Americans spend $8 billion on supplements each year, but do we get any benefit from them? See what the experts have to say.
What Are Multivitamins, Exactly?The word "multivitamin" is a little misleading, since these supplements often include more than simply vitamins.
"Manufacturers may use a mix of vitamins and minerals, but they may also contain herbs, antioxidants, and amino acids,"
explains Sonya Angelone, RDN, a nutritionist in private practice in the San Francisco Bay region.
Despite the fact that multivitamins have been available since the 1940s, there is still no standard description of the nutrients they should include, according to previous studies.