[Written in partnership with RENN Asia Wellness, but the editorial team had full control over the content.]
When I picture the ideal morning routine, I imagine waking up at 6, doing some morning meditation or yoga, then having breakfast at a leisurely pace, complete with a delicious cup of coffee.
And of course, there’ll be a handful of multivitamins and supplements waiting for me on the counter.
But are multivitamins really worth spending a couple hundred ringgit on every month or so? As a natural skeptic, I can’t help but wonder if multivitamins can really bolster my life, or if it’s just another multi-million dollar industry that preys on our health fears.
To answer this, we spoke to Jonathan Chew, the founder of RENN Asia Wellness.
Who needs it?
Before recommending a multivitamin, Jonathan starts by reviewing someone’s diet, lifestyle, and lab results, or any existing medical reports.
“I usually recommend multivitamins to people who have poor dietary habits, absorption issues, or increased nutrient needs, like the elderly, vegans, athletes, or those under chronic stress,” he explained.
“You might benefit from one if you’re often tired, get sick easily, or have a restricted diet.”
But if your diet is truly diverse and whole-food-based, you might not need a multivitamin. Let’s be honest, though, are most of us really that strict with our food intake, especially here in Malaysia with all our yummy street foods?
Jonathan himself added, “I’ve found that even clients with ‘good’ diets often fall short due to soil depletion and processed food. For me, multivitamins act as a nutritional safety net, especially during stressful periods or recovery.”
But does it really work?
The purpose of multivitamins is pretty straightforward.
A multivitamin is a dietary supplement containing various vitamins and minerals, often designed to help individuals fill nutritional gaps and support overall health.
Basically, they give you the essential nutrients your body needs to function optimally.
These are all good things on paper. But does our body actually absorb all these nutrients from a simple vitamin supplement?
Jonathan’s answer is layered: “Yes—but not all formulas are equal. I always look for high-quality multivitamins with active forms like methylated B12 or chelated minerals.”
He continued, “While some excess nutrients (like B vitamins) are excreted in urine, that doesn’t mean your body didn’t use what it needed. I choose formulations that support proper absorption and function.”
Just because vitamin supplements are good doesn’t mean you should just pop as many as you want, though. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing, because you could risk overdosing.
“Consumption of any vitamins or nutrients should be based on evidential need of it or a specific requirement,” Jonathan said.
“I will be extra cautious when taking ultra-high doses of multivitamins and always take fat-soluble vitamins (like A and D) into account. When in doubt, I rely on testing or closely monitoring symptoms to avoid nutrient overload.”
He also recommends always consulting a qualified practitioner to provide professional support regarding vitamin intake.
How do we choose a multivitamin?
Choosing a multivitamin comes down to what your body requires. Different vitamins and minerals offer different benefits.
For example, if you’re in need of energy support, well-rounded multivitamins with a complete B complex may be ideal.
Incorporating these B vitamins into your daily routine ensures that your body has the tools it needs to produce energy efficiently, helping you feel more awake and focused throughout the day.
For cognitive function and longevity, key nutrients to look for include resveratrol, lutein and zeaxanthin, and iron. Meanwhile, you can make your immune system more resilient with vitamins C and D, as well as minerals like zinc and selenium.
Heart health can be supported by ingredients such as magnesium, CoQ10, and Omega-3 fatty acids.
At RENN, practitioners don’t push any one brand. Instead, they tend to recommend practitioner-grade options with clean ingredients and proven absorption.
“These brands are usually for professional use only and require consultations with health practitioners to obtain them,” Jonathan explained.
In any case, when shopping for multivitamins, it’s important to focus on quality over quantity. Look for brands that provide transparency about their ingredient list and explain the benefits of each nutrient included in the formula.
Bolstering our overall health
Maybe “who needs multivitamins?” was the wrong question to start with.
By the time you need multivitamins, it must mean that there’s something up with your health.
It’s not so much that we need multivitamins, but we should want them because they can support our overall health.
“I don’t see multivitamins as the solution, but rather as support,” Jonathan elaborated. “At RENN, our philosophy is to treat the root cause. Multivitamins help restore micronutrient balance, which creates a foundation for deeper healing through more targeted therapies.”
But keep in mind that multivitamins won’t work just on their own. Jonathan himself never recommends multivitamins as a standalone solution, but rather integrates them into a larger, personalised wellness plan.
He explained, “I use them as short-term support or to help bridge dietary gaps while we work on gut health, hormonal balance, detox, or stress management. It’s always part of a broader picture.”
- Learn more about RENN Asia Wellness here.
- Read other articles we’ve written with RENN Asia Wellness here.
Featured Image Credit: Vulcan Post / Maria Kozyr via Pexels