Some people hobbyhorse vitamins. They take vitamin C, or B, or E, but neglect the others. Many studies have proven that taking all the vitamins instead of just a few can have significant impact on many different aspects of health. Jean Carper, syndicated columnist, medical journalist and author of several books, including Stop Aging Now, compiled a list of studies that demonstrate what taking multivitamins do for you.

- A Swedish study published in the Journal of Nutriton revealed that taking multivitamins lowers the risk of heart attack by 20% for men, and 35% for women.

- According to studies published in Lancet and Internal Medicine, infections are reduced by 40% in diabetics and 50% in the elderly after just one year of taking multivitamins.

- Harvard studies published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention showed that women with a family history of colon cancer are 50% less likely to contract the disease if they take a multiple vitamin that contains folic acid.

- A study published in the Archives of Opthamology revealed that the risk of cataracts is reduced by 60% when you have taken multivitamins for 10 years.

- According to a study published in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, children’s non-verbal IQ scores are raised by as much as 30% when they take a multivitamin and mineral supplement.

What problems can be caused by vitamin deficiencies? Here’s a small sampling.

- Vitamin K deficiency has been linked to osteoporosis.

- Vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of heart disease.

- Vitamin B deficiency may triple the risk of dementia.

- Vitamin E is used to prevent heart disease.

- Vitamin A deficiency is linked to night blindness and other vision problems.

How common are vitamin deficiencies?

Although you would think nutritional deficiencies would be rare in one of the wealthiest and most developed nations in the world, that is not the case: A 30-month study conducted in two U.S. hospitals found that 55% of 800 patients admitted for conditions unrelated to nutritional deficiency were nevertheless malnourished.

You may wish you’d started taking multivitamins years ago, but it’s never too late to start. Do it now and you could prevent the common conditions so many people accept as a natural part of aging. In truth, they’re not. You may never feel twenty again, but you can definitely feel good and, perhaps, even avoid any major problems.