Multivitamins Don't Work. Here's Why so Many People Still Take Them

Despite evidence against them, multivitamin consumption is still on the rise. Why?

By Dan Hurley
Sep 12, 2017 6:00 PMDec 12, 2019 4:03 PM
vitamin-man
JW LTD/Getty Images

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
 

How do they do it? How do science deniers manage to convince themselves that the evidence for global warming, evolution and vaccine safety is so much fake news? For those of us who prefer to remain based in reality, the denialists represent a conundrum. Plenty of them are intelligent and educated — yet they just will not accept scientific findings as true. At least not when it comes to inconvenient truths that mess with their self-interest or self-identity.

Luckily, most science geeks would never deny the settled science in a field where multiple peer-reviewed, placebo-controlled studies find the same thing over and over. They would never be lulled into believing that thousands of scientists have conspired to delude people into accepting a phony consensus.

Or would they?

The answer is revealed in the medicine cabinets of millions of Americans, where you'll certainly find a multivitamin.

0 free articles left
Want More? Get unlimited access for as low as $1.99/month

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

0 free articlesSubscribe
Discover Magazine Logo
Want more?

Keep reading for as low as $1.99!

Subscribe

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

Stay Curious

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and unlock one more article for free.

 

View our Privacy Policy


Want more?
Keep reading for as low as $1.99!


Log In or Register

Already a subscriber?
Find my Subscription

More From Discover
Recommendations From Our Store
Shop Now
Stay Curious
Join
Our List

Sign up for our weekly science updates.

 
Subscribe
To The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Copyright © 2023 Kalmbach Media Co.