Fatigue, commonly thought of as a desire to sleep, is actually the feelings of lacking energy and motivation. When someone is feeling an increased need for sleep, they are feeling drowsiness, not fatigue, although; it is common for drowsiness to be a symptom of fatigue. You can experience fatigue for several reasons such as exertion, stress, lack of sleep and a nutrient deficiency. If you are currently experiencing frequent fatigue, a multivitamin may help alleviate some of the symptoms.
Vitamin C
Vitamins come in one of two forms -- soluble or insoluble. Vitamin C falls into the water-soluble category. Vitamins, like vitamin C, that are considered water-soluble must be replaced on a daily basis because they exit your body through urine. If you aren't replacing your daily supply of these vitamins, it is possible for you to develop a nutrient deficiency. Vitamin C helps your body to heal, maintain and repair different organs and tissues. If you have even a slight vitamin C deficiency, you may experience fatigue at as a side effect. Vitamin C is commonly found in fruits and vegetables. If you don't consume a lot of fruits and vegetables in your diet a multivitamin may help you reach adequate vitamin C levels.
Vitamin D
Unlike vitamin C, vitamin D is not a water-soluble vitamin. Although your body has the ability to retain vitamin D, actually getting the vitamin can be difficult. Vitamin D is most commonly received through the sun's rays. This means that people living in areas without a lot of sunlight have a harder time getting their dose of vitamin D. Vitamin D is even more crucial because it helps your body to absorb calcium -- one of the most important minerals in your body. If your body is low on vitamin D and therefore absorbing calcium at a slower rate, this could be a cause for fatigue.
B Vitamins
In addition to vitamin C and vitamin D, a lack of B vitamins could contribute to fatigue. Specifically, vitamins B-1, B-2, B-6 and B-12 can relate to your energy levels. B vitamins are found in meat, whole-grains and vegetables. If you follow a vegan diet, you may be deficient in B-12 because it is only found in animal products. If you are worried you may be low on B vitamins, look for a multivitamin containing higher doses or you can also consider taking a B vitamin supplement.
Safety
Although a nutrient deficiency may be the culprit for your fatigue, do not rule out other possibilities. For example, fatigue is often the sign of more serious illnesses like diabetes, cancer or liver disease. If you are pregnant you should also expect that you may experience occasional fatigue. If you are taking your prenatal vitamins, like a multivitamin, it should help with any nutritional deficiency-related fatigue. Consult your doctor if you are currently taking a multivitamin and still experiencing frequent fatigue.
