Multivitamins: Who Should Take Them?

Updated on September 22, 2026

Summary: Multivitamins: Who Should Take Them?

Lynn Goneau, a naturopath at La Boîte à Grains, explains that multivitamins aren’t necessary for everyone, but they can help fill certain nutritional gaps. Whether they’re appropriate depends largely on age, dietary variety, and individual needs. She emphasizes the importance of a varied diet rich in fruits and vegetables and draws attention to vitamin D as winter approaches. She also introduces Progressive multivitamins, whose formulas are tailored to different profiles.

1. Multivitamins: A Supplement to Your Diet

A multivitamin can help fill certain nutritional gaps, but it is no substitute for a balanced and varied diet. Lynn compares it to a seatbelt: a safety net that should accompany healthy habits.

2. Who Might Benefit from Them?

Lynn mentions children and teens who don’t eat a varied diet, people who exclude several food groups or often eat on the go, as well as older adults. The choice should take into account each person’s individual needs.

3. Nutrients and Habits to Prioritize

Vitamin D is of particular concern as winter approaches. She also mentions calcium, magnesium, and iron, while encouraging the addition of vegetables to meals and fruits as snacks or desserts to diversify nutrient intake.

4. Formulas Tailored to Different Profiles

Lynn introduces the Progressive line, which includes multivitamins for men, women, children, active individuals, pregnant women, and people over 50.

About the Author

Lynn Goneau, Certified Naturopath

Specializes in:

• Digestive Health
• Hormonal Health
• Stress and Fatigue
• Memory and Concentration
• Weight management

Frédéric Bisson, radio host on 104.7 FM

Host at the Cogeco network’s 104.7 FM radio station. Frédéric Bisson has been hosting the show *L’Outaouais Maintenant* from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. every weekday since February 27, 2023.

Transcript

Frédéric Bisson - Host, 104.7 FM:

With Lynn Goneau, a naturopath at La Boite à Grains, today we’re going to talk about multivitamins and who they’re for. Are we talking about multivitamins for men or for women? We see it on the bottles, but is that really what they’re for? Well, are they for people 50 and older? Why are there different ones for each category? Why are there some for children? And should everyone take them? Hello, Lynn Goneau.

Lynn Goneau—Naturopath from La Boite à Grains:

Hello, Fred.

Frédéric Bisson - Host, 104.7FM:

Should everyone take them?

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath at La Boite à Grains:

Actually, that’s an excellent question. And the answer is really no. Not everyone automatically needs a multivitamin—a balanced diet is always the foundation. A multivitamin can be helpful in certain situations, but it will never replace a varied diet. However, even when you make good dietary choices, it’s not always easy to get all the nutrients you need—between your busy lifestyle, rest periods, and certain realities of modern agriculture today—so a multivitamin can sometimes serve as a really valuable safety net.

Frédéric Bisson - Host, 104.7FM:

And you know what? I’d also add—I went grocery shopping last night, and inflation… I’ll stop there because I’ll never finish. So who does this apply to?

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath at La Boite à Grains:

Actually, you could think, for example, of a child or teenager who doesn’t eat a varied enough diet or who eats very few vegetables, or of someone who follows a diet plan that eliminates several food groups or who often eats on the go. We can also think of older adults, because for them, the absorption of certain nutrients sometimes becomes less efficient with age. In all cases, a multivitamin should be chosen based on the individual’s specific needs.

Frédéric Bisson – Host, 104.7FM:

Okay, so based on the individual’s needs. That explains why there are formulas for people 50 and older, and for children, and so on. Yes, what specific minerals or vitamins do you look for in the ingredients?

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath at La Boite à Grains:

Actually, there’s one vitamin I pay special attention to at this time of year. It’s vitamin D. Okay, it’s often called the “sunshine vitamin,” and as we head into winter and get less sun exposure, it becomes especially important. We might think of calcium, magnesium, and iron, among others, as contributing to bone and muscle health and the proper functioning of the immune system. But above all, remember this: to get a good variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, fruits and vegetables must play a major role in our diet. My advice is simple: try to include vegetables with every meal and choose a piece of fruit—either as a snack or for dessert, depending on your appetite. The more color on your plate, the greater the variety of nutrients you’ll get.

Frédéric Bisson - Host, 104.7FM:

Yeah, that’s right. Blueberries, then strawberries—especially Quebec strawberries right now—I never pass up strawberries from Île d’Orléans. As my grandmother would say, if we generally have a poor diet, can a multivitamin make up for it?

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath at La Boite à Grains:

A multivitamin can certainly help fill in some nutritional gaps. But even with the best intentions, if you’re not eating enough—like the recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables—or if you have a really busy schedule, you won’t be able to maintain a balanced and varied diet. Yes, it’s a bit like the example of your seatbelt in a car. The seatbelt is really important, but it won’t replace safe driving. The two work together.

Frédéric Bisson - Host, 104.7FM:

The seatbelt. After drinking and driving, it’s important. But just because you’re wearing your seatbelt doesn’t mean you’re not in danger, right?

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath from La Boite à Grains:

Definitely not. And me, Fred, I eat really well, but I still take one every day. I’m a 63-year-old woman who’s very, very active. And my nutritional needs are high compared to the portions I can eat in a day.

Frédéric Bisson - 104.7FM Host:

Yeah. You’re 63, and I keep saying we’re the same age. Which multivitamin does that? I want the same one (laughs).

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath at La Boite à Grains:

Yes, actually, there’s the multivitamin from Progressive. Plus, it’s a Canadian company with over 35 years of experience. What I like is that they have multivitamins tailored for pregnant women, active people—whether men, women, or children—and those over 50. They’re high-quality supplements at an affordable price.

Frédéric Bisson - Host, 104.7FM:

And Lynn, if we want to schedule a private consultation with you, it’s simple, simple, simple—very simple.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath at La Boite à Grains:

Go to the La Boite à Grains website—my contact information is there. Just send a quick email to book a time slot when we can meet, and then we’ll discuss your health.

Frédéric Bisson - Host, 104.7FM:

Generally speaking, there’s so much to say about this. Lynn Goneau, naturopath at La Boite à Grains. Have a great week. Thank you very much.