Many adults and children take a daily multivitamin as part of their overall health strategy. However, decades of research have produced mixed findings on whether multivitamins reduce the risk of major health outcomes. As a result, some experts assert that water-soluble vitamins produce little more than expensive, neon-colored urine.
More recent studies—particularly those using improved research designs—are beginning to challenge this notion. While multivitamins are not a cure-all, they may offer subtle but measurable benefits, especially in certain populations.
In a 2026 study analyzing data from the COSMOS trial involving 958 older adults, researchers found that participants who took a…
