Have you ever walked into a room but then forgot why you needed to go into the room in the first place? Or have you ever forgotten someone’s name whom you’ve met several times or where you placed your keys or your glasses? The human brain is amazing but sometimes, it’s not firing on all cylinders. That’s why it’s important to continually support brain health. One way to do that is by taking a high-dose multivitamin and mineral supplement daily.
Is a Multivitamin Good for Your Brain?
According to a new study, taking a multivitamin supplement may help boost brain health. The study was a randomized clinical trial, considered the gold standard of research, featuring adults over the age of 60 that were followed for three years.1 The study participants who took a daily multivitamin supplement had better memory compared to those who took the fake pill (placebo). The researchers concluded that taking a multivitamin holds promise as a safe, effective way to help support brain health, especially as a person ages.
These results are consistent with another 2023 randomized clinical trial that showed a daily multivitamin taken for three years improved brain health, including memory, in older adults. In that study, the average age of the participants was 73 and it included both men and women.2
In addition, a 2012 review of ten different randomized, placebo-controlled trials also showed that taking a multivitamin daily helped improve memory.3 But which multivitamin should you choose?
What to Look for in a Multivitamin
There are a lot of options when it comes to choosing a multivitamin supplement. For example, there are multivitamin supplements specifically for men, women, or children. There are also high-potency multivitamins that contain essential vitamins and minerals and whole food multivitamins that will help support enhanced energy. The most complete multivitamin and mineral should contain a wide range of vitamins such as A, B, C, D, E, and minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, copper, and chromium. The variety of vitamins and minerals in a quality multivitamin supplement may help support brain function and overall wellness.
If you are asking yourself, are multivitamins any good? According to the research, they are definitely good for your brain! You know what’s also good for your mind? Nature! Learn what forest bathing is and its benefits on overall wellness.
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References
- Yeung LK, Alschuler DM, Wall M, et al. Multivitamin supplementation improves memory in older adults: a randomized clinical trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2023;118(1):273-282. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37244291/
- Baker LD, Manson JE, Rapp SR, et al. Effects of cocoa extract and a multivitamin on cognitive function: a randomized clinical trial. Alzheimers Dement. 2023;19(4):1308-1319. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36102337/
- Grima NA, Pase MP, Macpherson H, Pipingas A. The effects of multivitamins on cognitive performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Alzheimers Dis. 2012;29(3):561-9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22330823/