Taking multiple vitamins and minerals ensures that we meet the nutritional requirements of our bodies. Multiple vitamins contain a variable number of essential and/or non-essential nutrients. Their primary purpose is to provide a convenient way to take a variety of supplemental nutrients from a single product. Some of the reasons that people give for taking supplements include: to improve nutrition, to make up for nutrients missing in the food supply, to decrease susceptibility to or severity of disease, to increase energy or improve performance.

Multivitamins and minerals usually contain vitamins A (beta carotene), B complex, C, D, and E and sometimes K. They also contain the minerals calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc and possibly iron.In addition to their antioxidant properties, vitamins and minerals play important roles in many processes in our bodies. For example, the vitamin B complex participates in metabolic reactions in cells, ranging from the breakdown of food into energy and their conversion into biomolecules to cell division. Low vitamin B intake from diet can affect mood and energy levels. Another multipurpose vitamin is vitamin C, which is a useful remedy for the common cold, and may protect against heart disease. Vitamin D and calcium both contribute to healthier bones.