Full profile
| Also known as | Multivitamin, Daily multivitamin |
|---|---|
| Best for | Covering common dietary gaps with one daily product · Memory support in adults 60+ (a small effect in large trials) |
| Evidence grade | Grade C — Limited — early or small human trials |
| Studied dose range | One daily tablet providing roughly 100% of recommended intakes for most vitamins and minerals, as in COSMOS (Centrum Silver). |
| Time to effect | Any cognitive difference in COSMOS emerged over 2–3 years of daily use; there is no acute effect. |
| Best form | A broad-spectrum formula near 100% of daily values, without megadoses, matched to age and sex. Check totals for preformed vitamin A, iron, and vitamin B6. |
| Food sources | A varied diet covers most needs; a multivitamin fills gaps rather than replacing food |
Evidence, honestly graded
Claim-specific C for cognition in healthy adults, with the supporting evidence sitting just outside that population. A 2024 meta-analysis of three cognitive sub-studies of the COSMOS trial (Vyas et al.; 5,203 adults aged 60 and older, followed for 2–3 years) found a daily multivitamin-mineral produced slightly better change in global cognition (0.07 standard deviations) and episodic memory (0.06 standard deviations) than placebo, which the investigators equated to about two years of cognitive aging. It holds C rather than A or B for two reasons our standard names explicitly: the evidence sits in older adults rather than the general healthy-adult population, and the three analyses share one parent trial, so they are not independent replications. Trials in younger, nonclinical adults have mainly measured stress and mood rather than cognition (Long & Benton 2013). The effect is small, and this is a formula rather than a single ingredient.
See the full grading rubric — study type, replication, population match, and dose adequacy — in The Evidence Standard.
Side effects
- Generally very well tolerated at nutritional doses
- Mild GI upset, especially with iron-containing formulas taken on an empty stomach
Who should avoid it or check first
- Already taking several single vitamins or minerals without checking combined totals against upper limits
- Iron-containing formulas without a known need, particularly for men and postmenopausal women
- Pregnant or trying to conceive — choose a prenatal formula with a clinician
Interactions
- Vitamin K can affect warfarin — keep intake consistent and tell your clinician
- Calcium, iron, magnesium, and zinc can reduce absorption of some antibiotics and thyroid medication — separate the doses
Use caution stacking with
- B-Complex (B6, B9, B12) or Vitamin D3 single supplements without checking combined totals
What to look for on a label
- Look for amounts near 100% of daily values rather than several-fold megadoses.
- The COSMOS result is research, not a label claim: in Canada, multivitamin claims are set by Health Canada's Multi-Vitamin/Mineral Supplements monograph, so confirm current permitted wording before relying on any cognition language.
References
- Vyas CM, Manson JE, Sesso HD, et al. (2024). The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 119(3):692–701In the meta-analysis, a daily multivitamin-mineral improved change in global cognition (0.07 SD, 95% CI 0.03–0.11) and episodic memory (0.06 SD, 95% CI 0.03–0.10) versus placebo.
- Long & Benton 2013, Psychosomatic Medicine — micronutrient supplementation meta-analysis. In nonclinical samples, vitamin and mineral supplementation reduced perceived stress and mild psychiatric symptoms and improved aspects of everyday mood. PMID 23362497. Background on younger adults, not a cognition finding.
Grades and studied doses are our conservative reading of the human research, shown for education. They are not product claims, and a studied dose is not a recommended dose.
Revision history
Every change to this ingredient's evidence status, dated and explained. The full cross-library log lives at Evidence Updates.
- 2026-09-14New profile
New profile at claim-specific Grade C. The COSMOS meta-analysis found small cognitive benefits in adults 60 and older, but the evidence sits in older adults and comes from one parent trial, which our standard does not count as independent replication.
See how Multivitamin-Mineral compares on grade, dose, and goal in the Evidence Explorer.
