Multivitamin (multivitamin/mineral) and cancer

What 3 graded rows on multivitamin (multivitamin/mineral) agree on for cancer, and where they differ. Counted side by side, never averaged.

Consensus finder Rows from the Multivitamin (multivitamin/mineral) page, reviewed Oct 21, 2026 How it decides

What the rows agree on

Each block and row is one graded row from the Multivitamin (multivitamin/mineral) page, with its PubMed record.

Your question

Cancer3 Memory2

Supplement

Multivitamin (multivitamin/mineral) Choose another

Multivitamin (multivitamin/mineral) and cancer

3 rows · 84,942 people

Split. 1 row found no difference and 2 had mixed results.

No difference or mixed

Improved

Each block is one evidence row, sized by how many people it enrolled, with its grade inside. Outlined: mixed results.

Grade C× 2
No effect× 1

Rows: 3
Trials: 6
People: 84,942; Pooled reviews may count some twice

What the rows share

From the rows

The best-graded row, grade C, is a systematic review of 48,859 people (2022) and reported mixed results. 1 row is graded No effect, our grade for adequately powered trials that found no effect.

The rows run from 14,641 to 48,859 people, published from 2012 to 2022: 1 pooled review and 2 single studies.

The rows

1 no difference · 2 mixed

No effectTotal invasive cancer · No difference
RCT · n 21,442 · 2022 · US women 65+ and men 60+
1 tablet/day · Median 3.6 years
Invasive cancer in 518 vs 535 participants (HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.86–1.09); lung cancer lower (HR 0.62); no effect on cardiovascular events (HR 0.98) or all-cause mortality (HR 0.93). No safety concerns.
Row on the Multivitamin (multivitamin/mineral) page · PubMed 35294969 (opens PubMed)
Grade CCancer in adults without known deficiency (pooled multivitamin trials) · Mixed
Systematic review, 4 studies · n 48,859 · 2022 · Adults in 4 multivitamin RCTs
As used in each trial · Varied
Multivitamin use was linked to slightly lower any-cancer incidence (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.87–0.99) and lung cancer (OR 0.75, 2 trials); the review noted important limitations. Beta-carotene raised lung cancer risk (OR 1.20).
Row on the Multivitamin (multivitamin/mineral) page · PubMed 35727272 (opens PubMed)
Grade CTotal cancer incidence · Mixed
RCT · n 14,641 · 2012 · US male physicians aged 50+
1 tablet/day · Median 11.2 years
Total cancer 17.0 vs 18.3 events per 1,000 person-years (HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.86–0.998); no significant effect on prostate, colorectal or other site-specific cancers.
Row on the Multivitamin (multivitamin/mineral) page · PubMed 23162860 (opens PubMed)

Read onRead the full evidenceThe full evidence chapter on its page, with every outcome and its sources.