Padma Shri Dr V Mohan slams Centrum ad: 'There is nothing called multivitamin deficiency'

In the advertisement highlighted by Dr V Mohan, American multivitamin brand Centrum claimed that 'eight in ten Indians may be multivitamin deficient'. (Image credit: @drmohanv/X)

Diabetes specialist and Padma Shri award winner Dr V Mohan has slammed multivitamin brand Centrum for one of its advertisements that he believed was misleading. The Chennai-based doctor and author -- who is also the chairman of Dr Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre -- said that popping multivitamin supplements as was advertised by Centrum can also end up causing harm.

Sharing a half-jacket ad the supplement manufacturer published in a leading daily newspaper, Dr Mohan wrote, "There is nothing called multivitamin deficiency. Unless there is deficiency of specific vitamins, eg. Vit D or B12 , giving multivitamins may not be beneficial and may even do harm. And multivitamins usually do not provide enough of the deficient vitamin."

There is nothing called multivitamin deficiency. Unless there is deficiency of specific vitamins, Eg. Vit D or B12 , giving multivitamins may not be beneficial and may even do harm. And Multivitamins usually do not provide enough of the deficient vitamin. ⁦@drbabukv⁩ pic.twitter.com/rwdo9Oe1QI

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— Dr.V.Mohan (@drmohanv) April 21, 2024

When an X user commented that by multivitamin, it meant that the person might be deficient in Vitamine D3 and B12, Dr Mohan replied: "But then much more of the deficient vitamin will be needed and that much amount may not be available in a multivitamin tablet or capsule. Also, only the deficient vitamin needs to be replaced. Giving all other vitamins and minerals regularly when there is no deficiency can actually cause harm."

In his post, the internationally acclaimed diabetologist also tagged Dr KV Babu, a physician from Kerala who sends out RTI (Right To Information) applications on public health issues that concern him as a citizen and a doctor. He is also popular as the doctor who challenged Patanjali’s misleading advertisements and won. Dr Babu had also won a legal battle against the Medical Council of India (MCI). He was, however, yet to respond to Dr Mohan's post on Centrum.

In its advertisement, the American brand stated that "eight in ten Indians may be multivitamin deficient". "Every member of your family requires the right amount of multivitamins along with their daily diet," the Centrum advertisement stated. "But do you think their daily diet is balanced? That's why your family should take multivitamins every day."