If you eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of nutritious foods, you probably get all the nutrients you need every day. However, at certain times of your life, including childhood, pregnancy and old age, you may need to supplement your diet by taking a multivitamin. Additionally, if your magnesium levels are low, your physician may advise you to look for a multivitamin containing magnesium. A wealth of multivitamin products are available over the counter, so ask your physician which is best for you. Be sure to read the label to determine how much magnesium and other nutrients a specific product contains.
Daily Magnesium Requirement
Magnesium is needed by every organ in your body, especially your heart, kidneys and muscles; it's needed to produce energy, activate hormones and to regulate your calcium levels. You need different amounts of magnesium at different times in your life. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, male and female children under the age of 14 need 80 mg to 240 mg of magnesium daily; at ages 14 to 18, boys need 410 mg of magnesium per day, and girls need 360 mg. As an adult man, you require 400 mg to 410 mg of magnesium and if you are a woman, you need 310 mg to 360 mg daily, depending on whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
One-A-Day Maximum Multivitamin
One-A-Day Maximum multivitamin, manufactured by Bayer, contains 100 mg of magnesium, which is 25 percent of the daily value, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Many multivitamins contain this amount of magnesium because the mineral is readily available in many popular foods, including spinach, potatoes, peanut butter, soybeans and milk. Along with magnesium, One-A-Day Maximum also contains vitamins A, C, D, E, K and all eight B vitamins, as well as calcium, iron, phosphorus, iodine, zinc, selenium, copper and manganese. Other nutrients in this product include chromium, molybdenum, chloride, potassium, nickel, tin, silicon, vanadium and boron.
Centrum Kids Complete Chewables
For children, many companies offer chewable products, such as Centrum Kids Complete Chewable multivitamin. Each chewable tablet contains 40 mg of magnesium, which is 10 percent of the daily value for children age 4 and over, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Each chewable multivitamin also contains the eight B vitamins and vitamins A, C, D, E and K, along with calcium, phosphorus, iodine, zinc and copper. These vitamins also provide iron, chromium, molybdenum and manganese. Talk to your children's pediatrician before adding a multivitamin to their diets.
Generic and Store Brand Multivitamins With Magnesium
Generic and store brand multivitamins often cost less and are just as effective. You can look for store brand multivitamins at many pharmacy chains. The U.S. National Library of Medicine states Rite Aid Whole Source Mature Adult Multivitamin has 100 mg of magnesium, as do most adult multivitamin products. This multivitamin contains calcium, phosphorus, iron, iodine, copper, selenium and zinc, as well as vitamins A, C, D, E, K and the eight B vitamins. It also has molybdenum, manganese, selenium, chromium, chloride, potassium, nickel, tin, boron, vanadium and lutein. Additionally, this multivitamin contains several herbs, including ginseng, Gingko biloba, bilberry and grape seed extract.
References
- MedlinePlus: Multivitamins
- Oregon State University Linus Pauling Institute; "What to Look for in a Multivitamin"; Jane Higdon; 2003
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Magnesium
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: Bayer One-A-Day Maximum Product Information
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: Centrum Kids Complete Chewable Product Information
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: Rite Aid Whole Source Mature Adult Multivitamin Product Information
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