Multivitamin supplements are not superior to nutrition education in improving fat-soluble vitamin levels: A...

Vitamin deficiencies are closely associated with the development of chronic diseases. Therefore, effective and safe intervention strategies are critical to improving vitamin nutritional status. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and differential impacts of nutrition education and multi-vitamin supplementation, providing a basis for selecting safer intervention strategies.

A 4-week, double-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted among 155 adults (aged 18-65 years) with confirmed deficiencies in fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, or E). Participants were randomly assigned to receive either nutrition education with a multivitamin supplement or nutrition education with placebo. The concentrations of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, or E), as well as their deficiency rates, were compared before and after the intervention.

A total of 155 participants completed the study. There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics between the two groups. In both groups, the concentration of vitamins (A, D, or E) significantly increased (all p < 0.001), and the deficiency rates for all three vitamins significantly decreased (all p < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences in the concentrations or deficiency rates of vitamins (A, D, or E) between the two groups after intervention (all p > 0.05).

Multivitamin supplements are not superior to nutrition education. Nutrition education alone may be a safer and effective approach to addressing deficiencies in vitamins A, D, and E, while reducing the risks as-sociated with unnecessary vitamin supplementation in the general population.