Kate Street

<a href="https://www.blackmoresinstitute.org/resources/tools/nutrient-summary-guide">Vitamins and minerals are fundamental for human health, playing essential roles throughout the body including cellular energy production, immune defence, neurotransmitter synthesis, and tissue repair. </a>1 Yet micronutrient inadequacy remains one of the most widespread forms of malnutrition globally, with more than five billion people estimated to consume inadequate iodine, vitamin E, and calcium, and more than four billion thought to have insufficient intakes of iron, vitamins B2 (riboflavin), B9 (folate), and C (see Figure 1).2<img src="https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/blt948bd74310fc0ad0/blta77c05d6bfd944de/6a3c84df3659935f46a3a8c7/Screenshot_20260518_at_114410_am.png" alt="Screenshot 20260518 at 114410 am.png" class="embedded-asset" /> Figure 1. Estimated prevalence of intake inadequacies by country and nutrient.2While a diverse, nutrient-dense diet remains foundational, the reality is that modern dietary patterns, food accessibility, medication use, and life-stage demands mean many individuals fall short of recommended intakes.3In this context, multivitamin and mineral (MVM) supplementation may serve as a practical form of nutritional insurance, with evidence demonstrating that regular MVM use is associated with improved micronutrient status and a reduced prevalence of inadequacies,4 helping reduce the risk of health complications such as impaired cognition, immune dysfunction, and pregnancy-related complications.2Given their central role in neurochemical and stress-response pathways, the benefits of MVM supplementation also extend beyond preventing deficiency states, with clinical evidence demonstrating support for mental health and psychological resilience.5<h3>Beyond deficiency</h3>In children and adolescents, research indicates that comprehensive MVM formulations may support symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), aggression, and emotional dysregulation.3 Systematic reviews highlight that broad-spectrum formulas demonstrate more clinically meaningful effects than single-nutrient approaches or formulas with fewer ingredients.6 This likely reflects the interdependent role of micronutrients in neurotransmitter synthesis, mitochondrial function, and stress regulation.3A 2026 double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, the Balancing Emotions of Adolescents with Micronutrients (BEAM) study, investigated the effects of broad-spectrum MVM supplementation in 132 unmedicated adolescents aged 12–17 years with moderate-to-severe irritability. Participants received either a micronutrient formula or placebo for eight weeks. The micronutrient group showed significantly greater improvements in irritability, emotional reactivity, overall functioning, and suicidal ideation. Among adolescents with disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, response rates were 64% with micronutrients compared with 12.5% with placebo.7<h3>Evidence from high stress environments</h3>Compelling findings have also emerged from natural disaster settings, where psychological stress is heightened and access to nutritious food is often compromised. Following the 2010-11 Christchurch earthquakes in New Zealand, a randomised controlled trial (RCT) found that individuals receiving broad-spectrum MVM supplementation reported significantly greater improvements in mood, anxiety, and energy compared with those taking a standard B-complex formula, with treated participants also showing reductions in intrusive thoughts and other stress symptoms.8 Importantly, these benefits appeared to extend beyond the acute intervention period. A one-year follow-up of participants from the Christchurch earthquake trial found that adults who had received micronutrient supplementation demonstrated better long-term psychological functioning, including lower stress, anxiety, and trauma symptoms, compared with non-treated controls.9Similar findings were observed following the 2013 floods in Alberta, Canada. In a six-week randomised trial, participants receiving either a B-complex or a broad-spectrum MVM formula showed significantly greater reductions in stress and anxiety than those receiving a single nutrient (vitamin D), with large effect sizes.5Collectively, these studies suggest that MVM supplementation can support psychological resilience during periods of stress, and multi-nutrient approaches appear more effective than isolated single-nutrient interventions.<h3>Healthy ageing and cognitive function</h3>Inadequate micronutrient status is associated with frailty, cognitive impairment, and increased chronic disease risk in older adults.10 It is estimated that 85% of older adults live with one or more chronic diseases that could be improved through nutrition, and at least half require nutritional intervention to improve their health.11 Age-related changes in digestion, absorption, medication use, and increased nutrient requirements further increase vulnerability to deficiencies across multiple nutrients.11,12An RCT involving 2,262 adults (mean age 73 years) showed that daily MVM supplementation significantly improved global cognition, episodic memory, and executive function compared with placebo. Benefits were particularly evident in individuals with cardiovascular disease, a population at greater risk of micronutrient insufficiency.13Randomised and observational studies have also associated MVM use with improvements in psychological symptoms and cardiometabolic parameters, as well as a reduced risk of certain chronic diseases.14 Together, these findings suggest that maintaining micronutrient adequacy across the lifespan may contribute to sustained physiological and cognitive function.Observational research also provides insight into real-world experiences of MVM users. In a large survey, 93% of users reported support for at least one aspect of vitality, including immune function, energy, or overall health confidence, with benefits more frequently reported among daily users and adults aged ≥50 years.15 While self-reported, these findings align with controlled research suggesting meaningful quality-of-life benefits.We asked <a href="https://profiles.canterbury.ac.nz/Julia-Rucklidge">Professor Julia Rucklidge </a>her thoughts on why we are seeing this increased need for supplementation:“There are now more than three decades of research examining the role of micronutrients in both the prevention and treatment of psychiatric disorders. The weight of this evidence is too substantial to ignore. Against the backdrop of widespread global consumption of ultra-processed foods, we are witnessing a profound mismatch between the brain’s nutritional requirements and the modern food environment.Supplementation, in many respects, serves as a signal of this mismatch. If we are truly prepared to take these data seriously, the more pressing questions are why we continue to support the large-scale production of foods so depleted of micronutrients, and how declining soil health is further compromising the nutritional quality of the whole foods we do produce.”<h3>Conclusion</h3>MVM supplementation offers a pragmatic, accessible, and generally safe approach to bridging common nutritional gaps. Beyond deficiency prevention, evidence from paediatric mental health research, disaster resilience trials, cognitive ageing studies, and observational data suggests that comprehensive, moderate-dose formulations may support psychological resilience, cognitive function, and long-term health across the lifespan.<h3>References</h3><ol><li>Tardy AL, Pouteau E, Marquez D, Yilmaz C, Scholey A. Vitamins and minerals for energy, fatigue and cognition: A narrative review of the biochemical and clinical evidence. Nutrients. 2020.</li><li>Passarelli S, Free CM, Shepon A, Beal T, Batis C, Golden CD. Global estimation of dietary micronutrient inadequacies: a modelling analysis. The Lancet Global Health. 2024.</li><li>Rucklidge JJ, Bruton A, Welsh A, Ast H, Johnstone JM. Annual Research Review: Micronutrients and their role in the treatment of paediatric mental illness. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 2024.</li><li>Wallace TC et al. Multivitamin/Multimineral Supplement Use is Associated with Increased Micronutrient Intakes and Biomarkers. Journal of Nutrition in Gerontology and Geriatrics. 2019.</li><li>Kaplan BJ et al. A randomised trial of nutrient supplements to minimise psychological stress after a natural disaster. Psychiatry Research. 2015.</li><li>Johnstone JM et al. Multinutrients for the Treatment of Psychiatric Symptoms in Clinical Samples. Nutrients. 2020.</li><li>Rucklidge JJ et al. Efficacy and Safety of Micronutrient Treatment for Irritability in Teenagers (BEAM). JAACAP. 2026.</li><li>Rucklidge JJ et al. Effects of micronutrients on stress and trauma after an earthquake. Human Psychopharmacology. 2012.</li><li>Rucklidge JJ et al. Psychological functioning 1 year after a brief intervention using micronutrients. Human Psychopharmacology. 2014.</li><li>Mustafa Khalid N et al. Association of Micronutrient Malnutrition with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Frailty. IJERPH. 2022.</li><li>Cristina NM, Lucia d’Alba. Nutrition and Healthy Aging. Nutrients. 2021.</li><li>Norman K, Hab U, Pirlich M. Malnutrition in older adults. Nutrients. 2021.</li><li>Baker LD et al. Effects of cocoa extract and a multivitamin on cognitive function. Alzheimer’s &amp; Dementia. 2022.</li><li>Wang Weilan et al. Multivitamin and mineral use: a rapid review of meta-analyses. Ageing Research Reviews. 2025.</li><li>Garg V et al. The role of multivitamin and mineral supplements in supporting health and well-being. Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition. 2025.</li></ol>

<h3>Key highlights</h3><ul><li>Micronutrient inadequacy remains highly prevalent globally, with billions of individuals failing to meet recommended intakes for multiple essential nutrients.</li><li>Multivitamin and mineral (MVM) supplementation has been shown to improve micronutrient status and reduce the prevalence of dietary inadequacies.</li><li>Broad-spectrum MVM formulations have demonstrated benefits for psychological resilience, including reductions in stress, anxiety, and post-traumatic symptoms in randomised trials.</li><li>Moderate-dose, synergistic formulations may offer a safer and more sustainable long-term strategy than high-dose single-nutrient interventions.</li></ul>

Key highlights

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