Taking a multivitamin supplement daily is one way to ensure you are getting enough nutrients to remain healthy. Vitamins are naturally occurring substances needed by your body to function properly. Multivitamins contain a combination of vitamins and minerals in one pill and are meant to supplement the diet or treat vitamin deficiencies caused by disease, pregnancy, poor nutrition or digestive disorders that cause absorption problems. They are not meant as a substitute for eating a nutritious diet. Although they are available over the counter, multivitamins are typically prescribed during childhood and pregnancy.
What to Look for
Most multivitamins contain the Recommended Daily Allowance, or RDA, for vitamins B6 and B12, niacin, folic acid, thiamine, riboflavin and pantothenic acid, as well as for the minerals copper, iodine, chromium, molybdenum, manganese and zinc. Other vitamins that are present in most multivitamin supplements are vitamins A, C, D, E and K. It is especially important to get enough vitamin D every day because it is only produced in the body after exposure to sunlight. Multivitamins might also provide some amount of iron, calcium, biotin, selenium and magnesium. Multivitamin supplements are classified as dietary supplements and therefore are not subject to Food and Drug Administration scrutiny. Choose a multivitamin from a reputable manufacturer and read the label carefully. Standardized products will have a verification mark from the U.S. Pharmacopoeia, an official public standards-setting authority for all prescription and over-the counter medicines.
Uses
Many people take multivitamins because it makes them feel healthy. Others take them to treat a vitamin deficiency caused by disease or poor diet. Vegetarians and vegans who follow a very strict diet might need to take them to get nutrients only found in foods they don't eat. Some medications prevent the absorption of vitamins from the digestive tract so that supplementation is necessary. Along with brands, multivitamins come in a host of different formulas. Check with your physician about what type is best for you.
Side Effects
Multivitamins are generally considered safe, but they can cause some side effects. A multivitamin contains a variety of different ingredients with associated side effects. In general, they might cause an unpleasant taste, diarrhea and upset stomach, so it's advised to take them after a meal. Folic acid can cause numbness and tingling on the skin, constipation and decreased coordination. Iron can cause constipation, dark stools, nausea, stomach pain, bloody diarrhea and vomiting. Drugs.com says it's also possible to develop an allergic reaction to any of the ingredients in a multivitamin; symptoms include hives, itching, rash, wheezing, difficulty swallowing, and swelling of the mouth and face. Read the label carefully to look for any ingredients to which you are allergic.
Precautions
Never take more than the recommended dosage of any multivitamin supplement and don't take more than the RDA amounts of any supplement. Taking megadoses of certain vitamins can be dangerous, according to PDRHealth. Do not take more than one type of multivitamin at a time unless advised to by your physician. Do not take multivitamins with milk or other dairy products because calcium can block the absorption of other vitamins and minerals.
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