Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) causes heartburn as a result of increased stomach acid production. Sometimes you can also suffer from nausea, belching and bloating associated with that increase. By improving your overall health you can help to decrease your symptoms and help the body to heal. Unfortunately, there are vitamins in a multivitamin that will increase your risk of nausea and stomach pain. By reading the label on your multivitamin and taking it correctly, or changing brands, you can reduce your pain and discomfort. Before adding any supplement to your regimen consult with your primary care physician.
Iron
Iron is one of the most abundant metals on the earth and is essential to normal health and development. The body uses iron in many of the proteins and enzymes produced to regulate body systems, such as oxygen delivery, work performance, immunity and cell growth. However, achieving a therapeutic supplemental dose can cause gastrointestinal side effects, according to Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) at the National Institutes of Health. These side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal distress and dark-colored stools. These side effects only increase the distress you already suffer with GERD. Multivitamins with extra iron should be avoided or taken in small doses until you can determine how they affect your system. If the bottle label recommends that you take the supplement twice a day, you can start with one pill or half a pill, gradually working up to the normal dose. If you begin to get increased symptoms of GERD you should reduce the amount of vitamins you are taking or get a multivitamin without iron.
Thiamine
This vitamin is essential for the function of muscles and the nervous system, according to MedlinePlus. The esophagus, lower esophageal sphincter and stomach are all muscles that help control and regulate digestion. With recommended daily allowances of thiamine you can improve the health of these muscles and reduce your potential to suffer from the symptoms of GERD.
Vitamin B12
B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that is required for neurological health and the production of red blood cells, according to ODS. If you have a gastrointestinal disorder, such as GERD, or high amounts of stomach acidity, you may have a decreased absorption of vitamin B12. Your multivitamin should include B12, and you may want to consider an additional B12 supplement after consulting with your primary care physician.
Antioxdant Vitamins
Antioxidant vitamins are important to help reduce damage at the cellular level in the stomach and intestines that is caused by acid reflux. A multivitamin that contains antioxidant vitamins A, C, E, magnesium, calcium, zinc and selenium is important to repairing damage and preventing the formation of ulcers, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Read the labels on your multivitamin to determine if your brand contains the recommended daily allowance of these vitamins. You should also consult with your primary care doctor to determine the vitamins you wish to take will not interfere with other medication you've been advised to use.
