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Limited evidenceMen's health

Men's Multivitamin

An iron-free daily formula that covers nutritional gaps. Large long-term trials in men have found essentially nothing for heart disease or cognition, and at best a very small reduction in cancer.

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What the science says

  • Small reduction in total cancer Moderate evidence

    The Physicians' Health Study II randomised 14,641 male physicians to a daily multivitamin for a median of 11 years and found an 8% lower incidence of total cancer. The effect was small, barely statistically significant, and has not been replicated in another trial of this size.

  • No effect on cardiovascular events Moderate evidence

    The same trial found no reduction in major cardiovascular events, myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular mortality over more than a decade of daily use.

  • No cognitive benefit in men Moderate evidence

    A randomised trial nested in the same cohort, following 5,947 men for 12 years with repeated telephone cognitive testing, found no difference between multivitamin and placebo on global cognition or verbal memory.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseOne tablet or capsule daily with food, per label. Formulas for men omit iron because men without diagnosed deficiency do not need supplemental iron and excess is harmful.
SafetyGenerally safe at label doses. Watch the fat-soluble vitamins and any high-dose single nutrients if you also take separate supplements; vitamin A above roughly 3,000 mcg RAE/day and long-term high-dose vitamin E are the usual concerns. A multivitamin does not replace investigation of a suspected deficiency.

How to take it

TimingTiming does not matter, but taking it at the same time each day makes it easier to remember.
With food?Take it with a meal that contains some fat, which improves absorption of vitamins A, D, E and K and prevents the nausea minerals cause on an empty stomach.
Worth knowingIf you suspect a specific deficiency, get it tested — a multivitamin masks the question rather than answering it.

Interactions

With medications

  • levothyroxine and other thyroid hormone

    Calcium, magnesium and zinc in the tablet reduce levothyroxine absorption. separate by at least 4 hours

  • tetracycline and quinolone antibiotics

    Minerals chelate these antibiotics and can undermine the course. separate by at least 2 hours

  • warfarin

    Added vitamin K, if present, can lower INR and reduce anticoagulation. keep intake constant and tell the clinic you started it so your INR can be rechecked

With other supplements

  • separate vitamin A, vitamin E or zinc supplements

    Stacking pushes fat-soluble vitamins and zinc past safe long-term intakes. add up the totals across all products before combining

Well-established interactions only — this is not a complete list. Always tell your doctor and pharmacist what you take.

Frequently asked questions

Is a men's multivitamin worth taking?

The benefit is small at best (limited evidence overall): the Physicians' Health Study II, following 14,641 men for a median of 11 years, found an 8% lower incidence of total cancer that has not been replicated. The same trial found no reduction in heart attacks, stroke or cardiovascular deaths.

Does a multivitamin improve memory in men?

No. A randomized trial following 5,947 men for 12 years found no difference between a men's multivitamin and placebo on global cognition or verbal memory.

Why do men's multivitamins not contain iron?

Men without a diagnosed deficiency do not need supplemental iron and excess is harmful, so men's multivitamin formulas omit it.

When should you take a men's multivitamin?

Take a men's multivitamin once daily with a meal containing some fat, which improves absorption of vitamins A, D, E and K and prevents nausea. Keep it at least 4 hours from levothyroxine and at least 2 hours from tetracycline or quinolone antibiotics.

Scientific references

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