The most effective way to give your body the essential vitamins and minerals it needs for optimum health is through daily food intake. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, people who don't receive sufficient minerals and vitamins, also called micronutrients, may need a multivitamin or specific dietary supplement to complement their diets. Recommended guidelines for appropriate vitamin and mineral intake are available through a number of sources, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Institute for Medicine.
Considerations
People with certain medical conditions or those who follow a restricted diet often require supplements. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, menopausal women, women with heavy menstrual cycles and pregnant and breast-feeding women usually require additional vitamin and mineral supplements to make up for lost micronutrients. Vegetarians and those who've undergone gastric bypass surgery may not meet the recommended vitamin and mineral guidelines and need supplements. Digestive diseases, food allergies and other medical conditions may limit vitamin and mineral absorption, creating a need for supplements.
Identification
You should talk to your doctor about supplements to find out if your condition can cause you to miss certain micronutrients. A doctor can advise you on appropriate supplements to help you to meet the general guidelines without taking risks of over-supplementation. Additionally, your doctor can help you identify supplements that may interfere with other medications you're taking. For example, certain vitamin and mineral supplements recommended in the guidelines for the general public can cause internal bleeding and interfere with anesthesia if you need to have surgery. Various cancer treatments do not respond well to some supplements.
Function
A healthy diet provides the majority of recommended vitamins and minerals. Some micronutrients, however, are more difficult to get in a normal diet to meet the necessary guidelines. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, multivitamins should contain 100 percent of the daily-recommended dosage of folic acid, niacin, riboflavin, and vitamins B-6, B-12, E and D. To complete the efficiency of a multivitamin, there should be at least 90 mg of vitamin C.
Benefits
The benefits of taking vitamin and mineral supplements have not been established through research. According to the American Heart Association, available research that indicates people who take micronutrient supplements are healthier most likely exists because those individuals maintain a healthier weight and tend to follow healthier lifestyles overall.
Warning
Messages and claims made by vitamin and mineral manufacturers are not regulated by any federal agency and often are misleading. For example, terms such as "advanced," "maximum," and "complete" can mean anything and are not defined by any regulatory agency. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the most effective way to find out if you're getting recommended dosages is to check the list of ingredients on a supplement and dismiss the advertising claims.
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