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Everything You Need to Know About Vitamins. By Our Student Pharmacist, Kelly Usakoski.

Looking at the vitamin and mineral section in the pharmacy can be overwhelming, even for healthcare professionals.   Happy Druggist Pharmacy on Karl Road is participating in the free vitamin program provided by Good Neighbor Pharmacy. Make sure to ask about vitamins when you come in.

Here are some helpful hints and tips about choosing the right vitamins for you.

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What are Vitamins?

Vitamins are known as micronutrients that are not produced by the body, with the exception of vitamin D. They are important for growth and daily functioning. The majority of the population gets the vitamins they need naturally from the food they eat. Sometimes if someone has a certain medical condition, or as they age, they may not get the vitamins they need from their diet and may need to supplement their diet with pharmaceutical products.

Can you Have Too Many Vitamins?

There is such a thing as too many vitamins, but it depends on how the vitamins are metabolized by the body.  Some vitamins are fat-soluble, meaning they are stored in fat and can accumulate in your body leading to potentially unwanted side effects. Other vitamins cannot be stored in your fat and leave your body through your kidneys, so experiencing side effects from these vitamins are not as common, but may still occur. 

Fat-Soluble Vitamins

  • Vitamin A (Retinol) – found in eggs, milk, liver, leafy green vegetables, etc.
  • Vitamin D (Calciferol) – oily fish, fish liver oils, egg yolk, dairy products, etc.
  • Vitamin E (Alpha-Tocopherol) – nuts, seeds, vegetable oils, wheat germ, etc.
  • Vitamin K (Phytomenadione; Menaquinones) – leafy green vegetables, wholegrain cereals, rapeseed, and soya bean oil

Water-Soluble Vitamins

  • Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) – found in liver, pork, wholegrains, legumes, nuts, fruits, vegetables, etc.
  • Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) – liver, kidney, eggs, milk, rice, wholegrains, green vegetables, etc.
  • Vitamin B3 (Niacin) – fish, poultry, meat, milk, wholegrains
  • Vitamine B5 (Pantothenic acid) – liver, kidney, eggs, wholegrains, fortified breakfast cereals
  • Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) – meat, fish, wholegrains, vegetables
  • Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid) – liver, legumes, leafy green vegetables, etc.
  • Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) – meat, poultry, liver, kidney, fish, eggs, dairy products
  • Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) – citrus fruits, bell peppers, strawberries, broccoli
  • Vitamin H (Biotin) – egg yolk, liver, kidney, milk, yeast

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Which Vitamins are Right for You?

When choosing your vitamins, it is important to take into consideration whether or not the product has been certified for Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP) for the manufacturer and packager. These practices are defined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and help ensure you are getting a product that is better quality and has exactly what the label says it has.  Without CGMP certification, your product has higher potential to be inactive, ineffective, or contaminated with toxic materials like lead. You can look out for the CGMP logo and check if manufacturers have been certified online through the following third-party organizations: National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP), Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), and the Natural Products Association (NPA).

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Health Conditions and Vitamins

Different health conditions such as pregnancy, high cholesterol, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease may cause different types of vitamin deficiencies in patients. It is important to consider what vitamins may be necessary for your health at different stages in your life. Vitamins can also interact with your medications, so it is extremely important to let your doctor know if you start and or stop any of your vitamins.

References:

CDC. Vitamins and Minerals Are Critical. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published April 29, 2020. Accessed April 12, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/about-micronutrients/index.html

Ohio | Free Vitamin Program | Good Neighbor Pharmacy. Accessed April 12, 2021.https://www.mygnp.com/pharmacies/programs/healthy-kids-free-vitamins/?state=oh

Fat-soluble & water-soluble vitamins. ResourcePharm. Published January 18, 2020. Accessed April 12, 2021.https://www.resourcepharm.com/pre-reg-pharmacist/fat-soluble-and-water-soluble-vitamins.html

8 Foods That Are Packed Full of Vitamins. Live Cryo. Published April 27, 2017. Accessed April 12, 2021.http://www.livecryo.com/uncategorized/8-foods-packed-full-vitamins/

Nutrition C for FS and A. Accredited Third-Party Certification Program: Public Registry of Recognized Accreditation Bodies. FDA. Published online September 4, 2020. Accessed April 12, 2021.https://www.fda.gov/food/importing-food-products-united-states/accredited-third-party-certification-program-public-registry-recognized-accreditation-bodies

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Audit Program | USP. Accessed April 12, 2021.https://www.usp.org/verification-services/gmp-audit-program

The NSF Mark. NSF International. Accessed April 12, 2021. https://www.nsf.org/about-nsf/nsf-mark

vitamins.jpg (1732×1732). Accessed April 12, 2021. http://www.livecryo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/vitamins.jpg

 

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