Taking a multivitamin supplement can be a useful way to ensure you get enough vitamins and minerals. Although the nutritional needs of men and women vary, both men and women may benefit from taking a men's multivitamin supplement in some situations. However, people with a healthy and well-balanced diet may not need to take vitamin supplements at all. Always talk to your doctor to determine if vitamin supplementation is right for you.
Are Vitamins Necessary?
Many people can adequately meet their vitamin and mineral requirements though diet alone. In fact, getting vitamins and minerals through food is preferable to taking a supplement because of the specific way the nutrients interact with each other through the digestion process. However, some people, particularly those with a poor or restricted diet or those with a medical condition, simply cannot meet their vitamin or mineral requirements through food alone. Taking a vitamin supplement can be an effective way for these individuals to meet their nutritional needs. In addition, although taking a multivitamin isn't always necessary, it usually isn't harmful either. Because of this, many people choose to take a daily multivitamin as a nutritional insurance policy to make sure they meet their vitamin and mineral needs.
Gender Differences
Most multivitamin brands have a specific supplement geared towards a particular gender. This is wise, because men and women have different nutritional needs. Men have a greater recommended dietary allowance for vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, choline, magnesium, manganese and zinc. Men of certain ages also require larger amounts of vitamin B-6. Women of child-bearing age, on the other hand, require larger amounts of iron than men.
Considerations
Men's multivitamin supplements are based on the nutritional needs of men, which obviously makes them more appropriate for men than women. However, many women may also benefit from taking these supplements. While women may get slightly more than their recommended dietary allowance for certain vitamins and minerals, this is not normally a cause for concern unless it exceeds the tolerable upper intake level for her age group. The tolerable upper intake level is the maximum amount of a vitamin and mineral that a person can take without increasing their risk of adverse side effects. Since men's multivitamin supplements generally contain well under the tolerable upper intake levels of both men and women, women who take a men's multivitamin supplement should not experience any adverse reactions. However, women who take a men's multivitamin supplement on a regular basis may not get the amount of iron they need, particularly if they are of childbearing age and have a poor dietary intake of iron. If this is the case, taking an additional iron supplement or switching to a multivitamin designed for women may be necessary.
Warning
Although all adults, regardless of gender, may benefit from taking a men's multivitamin supplement, these supplements may not be appropriate for children or teenagers. Children and teenagers often have lower recommended dietary allowances and tolerable upper intake levels, and taking a supplement not designed for their particular age group may increase their chances of overdosing on a certain vitamin or mineral. Because of this, it is crucial that children and teenagers only take vitamin supplements specifically designed for their age group.
References
- Institute of Medicine of the National Academies: Dietary Reference Intakes: Recommended Dietary Allowances and Adequate Intakes
- Institute of Medicine of the National Academies: Tolerable Upper Intake Levels
- MayoClinic.com; Dietary Supplements: Nutrition in a Pill?; June 2010
- InteliHealth; "His and Her Vitamins -- Smart Medicine or Marketing Ploy?"; Robert H. Shmerling, M.D.; October 2010
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