (1)
COVID-19
There is not enough scientific evidence to clearly show that taking any dietary supplement helps to prevent or cure COVID-19. (1)
Before taking multivitamin/multimineral supplements
Do not take / not appropriate for
- Do not exceed the safe upper limits for any nutrient. If you consume fortified foods and beverages (such as cereals or drinks with added vitamins and minerals) along with dietary supplements, you should make sure that your total intake of vitamins and minerals is not more than the safe upper limits for any nutrients. (all products) (1)
- Taking excess amounts of vitamin A (preformed retinol form, not beta-carotene) during pregnancy has been shown to increase the risk of birth defects. (pregnancy) (1)
- Smokers, and possibly former smokers, should avoid MVM products that provide large amounts of vitamin A (as preformed retinol or beta-carotene or some combination of the two). A few studies have linked high supplemental doses of these nutrients with an increased risk of lung cancer in smokers. (smokers and possibly former smokers) (1)
- Iron supplements are a leading cause of poisoning in young children, so they should be kept out of children21s reach. (iron-containing products, young children) (1)
Tell your clinician about
- If you take a blood thinner, such as warfarin (Coumadin and other brand names), talk to your health care provider before taking any MVM or other dietary supplement that contains vitamin K.
- Whether you also consume fortified foods and beverages with added vitamins and minerals, so your total intake can be checked against safe upper limits.
- Any medical condition for which a health care provider might recommend a supplement.
- Whether you are or may become pregnant, since excess preformed retinol vitamin A during pregnancy has been shown to increase the risk of birth defects.
- Whether you smoke or formerly smoked, because of the vitamin A / beta-carotene and lung cancer link reported in a few studies.
Multivitamin/multimineral supplements dosage and how to take it
- The supplied sources do not provide a dose, schedule, or administration instruction for multivitamins; do not change how or how much you take based on this page. Product content varies by manufacturer and there is no standard or regulatory definition for what MVMs must contain or at what levels.
- Taking a daily dose of a basic MVM is unlikely to pose a health risk for healthy people. Taking a daily dose is unlikely to pose a health risk for healthy people; however, taking them at high doses or taking many different supplements may cause adverse side effects.
- MVMs providing nutrients at or up to 100 percent of the Daily Value (DV) do not typically interact with medications.
- The best way to get enough vitamins is to eat a balanced diet with a variety of foods. Ask your health care provider first if you are considering taking vitamin supplements.
- Read the Supplement Facts panel and the full ingredient list on the product label.
Procedures and treatment changes
Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1) (2) (3)
Missed dose
Not established by the supplied sources. The sources used here do not give a missed-dose rule for multivitamins. Because product contents and amounts vary, ask your health care provider or pharmacist for guidance on your specific product rather than changing your routine on your own.
Overdose
Taking them at high doses or taking many different supplements may cause adverse side effects. If you consume fortified foods and beverages along with dietary supplements, you should make sure that your total intake of vitamins and minerals is not more than the safe upper limits for any nutrients; information about the safe upper limits on specific nutrients is available from the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets. Iron supplements are a leading cause of poisoning in young children, so they should be kept out of children21s reach. The supplied sources do not provide overdose amounts or an overdose management protocol; seek advice from a health care provider or poison-information service. (1)
Multivitamin/multimineral supplements side effects
Taking a daily dose of a basic MVM is unlikely to pose a health risk for healthy people. However, taking them at high doses or taking many different supplements may cause adverse side effects. The supplied sources do not list individual adverse effects for multivitamins.
Adverse side effects from high doses or many supplements
What to notice: The supplied sources state that taking MVMs at high doses, or taking many different supplements, may cause adverse side effects, but they do not list which effects occur.
What to do: Discuss any symptoms with your health care provider and ask them to review your total vitamin and mineral intake, including fortified foods and beverages, against safe upper limits. (1)
Suspected iron poisoning in a young child
What to notice: The supplied sources state that iron supplements are a leading cause of poisoning in young children, but they do not list symptoms or amounts.
What to do: The sources provide no symptom list or management steps. Seek urgent medical advice from a health care provider or poison-information service if a young child may have taken iron supplements. (1)
Serious warnings
Excess vitamin A (preformed retinol) in pregnancy — serious
Symptoms: The sources report an increased risk of birth defects; specific signs are not described in the supplied sources.
Action: Do not exceed safe upper limits for any nutrient. Tell your health care provider if you are or may become pregnant so the vitamin A content of any product can be reviewed with you. (1)
High supplemental vitamin A / beta-carotene in smokers — serious
Symptoms: A few studies have linked high supplemental doses of these nutrients with an increased risk of lung cancer in smokers; the sources do not describe symptoms.
Action: Smokers, and possibly former smokers, should avoid MVM products that provide large amounts of vitamin A (as preformed retinol or beta-carotene or some combination of the two). (1)
Iron poisoning in young children — emergency
Symptoms: The supplied sources state that iron supplements are a leading cause of poisoning in young children but do not list symptoms.
Action: Keep iron supplements out of children21s reach. If a young child may have taken iron supplements, seek urgent medical advice from a health care provider or poison-information service; the supplied sources give no management steps. (1)
Interactions
| Medicine or test | Effect | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin and other brand names) | If you take a blood thinner, such as warfarin, talk to your health care provider before taking any MVM or other dietary supplement that contains vitamin K. | Speak to your health care provider before taking any MVM or other dietary supplement that contains vitamin K. (1) |
| Medications in general | MVMs providing nutrients at or up to 100 percent of the Daily Value (DV) do not typically interact with medications. | Check the Supplement Facts panel; for products with higher amounts, ask your health care provider or pharmacist to review possible interactions. (1) |
| Fortified foods and beverages (such as cereals or drinks with added vitamins and minerals) | Combined intake of fortified foods and beverages plus dietary supplements can add up to more than the safe upper limits for some nutrients. | Make sure your total intake of vitamins and minerals is not more than the safe upper limits for any nutrients. (1) |
| Other dietary supplements taken at the same time | Taking many different supplements may cause adverse side effects. | Tell your health care provider about every supplement and product you take so your total intake can be reviewed. (1) |
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age
Women who are or may become pregnant; women who breastfeed
Taking excess amounts of vitamin A (preformed retinol form, not beta-carotene) during pregnancy has been shown to increase the risk of birth defects. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020212025 provides recommendations for specific populations, including women who are or may become pregnant and women who breastfeed, and these should be followed. (1)
Infants, young children, and teenage girls
Women of childbearing age, pregnant women, infants, young children, and teenage girls are at risk of obtaining insufficient amounts of iron from their diets. Iron supplements are a leading cause of poisoning in young children, so they should be kept out of children21s reach. (1)
People ages 60 and over
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020212025 provides recommendations for specific populations, including people ages 60 and over. The supplied sources do not describe a specific multivitamin recommendation for this group. (1)
Strict vegetarians and vegans; people on low-calorie diets
Some people who don21t get enough vitamins and minerals from food alone, including people who are on low-calorie diets or who avoid certain foods (such as strict vegetarians or vegans), may want to consider taking a vitamin and mineral supplement. People who eat a vegetarian diet may need to take a vitamin B12 supplement. (1) (3)
Smokers, and possibly former smokers
Smokers, and possibly former smokers, should avoid MVM products that provide large amounts of vitamin A (as preformed retinol or beta-carotene or some combination of the two). A few studies have linked high supplemental doses of these nutrients with an increased risk of lung cancer in smokers. (1)
People taking blood thinners
If you take a blood thinner, such as warfarin (Coumadin and other brand names), talk to your health care provider before taking any MVM or other dietary supplement that contains vitamin K. (1)
Monitoring
Before starting
- Ask your health care provider first, since in some cases you may need to take vitamin supplements and a health care provider may recommend supplements for people with certain medical conditions.
- Review whether your nutritional requirements are being met through a healthy eating pattern that includes nutrient-dense foods, as recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020212025.
- Check the Supplement Facts panel and full ingredient list, and read the list of ingredients not in the Supplement Facts panel that must be listed under 20Other Ingredients21.
- Add up vitamins and minerals coming from fortified foods and beverages as well as from supplements so total intake is not more than the safe upper limits for any nutrients.
- Tell your health care provider if you take a blood thinner such as warfarin, or if you smoke or formerly smoked, or if you are or may become pregnant.
During treatment
- Keep total intake of vitamins and minerals from fortified foods, beverages, and supplements at or below the safe upper limits for any nutrient.
- Be alert for adverse side effects if you take high doses or take many different supplements.
- Keep iron supplements out of children21s reach.
- Ask your health care provider to reassess whether a supplement is still appropriate for you; the supplied sources describe no monitoring tests or intervals.
Storage
Iron supplements should be kept out of children21s reach. The supplied sources do not describe storage temperature, light, or expiry requirements for multivitamins. Follow the instructions on your specific product label.
Professional information
Information-only content compiled strictly from the supplied US government sources. Use the current local product label, Supplement Facts panel, and safe upper limits for specific nutrients from the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets.
United States
Indication: Any multivitamin/multimineral use
Dose summary: No dose is displayed. The supplied sources give no multivitamin dose. There21s no standard or regulatory definition for what nutrients MVMs, or any dietary supplement, must contain or at what levels; manufacturers choose which vitamins, minerals, and other ingredients, as well as the amounts, to include in their products. MVMs providing nutrients at or up to 100 percent of the Daily Value (DV) do not typically interact with medications.
Renal context: Not established by the supplied sources. No renal or hepatic dosing or adjustment information is provided by these sources; individual assessment is required. (1)
Hepatic guidance
Not established by the supplied sources; no hepatic impairment guidance is provided.
Overdose note
The supplied sources give no overdose amounts or overdose management protocol. Taking MVMs at high doses or taking many different supplements may cause adverse side effects, and total intake should not exceed the safe upper limits for any nutrient. Iron supplements are a leading cause of poisoning in young children. Direct overdose concerns to a health care provider or poison-information service. (1) (3)
Frequently asked questions
Can multivitamins replace a healthy diet?
No. MVMs cannot take the place of eating a variety of foods that are important to a healthy diet. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020212025 recommends that people should aim to meet their nutritional requirements through a healthy eating pattern that includes nutrient-dense foods. (1)
Will a multivitamin help me live longer or lower my risk of cancer, heart disease, or diabetes?
Most research shows that taking multivitamins doesn21t result in living longer, slowing cognitive decline, or lowering the chance of getting cancer, heart disease, or diabetes. Most studies have shown little or no effect of MVMs on the risk of health problems, and the supplied sources describe the evidence as weak, mixed, or insufficient. (1) (2)
Does a multivitamin help prevent or cure COVID-19?
There is not enough scientific evidence to clearly show that taking any dietary supplement helps to prevent or cure COVID-19. (1)
Are multivitamins safe?
Taking a daily dose of a basic MVM is unlikely to pose a health risk for healthy people. However, taking them at high doses or taking many different supplements may cause adverse side effects. If you consume fortified foods and beverages along with dietary supplements, you should make sure that your total intake of vitamins and minerals is not more than the safe upper limits for any nutrients. (1) (2)
If I take a blood thinner, can I take a multivitamin?
MVMs providing nutrients at or up to 100 percent of the Daily Value (DV) do not typically interact with medications. However, if you take a blood thinner, such as warfarin (Coumadin and other brand names), talk to your health care provider before taking any MVM or other dietary supplement that contains vitamin K. (1)
Can I get too much of a vitamin or mineral?
Yes, intake can add up. If you consume fortified foods and beverages (such as cereals or drinks with added vitamins and minerals) along with dietary supplements, you should make sure that your total intake of vitamins and minerals is not more than the safe upper limits for any nutrients. Taking excess amounts of vitamin A (preformed retinol form, not beta-carotene) during pregnancy has been shown to increase the risk of birth defects. High doses of some vitamins can cause problems. (1) (3)
What is the mechanism of action of multivitamin/multimineral supplements?
Vitamins and minerals are essential substances that our bodies need to function normally. The known vitamins are vitamins A, C, D, E, and K and the B vitamins: thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), cobalamin (B12), biotin, and folate/folic acid. A number of minerals are essential for health, including calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chloride, magnesium, iron, zinc, iodine, sulfur, cobalt, copper, fluoride, manganese, and selenium. Each vitamin has specific jobs. If you have low levels of certain vitamins, you may get health problems. The supplied sources describe no pharmacokinetic parameters for multivitamin products. (1) (3)
What is the generic name of Multivitamins?
The generic name is multivitamin/multimineral supplements. (1)
What class of drug is multivitamin/multimineral supplements?
Multivitamins is classed as: Dietary supplement (vitamin and mineral product). (1)
References
- Vitamins and MineralsNIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health · United States · dated July 2023 · accessed 2026-10-13 · source 1
- Using Dietary Supplements WiselyNIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health · United States · dated January 2019 · accessed 2026-10-13 · source 2
- VitaminsMedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine · United States · accessed 2026-10-13 · source 3
Brand names by country
Single-ingredient multivitamin/multimineral supplements names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.
Priority countries
United States
- BulkSupplements.comBulkSupplements.comregulator source
- Rise-N-ShineRise-N-Shineregulator source
- Simply SupplementsSimply Supplementsregulator source
- California Gold NutritionCalifornia Gold Nutritionregulator source
- EqualineEqualineregulator source
- BioCareBioCareregulator source
- APOPTOSIS NutraceuticalsAPOPTOSIS Nutraceuticalsregulator source
- ANTIAGING Institute of CaliforniaANTIAGING Institute of Californiaregulator source
- up&upup&upregulator source
- EquateEquateregulator source
New Zealand
- Paediatric Seravitreference source
View brands in additional countries.
Philippines
Pharmaton Essential