While vitamins and minerals normally come from a balanced diet, you can also get them from supplements. Calcium is in most dairy products and some green leafy vegetables. Your need for calcium changes at various stages in life, including as you age or if you become pregnant, and your doctor may suggest you take a supplement. Your doctor may also suggest a multivitamin for various conditions.
Multivitamins
Multivitamins are health supplements that are sold over the counter and contain a mixture of essential vitamins and sometimes minerals. Although healthy eating is the best way to get these vitamins and minerals, if you do not eat regularly or if you have a medical condition, such as heart disease or osteoporosis, a multivitamin supplement may help. Multivitamins can help reduce the risk of vitamin deficiency, which can lead to diseases such as rickets or iron deficiency anemia.
Calcium Supplements
Calcium is one of the most abundant minerals in the body. Most of your body's calcium is in your teeth and bones, with a small amount in the bloodstream. Besides strengthening bones and teeth, calcium plays a role in stabilizing proteins and enzymes, nerve impulses and blood vessel functioning. If you need more calcium or don't get enough from your diet, you may need to take a calcium supplement.
Calcium Regulation
Although the body requires calcium for several functions, it is not fully absorbed into the body without help from vitamin D. Calcium supplements usually do not contain vitamin D, but multivitamins generally contain both. Vitamin D helps mobilize and metabolize calcium. Complete multivitamins often contain 100 percent of the recommended daily allowance of both.
The Bottom Line
Multivitamins contain all of the essential fat- and water-soluble vitamins needed for optimal health, while calcium supplements contain only calcium. If your doctor recommends you increase your calcium intake, you may only need to take a calcium supplement, but if you are pregnant or have other health conditions, it may be best to use a multivitamin supplement. Consult with your physician before taking a multivitamin or calcium supplement.
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