Many people take multivitamin supplements to help ensure they're getting adequate nutrients despite having a possibly less-than-optimal diet. If you're taking multivitamins, however, you might wonder whether they're to blame for your increased appetite. There are some conditions under which multivitamins can increase your appetite; talk to your doctor if you have concerns about your appetite.
Vitamins
Your body needs several different types of nutrients each day to function. Some of these fall into the broad category of macronutrients, which are the energy-providing molecules. Proteins, carbohydrates, and fats are macronutrients. Vitamins fall into the category of micronutrients; you don't need them in large amounts, and they don't provide you with any energy, but they do help to keep your cells functioning normally, and you wouldn't be able to survive without them, explains Dr. Lauralee Sherwood in her book "Human Physiology."
Appetite Increase
There is a misconception that certain vitamins -- especially the B-vitamins -- make you feel more energetic and cause you to burn or need more energy. This is based upon the fact that you need the B-vitamins to process energy molecules, but taking B-vitamin supplements hasn't been demonstrated to increase the amount of energy your cells burn in a given day. There's no scientific evidence to suggest that normal use of B-vitamins, or any other vitamin supplements, increases the amount of energy an otherwise healthy person needs or burns.
Considerations
If you happen to be vitamin deficient and start taking multivitamins, it's possible that the vitamins could increase your appetite. This is because certain vitamin deficiencies can lead to appetite loss, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center. If you find that you have a larger appetite upon starting vitamins, it's likely that your appetite is simply returning to normal after having been suppressed, rather than that your appetite is suddenly becoming greater than normal.
General Guidelines
If you experience a significant change in appetite that persists for more than a few days, you should talk to your doctor. Some illnesses can cause appetite change, as can stressful situations. Your doctor can help you determine whether you need medical intervention to return your appetite to normal, and can also provide advice on whether the vitamin supplements you're taking are appropriate for you, given your nutritional needs.
References
- "Human Physiology"; Lauralee Sherwood, Ph.D.; 2004
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamins
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