What Are the Benefits of Taking One-A-Day Men's Formula Multivitamins?

There's a great debate about whether taking a multivitamin actually benefits your health, and whether or not it's even safe. Still, 76 percent of Americans take supplements, and 73 percent of those people take a daily multivitamin. The men's One A Day multivitamin provides conservative amounts of the vitamins and minerals everyone needs for good health, as well as some additional nutrients that may offer specific benefits for men.

The men's ‌One A Day multivitamin‌ supplement was developed to address the specific health concerns for men. Heart disease is the no. 1 cause of death for men in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The ‌men's One A Day formula‌ contains certain vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that potentially improve heart health, such as vitamin D and magnesium. These same nutrients may also help men control blood pressure.

Energy is an important concern for all adults, so both the men's and women's formulas contain energy-promoting nutrients such as vitamin B12. Additionally, the men's formula provides nutrients that can aid healthy muscle function, growth and repair, including vitamin C and zinc.

Men's One A Day vitamins provide varying amounts of 21 vitamins, minerals and antioxidant nutrients. The amounts of each nutrient are based on the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for men for each nutrient and are expressed on the label as a percentage of the daily value (DV).

The DV is based on a typical 2,000-calorie diet the average American consumes; however, a man who eats more or less than this should take into account that they may require more or less of a specific nutrient.

The men's One A Day contains all 13 of the essential vitamins:

• ‌Vitamin A:‌ 3,500 IU — 70 percent DV
• ‌Vitamin C:‌ 60 mg — 100 percent DV
• ‌Vitamin D:‌ 700 IU — 175 percent DV
• ‌Vitamin E:‌ 22.5 IU — 75 percent DV
• ‌Vitamin K:‌ 20 mcg — 25 percent DV
• ‌Thiamin:‌ 1.35 mg — 90 percent DV
• ‌Riboflavin:‌ 1.7 mg — 100 percent DV
• ‌Niacin:‌ 18 mg — 90 percent DV
• ‌Vitamin B6:‌ 3 mg — 150 percent DV
• ‌Folic acid:‌ 400 mcg — 100 percent DV
• ‌Vitamin B12:‌ 18 mcg — 300 percent DV
• ‌Biotin:‌ 75 mcg — 25 percent DV
• ‌Pantothenic acid:‌ 16 mg — 160 percent DV

Seven out of 16 essential minerals are included in the men's One A Day formula. These include:

• ‌Calcium:‌ 210 mg — 21 percent DV
• ‌Magnesium:‌ 140 mg — 35 percent DV
• ‌Zinc:‌ 15 mg — 100 percent DV
• ‌Selenium:‌ 110 mcg — 157 percent DV
• ‌Copper:‌ 2 mg — 100 percent DV
• ‌Manganese:‌ 2 mg — 100 percent DV
• ‌Chromium:‌ 120 mcg — 100 percent DV

Although it is important to get all of the above nutrients from foods, John's Hopkins Medicine reports that there is no strong evidence that taking a multivitamin confers any benefits, including for heart health, energy levels, muscle growth and repair and blood pressure.

A multivitamin isn't a replacement for a balanced diet. The only time these supplements are necessary is when you have a deficiency in one of these nutrients. In that case, your doctor may recommend a short-term supplement to correct the deficiency.

Many nutrient deficiencies have been linked to poor heart health. According to a 2018 article in the Journal of the American Heart Association vitamin A, calcium, magnesium, selenium and vitamin D are cofactors for cardiac metabolism, and deficiencies in these nutrients may increase the risk of heart failure.

Several minerals are responsible for regulating blood pressure, including potassium, magnesium and calcium. Potassium and magnesium help relax blood vessel walls, and calcium helps relax and tighten blood vessel walls, which is crucial for normal blood pressure, according to Harvard Health Publishing.

The B vitamins play important roles in regulating metabolism and energy levels. Vitamin B12 is especially important, as it is required for proper blood cell formation, according to the National Institutes of Health. Deficiencies in B12 lead to anemia, which results in fatigue, nausea, decreased appetite and irritability, among other symptoms.

Anemia also causes ‌muscle weakness,‌ so getting enough B12 is crucial for muscle health. The B vitamin thiamin is also necessary for healthy muscles, according to Harvard Health Publishing. And the minerals calcium, potassium and magnesium aid normal muscle contraction.

Several well-known medical associations, including Harvard Health Publishing and Johns Hopkins Medicine warn that multivitamins have, in fact, been linked to health risks, not benefits. For example, Harvard Health Publishing reports that some research has shown that supplemental vitamin E could also slightly increase the risk of heart failure and hemorrhagic strokes. According to Johns Hopkins, excess intakes of calcium and vitamin D may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Because of the lack of documented benefits and the potential health risks, multivitamins aren't worth your money. The global supplement industry is growing exponentially, from $50 billion in revenue in 2015 to a projected $278 billion by 2024, according to Grand View Research.

Some supplements are scientifically proven to improve markers of health and disease. For example, fish oil supplements (and fish) can lower triglycerides, reduce the risk of plaque build up and slightly reduce blood pressure, according to Penn Medicine. But currently, multivitamins haven't shown to be of any benefit; thus, all they do is take money from your pocket and put it into the the hands of supplement manufacturers.

In most cases, men can get all the nutrients they need from a ‌healthy diet‌. Vitamin D is found in fatty fish like tuna and salmon, eggs, cheese, and fortified milk and yogurt products. B vitamins and magnesium are abundant in whole grains, lean meats, dairy, nuts and leafy green vegetables; fruits and vegetables provide potassium; and dairy, leafy greens and fish are high in calcium.

Instead of shelling out your hard-earned dough for multivitamins, invest it in a high-quality, nutrient-rich diet, including organic fruits and vegetables, lean hormone-free poultry and beef, fresh fish, hormone-free dairy, whole grains and farm fresh eggs.