…But you shouldn’t rely on them entirely

“The effect in [PHS II] is relatively small,” said Dr. William Kormos, editor in chief of Harvard Men’s Health Watch and a primary care physician at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. Additionally, the study only examined men ages 50 and up who led generally healthy lives. “Compared with most people, the doctors in the study ate better diets, were more physically active, and engaged in fewer unhealthy activities. Less than 4 percent were smokers, and 60 percent exercised at least once a week,” HMS points out.
On the other hand, the average American is overweight, sedentary and eats too much fat and sodium. It’s possible that a multivitamin could be helpful for someone with a less healthy lifestyle, but it’s also possible that it wouldn’t provide many benefits given the profound effect that these unhealthful choices have on overall health.