Messaging and Multivitamin Use: Rethinking the “It Can’t Hurt” Philosophy

Fifty-two percent of American adults report use of a dietary supplement, most commonly for improved health and disease prevention. However, literature supporting such use is inconsistent. Many providers suggest that the addition of a multivitamin “couldn’t hurt,” but this messaging may promote unintentional consequences including a shift of emphasis on intake of healthy foods to nutrient supplements and a neglected opportunity to discuss the profound benefits of a healthy diet. Potential implications of such messaging and recommendations for counseling are described.