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Dr. V Mohan, a renowned diabetes specialist and recipient of the Padma Shri award, recently criticized a promotional advertisement by the multivitamin brand Centrum, deeming it misleading. Dr. Mohan, who chairs Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre in Chennai and is an accomplished author in the medical field, raised concerns about the potential harm associated with indiscriminate multivitamin consumption. He pointed out that the advertisement's suggestion of indiscriminate multivitamin supplementation contradicts established medical knowledge.

In a social media post, Dr. Mohan shared a snapshot of Centrum's advertisement from a prominent newspaper and expressed his reservations. He emphasized that there is no medical condition termed "multivitamin deficiency." Instead, he underscored the importance of addressing specific deficiencies, such as vitamin D or B12, with targeted supplementation. Dr. Mohan cautioned against the blanket use of multivitamins, warning that they might not provide adequate amounts of the deficient vitamins and could potentially cause harm by supplying unnecessary nutrients.

When a user on the platform suggested that individuals might be deficient in vitamin D3 and B12, Dr. Mohan clarified that the required dosage of the deficient vitamin might exceed what is available in a typical multivitamin tablet or capsule. He reiterated the principle that only the deficient vitamin should be replaced, cautioning against the routine consumption of additional vitamins and minerals when not medically indicated, as it could lead to adverse effects.

In his social media post, the globally renowned diabetologist also tagged Dr. KV Babu, a respected physician from Kerala known for his activism through RTI applications on public health issues. Dr. Babu gained prominence for successfully challenging misleading advertisements by Patanjali and winning legal battles against the Medical Council of India (MCI). Despite his notable track record, Dr. Babu had not yet responded to Dr. Mohan's critique of Centrum's advertisement.

The advertisement by the American brand claimed that "eight in ten Indians may be multivitamin deficient" and advocated for the daily consumption of multivitamins for every family member. It suggested that daily diets may not be balanced and hence, supplementation is necessary. However, Dr. Mohan questioned the validity of such claims, emphasizing that there is no recognized medical condition termed "multivitamin deficiency." He cautioned against indiscriminate multivitamin consumption and highlighted the potential harm of unnecessary supplementation when specific deficiencies are not present.