The body needs many different vitamins in order to function properly. Most of the vitamins needs can be met through eating a well-balanced diet since most vitamins occur naturally in a variety of different foods. There are times, such as during childhood, pregnancy, old age and illness, that the body may need an additional source of vitamins. In those cases, a physician may recommend taking a multivitamin, such as those made by Centrum. There are nine different varieties of Centrum multivitamins that are available as tablets, chewable tablets and liquid.
Vitamins
Centrum multivitamins provide all the important vitamins needed daily. Their basic multivitamin formula contains 3,500 IU of vitamin A, needed for vision, at 70 percent of the recommended daily value or DV, according to the product label. They also have 60 mg of vitamin C, an antioxidant, at 100 percent DV needed as a co-factor in several enzymatic reactions; 400 IU of vitamin D at 100 percent DV which is essential for absorption of calcium and phosphorus, and 30 IU of the antioxidant vitamin E at 100 percent DV. Centrum multivitamins also contain the B vitamins: B1 or thiamine, B2 or riboflavin, B3 or niacin, B5 or pantothenic acid, B6, B9 or folic acid and B12 or cobalamin at 100 percent DV. They also provide biotin, or B7, and vitamin K.
Minerals
Centrum advertises that its multivitamins have all the key nutrients from A to Zinc. The basic multivitamin contains 11 mg of zinc at 73 percent of DV. The multivitamin also provides at least 100 percent DV of iron, needed for oxygen transport, iodine for production of thyroid hormones and manganese for bone strength. There are 200 mg of calcium, 20 percent of the DV, which is also needed for bone strength. Centrum multivitamins also contain various amounts of selenium, phosphorus, copper, magnesium, chromium, chloride, molybdenum and potassium.
Other Formulas
Centrum's specialty multivitamin formulas contain more or less amounts of the vitamins and minerals that are found in their basic formula. Centrum Ultra Women contains more calcium, vitamin K and vitamin C. Centrum Ultra Men has added vitamin D, vitamin C and selenium. Centrum Silver provides more vitamin E, vitamin B6 and B12, but less vitamin A. Centrum Cardio, which has a recommended dosage of two tablets per day, has more B6, B12 and less calcium. Centrum Kids is sold as a scored chewable tablet and contains the same vitamins and minerals as the basic formula; the scored tablet is provided for children under three who only need one-half of a tablet per day.
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