There are multivitamins formulated for everything from growing hair and nails to preparing for pregnancy. Multivitamins are made for women, men and children and come in capsule, pill, chewable, liquid and powder forms. Taking a multivitamin a day can be a good way to supplement your nutrition and health; however, taking too many can result in health problems.
Identification
A multivitamin is a daily supplement that contains a combination of fat- and water-soluble vitamins along with minerals essential for good health. These vitamins come in many forms and can be taken at any time of the day. Multivitamins contain the recommended daily allowance of every vitamin and mineral. Some multivitamins, such as prenatal supplements, may exceed the daily recommended allowance of certain vitamins.
Uses
Regular multivitamins are used to supplement good health and prevent vitamin deficiencies. They may also be taken to help treat malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies. People with certain medical conditions, such as iron-deficiency anemia, may be directed to take multivitamins. Pregnant women or women planning to conceive may be directed by their physician to take prenatal vitamins, special multivitamin supplements formulated for pregnancy.
Considerations
Before treating a vitamin deficiency, you should see a physician. You may have been told that you are lacking a certain vitamin or several vitamins, but before treating it with over-the-counter multivitamins, see your physician to find out the cause of your deficiency. If you are pregnant, you may take a multivitamin, but you may be directed to take a prenatal vitamin to compensate for the higher demands for calcium, iron and folic acid during pregnancy.
Warnings
Do not take multivitamins if you are taking prescription medications, unless you speak with your doctor first. Some medications lose effectiveness when coupled with vitamins, and some may cause reactions. Do not take more than one multivitamin per day. Taking more can lead to serious health consequences dues to hypervitaminosis. Since multivitamins often contain minerals, be careful not to take more than the recommended dosage set by the manufacturer, or you may develop mineral poisoning, which can be fatal.
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