Over-the-counter dietary supplements are big business — the Indian dietary supplements market reached a value of INR 331 Billion in FY21 according to a report by EY India released on 18 February, 2022. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach INR 847 Billion by 2027, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate of 14% during 2022-2027. However, the question remains whether using these supplements is actually beneficial to health or not. This article reviews the results of randomized controlled trials and observational studies of multivitamin and mineral supplements among the general adult population to answer the question of whether they are beneficial to overall health or not. The PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were used for the literature search. Randomized controlled trials and observational studies in adults were reviewed to assess efficacy and safety. Our study found that taking multivitamin and mineral supplements can increase nutrient intakes and help people obtain recommended amounts of vitamins and minerals when they do not meet these needs from natural food alone. Some individuals, including vegetarians, vegans, and strict dieters need to make sure they're getting enough vitamin B12, calcium, iron, and zinc from their natural diet. Suppose if they don’t get the recommended amounts of certain vitamins or minerals from their diet, multivitamin and mineral supplements may help them obtain those nutrients. The study also discovered that using multivitamins and supplements can promote brain functions and support eye health. But more research is needed in this area to ensure its benefits. We do not have sufficient evidences to prove the presence or absence of benefits from use of multivitamin and mineral supplements to prevent chronic diseases such as heart diseases and cancer.
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