Greens Powders, Multivitamins Value Questioned by Doctors
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Two US physicians have publicly questioned whether daily multivitamins and powdered greens supplements are worth their cost for otherwise healthy adults, in an article published by Men's Journal and syndicated on AOL on 14 August 2026. James Chao, chief medical officer at VedaNu Wellness, said many greens powders contain “doses of most ingredients way below any possible useful amount” while typically costing $80 to $100 a month, and that the fibre and micronutrient variety found in whole fruit and vegetables is largely lost during processing. Ayesha Bryant, clinical adviser at Alpas Wellness, said multivitamins “shouldn't be used by otherwise healthy adults as nutritional insurance” to offset a poor diet, and are better reserved for people with an identified deficiency. The article cites the US Preventive Services Task Force's 2022 recommendation statement, which found the evidence insufficient to determine whether multivitamin use changes the risk of cardiovascular disease or cancer in healthy adults.
What the evidence actually says
The USPSTF gave multivitamins its lowest-confidence “I” rating, meaning the task force could not weigh the balance of benefit and harm either way, not that a harm was found. The underlying review drew on dozens of randomised trials and cohort studies in adults without a diagnosed nutrient deficiency, a different population from someone who is, for example, iron deficient or following a restricted diet. The task force separately concluded that beta-carotene supplements carry more harm than benefit for disease prevention, and found no net benefit from vitamin E. Neither doctor quoted in the Men's Journal piece disputed that supplements can help with a specific, identified gap; their concern was the assumption that a daily multivitamin or greens powder compensates for an otherwise unbalanced diet without that gap ever being confirmed.
What this means for your supplement routine
The doctors' point is about value rather than safety: paying up to £80 a month for a broad-spectrum product aimed at a gap that has not been confirmed is a different decision to buying a single nutrient known to be short, a distinction usually informed by a blood test or a GP conversation rather than habit. It is also a reminder that a longer ingredients list on a label is not itself evidence of usefulness, and that checking what a product actually contains per serving is worth doing before reordering out of habit. Anyone reviewing what is already in their cupboard against this can check how membership pricing works across already-stocked brands before deciding what, if anything, is worth reordering.
How Perqen members save
Whatever a household already buys, Perqen membership currently costs £4.99 a month or £29.99 a year and unlocks member pricing across the site's 1,393-product catalogue, rather than a markup built into any single product.
This article reports published news and research and is for information only. Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied diet or medical care, and no product mentioned is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Speak to your GP or pharmacist before changing what you take, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking prescribed medicines.
Sources
- Doctors Warn: Greens Powders and Multivitamins May Not Be Worth Your Money
- Vitamin, Mineral, and Multivitamin Supplementation to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer: Preventive Medication (USPSTF)
Originally reported by Men's Journal (via AOL). This article has been reviewed by Dr Tosin.