A doctor advises against viewing multivitamins as a "cheat pill" and suggests focusing on a balanced diet instead.

You likely know someone who believes in taking a daily multivitamin, or you personally take one.

In 2017 through March 2020, about one-third of U.S. adults reported taking a multivitamin-mineral supplement in the past month, while nearly a quarter of U.S. teens and children, aged 19 and under, took a multivitamin within the same time period, according to data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If you're generally healthy, it wouldn't be harmful to not take a multivitamin, according to Dr. Elizabeth Ko, an internist and medical director of the UCLA Health Integrative Medicine Collaborative.

Doctor advises against relying solely on vitamin C and D supplements for immune support; instead, try these 5 proven immunity-boosting methods.

Ko tells CNBC Make It that the issue is that people view a multivitamin as a "cheat pill" that allows them to be more relaxed about their eating habits. However, Ko emphasizes that it is not a substitute for a healthy diet.

TikTok has 6 million views for the search term "liquid multivitamins reviews," and multivitamins can be taken in various forms such as gummies, capsules, and liquids.

Instead of purchasing multivitamins, Ko recommends considering other options if you are generally healthy.

Prioritize eating a healthy, balanced diet

Ko emphasizes that consuming the right foods and obtaining vitamins naturally is more crucial than taking a multivitamin. Typical multivitamins contain vitamins A, B complex, C, D, and E, as well as minerals such as magnesium and zinc.

Ko advises generally healthy adults to follow a Mediterranean-style eating pattern that emphasizes whole foods and plants. This approach, rich in phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals, should meet most, if not all, of their nutritional needs.

Eating a Mediterranean diet involves prioritizing whole grains, beans, fresh fruits and vegetables while limiting red meat, processed foods and sweets.

Research supports Ko's suggestion that adhering to a Mediterranean diet can decrease the chances of developing conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

A JAMA study published in 2022 that analyzed over 80 studies and included over 700,000 people found that multivitamins did not provide any significant benefits for generally healthy individuals in preventing cancer, cardiovascular disease, or death.

According to "The Nutrition Source" from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, a multivitamin cannot replace a healthy, well-balanced diet.

A multivitamin's primary function is to supplement missing nutrients, although it only suggests the abundance of beneficial nutrients and substances present in food.

Who should take multivitamins?

According to Ko, some individuals may require multivitamins in their diet.

"Plant-based diets often lack sufficient amounts of vitamin D, iron, and vitamin B12, as these nutrients are primarily found in animal products," she explains.

If blood tests reveal low levels, vegans and vegetarians may benefit from these supplements.

Individuals with stomach problems such as inflammatory bowel disease, those who have undergone bariatric surgery or a small bowel resection, and those who have had a history of these conditions may need to consult their doctor about taking multivitamins.

According to The Nutrition Source, multivitamins can be crucial for individuals with nutrient deficiencies when their nutritional needs are not met through diet alone.

According to Ko, for generally healthy individuals, adhering to a whole foods, plant-forward, Mediterranean-style diet ensures that they receive all necessary nutrients from food, making it unnecessary to take a multivitamin.

If people choose to take a multivitamin to supplement their diet instead of replacing it, then I don't see any issues with this approach.

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