Scientists from the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) recently published a science-based review about recent studies on multivitamins and multimineral (MVMM)  supplements. The review was written by Duffy MacKay, N.D., senior vice president, scientific and regulatory affairs, and Andrea Wong, Ph.D., vice president, scientific and regulatory affairs and published in the Natural Medicine Journal, the official journal of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. The studies reviewed were published in the December issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine (AIM).

"We felt compelled to write the review, given that the accompanying editorial came to conclusions that were not reflective of what the studies demonstrated," MacKay said.

According to CRN's review, none of the three studies in question suggested that the medical community abandon using and recommending MVMM supplements, however that is what the editorial authors called for. MacKay and Wong observe in their review that the report from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force called for additional research and new methodologies to study the effect of nutrients. They also point out that the reason why many consumers take vitamins— not for preventing chronic disease as the AIM editorial states, but rather for the nutrient shortfalls in most Americans' diets.

MacKay and Wong mention in their review that government research shows that, even with nutrient intake from diet, fortified foods and supplements, many Americans still fall below the estimated average requirement for certain nutrients.

“The bottom line is that Americans are not getting enough of the key nutrients they need, and MVMM supplements can help bring them closer to the levels they need for optimal health," Wong said.

CRN has a fact sheet on nutrient shortfalls available on its website, which shows the gaps Americans face in meeting basic nutrient requirements.