Each brand of multivitamin has its own distinct ingredients and benefits. Estroven multivitamins contains herbal ingredients to address the hormonal changes due to menopause, while One A Day multivitamins offer several types of products specifically geared toward a person's age, gender and lifestyle. Some people make the mistake of believing they can reap the benefits of these two brands of supplements by taking them together. Generally speaking, this practice is not safe and may result in a vitamin overdose.
Multivitamin Safety
While getting the appropriate amount of vitamins and minerals is essential for proper health, there is such a thing as getting too much of a good thing. Most people should keep their total vitamin and mineral intake under the tolerable upper intake level. The tolerable upper intake level is the amount established by the Institute of Medicine that is considered safe to take without experiencing any adverse reactions. Taking an Estroven Multivitamin supplement at the same time as a One A Day multivitamin supplement will most likely cause you to exceed this limit.
Tolerable Upper Intake Levels
Although individuals with certain medical conditions may require more than the tolerable upper intake amount, most people should avoid exceeding these amounts unless they are specifically instructed by a doctor to do so. As of June 2011, the tolerable upper intake levels of vitamins for adults over the age of 18 are 3,000 mcg of vitamin A, 2,000 mg of vitamin C, 100 mcg of vitamin D, 1,000 mg of vitamin E, 35 mg of niacin, 100 mg of vitamin B-6, 1,000 mcg of folate and 3.5 g of choline. The tolerable upper intake levels of minerals for adults over the age of 18 is 20 mg of boron, 10,000 mcg of copper, 10 mg of fluoride, 1,100 mcg of iodine, 45 mg of iron, 350 mg of magnesium, 11 mg of manganese, 2,000 mcg of molybdenum, 1.0 mg of nickel, 400 mcg of selenium, 1.8 mg of vanadium, 40 mg of zinc, 2.3 g of sodium and 3.6 g of chloride. Adults between the ages of 19 and 50 can get up to 2,500 mg of calcium, while adults over the age of 50 should limit their calcium intake to just 2,000 mg. A tolerable upper intake level does not exist for vitamin K, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B-12, panthothenic acid, biotin, chromium or silicon.
Considerations
Estroven and One A Day brands offer several types of supplements. While taking an Estroven multivitamin supplement and a One A Day supplement is likely to put you over the tolerable upper intake level, you may be able to take a multivitamin supplement of one brand and a different type of supplement from the other. For example, Estroven Nighttime supplement only contains a few vitamins and minerals. Taking this supplement with a One a Day Women's multivitamin would only result in a total of 2,000 IU of vitamin D, 27 mg of vitamin B 6, 580 mg of calcium and 150 of magnesium, all of which are well under the tolerable upper intake levels. To calculate whether it is safe to take multiple supplements at the same time, add up the total amount of each vitamin and mineral from each of the supplements and compare it to the tolerable upper intake levels. It is only safe to take multiple supplements at the same time if the total amount is less than the tolerable upper intake levels, unless a doctor instructs you to do otherwise.
Warnings
Taking multiple multivitamin supplements can result in a vitamin overdose. Symptoms of a vitamin overdose vary, depending upon the specific situation, but might include frequent or urination, cracked lips, eye irritation, sensitivity to light, fast or irregular heartbeat, joint pain, muscle pain, muscle weakness, headaches, fainting, fatigue, mental changes, mood changes, jaundice, hair loss, sensitivity to the sun, convulsions, flushing of the skin, itching, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal issues and weight loss, according to Medline Plus. If you have taken too much of a certain vitamin and mineral and experience any of these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.
Member Comments