Atkins Diet Recommended Supplements

The Atkins Diet is a low-carbohydrate diet. According to the book, "Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution," you eat only a very limited variety of foods in the initial two-week phase, known as induction. During this period, you eat only leafy greens, animal protein, fat and a moderate amount of full-fat dairy products. In later phases of the diet, you add in a few starchier vegetables, some nuts and a small amount of fruit, however, the diet remains fairly restrictive throughout. Taking vitamin and mineral supplements helps make up for nutritional deficiencies caused by the diet's restrictions.

Calcium and Vitamin D

According to diet developer Dr. Robert Atkins, you may eat only a few ounces of dairy products per day throughout the course of the diet. Dairy products are the main dietary source of calcium and vitamin D. Your body needs calcium for strong teeth and bones, and it also is an essential element in blood clotting. Failure to consume enough calcium may lead to osteoporosis. You need vitamin D to help your body absorb calcium. Vitamin D deficiencies can contribute to a weakening of your bone structure.

Chromium

Low-carbohydrate diets work by regulating blood sugar and controlling the release of insulin into the bloodstream, according to the book "Good Calories, Bad Calories." The mineral chromium assists by further controlling blood sugar. Your body does not store chromium so you need to eat foods that include the mineral. The Atkins Diet, however, limits the types of food that contain chromium.

Multivitamin with Minerals

Whenever you eliminate a whole class of foods from your diet, as Atkins recommends you do with carbohydrates, you'll be missing out on some vitamins and minerals. The basis of a balanced diet is eating foods from across the spectrum of food groups in order to get the vitamins and minerals you need from dietary sources. Eliminating carbohydrates, especially fruits and grains, may lead to nutrient deficiencies. Taking a multivitamin and mineral supplement helps replace those missing nutrients. Opt for a multivitamin that has 100 percent of the Food and Drug Administration's recommended dietary allowance, or RDA, of vitamins. Avoid multivitamins or supplements that contain megadoses of nutrients, especially fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and K, because of the risk of taking toxic amounts.