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Do I Need A Multivitamin? By Our September Student Pharmacist, Sarah Mietz.

Most people know vitamins are important to your body, but what do they do? Vitamins help maintain healthy teeth, skin, bone, and tissues and are necessary for your body to function. Because your body is unable to make most of the vitamins you need, you may find yourself questioning if you’re getting enough.

So do you need a multivitamin?

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Multivitamins

Multivitamins are supplements that usually contain the recommended daily amount of each vitamin. They can also have extra ingredients and small amounts of minerals like calcium and magnesium.

However, you may be surprised to learn that most people (75%) get enough vitamins through the food they eat. Regularly consuming fruits, vegetables, dairy, and whole grains provides your body with the nutrients it needs.

If you’re questioning the balance and nutrition of your diet, choosemyplate.gov is a great and free resource. You can find tips for eating healthy on a budget and track your food and physical activity. Studies have shown that getting vitamins through food lowers your risk of heart disease and cancer, while multivitamins are not able to prove this lowered risk.

What’s the harm in taking unnecessary multivitamins? You could have excess intake of vitamins and experience side effects like nausea, pain, and vomiting. In serious cases, overdose of vitamins and iron can be fatal. Multivitamins can also interact with your medications, making them work less or not at all.

Is there ever a time I should consider taking a multivitamin?

If you are over the age of 50, aren’t eating a balanced diet, or are a vegan/vegetarian, you may want to talk with your physician or a registered dietician to discuss if a multivitamin is appropriate.

Medication Considerations:

As you recall, multivitamins can decrease the effectiveness of some medications. But did you know that some medications can deplete vitamins in the body? If you’re taking any of these medications long-term you may experience these vitamin deficiencies:

  • Vitamin D (Phenytoin, Carbamazepine)
  • Vitamin B12 (Metformin)
  • Vitamins A, D, E, K (Orlistat, Colestipol, Cholestyramine)

Final Thoughts:

Most people do not require a multivitamin and obtaining your vitamins through diet is proven to be more beneficial in preventing chronic disease. It’s always important to follow physician, pharmacist, and registered dietician recommendations and make them aware of any supplements and medications you are taking.

If you have any questions or concerns, please stop by and talk to the friendly and knowledgeable staff here at Plain City Druggist.

References:

Moyer VA. Vitamin, mineral, and multivitamin supplements for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer: U.S. Preventative Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. Ann Intern Med. 2014;160(8):558-564.

Murphy SP, White KK, Park SY, Sharma S. Multivitamin-multimineral supplements’ effect on total nutrient intake. Am J Clin Nur. 2007;85:280S-284S.

Picture: http://supplementcentrecanada.com/2015/07/28/best-multivitamin-reviews/

 

 

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