By Stephanie Simons,
Head Pharmacist,
Lindo’s Pharmacy in Devonshire
The start of the New Year brings with it a slew of New Year resolutions. Many of these are focused on living a healthier life, be it with exercise or diet. These are noble goals that should be aspired to all year long. As the year unfolds, however, busy schedules can make resolutions hard to follow every day. When it comes to getting the nutrients you need, multivitamins can help fill the gaps in your diet.
What is a Multivitamin?
A multivitamin, as the name implies, is a supplement that contains various vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Multivitamins are available in a number of forms, including but not limited to a pill, liquid, powder and injection. Typically to qualify as a multivitamin, there needs to be at least three different vitamins or minerals included in the formulation.
For multivitamins that are available over the counter, each vitamin and mineral component is at a level below the maximum tolerable level determined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. There are multivitamins that include very high doses of certain vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Prescription vitamins are available for individuals who need a particularly high dose of a certain vitamin or mineral.
Why Consider Taking a Multivitamin?
Getting the recommended dosage of nutrients, minerals and vitamins is an important part of being healthy and it can be difficult through diet alone. Multivitamins can help fill the gaps in the diet so that the body has access to all the elements it needs to thrive.
The most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2010 report that calcium, vitamin D, dietary fibre, and potassium intake in adults and children is so low that it qualifies as a public health concern. A supplement could help to fill the nutritional void in these areas.
Taking a multivitamin is easy and does not require a heavy time commitment. It can be as easy as taking one pill in the morning every day.
Who Should Take Multivitamins?
Anyone seeking to complement his or her diet with the recommended intake of vitamins, minerals and nutrients should consider incorporating a multivitamin into their routine. For individuals with specific medical needs, speak to a physician or pharmacist about what multivitamins are good for you.
In addition, certain groups need increased vitamin levels. For example, The United Kingdom Food Standards Agency (FSA) recommends that pregnant women take an increased dose of folic acid and iron. The FSA has also adviced that elderly people may benefit from additional vitamin D and iron. There are special multivitamins that are targeted to these groups of people. Likewise, there are multivitamins specifically targeted for men, women and children and these supplements have varied percentages of vitamins, minerals and nutrients based on the needs of its target population.
What is the Recommended Intake?
Multivitamins are not a replacement for eating healthy, but rather a supplement to a healthy diet. For people with strict diets that limit certain foods, a multivitamin also can supplement the missing nutrients. As multivitamins vary between types and brands, review the dosage information that comes with the multivitamin to determine how often and when to take it.
What are the Risks Associated with Taking a Multivitamin?
While the body needs nutrients, overdosing on a vitamin can result in negative side effects. This is why it is important to follow the recommended dosage when taking a multivitamin. If multiple supplements are being taken together, it is especially important to compare ingredients to avoid excess intake of any particular nutrient. When in doubt, speak to your pharmacist about how to take your vitamins.
Which Multivitamin is Right for You?
As noted above, there are multivitamins targeted to specific populations, such as for children, the elderly and pregnant women. There also are multivitamins specifically designed for either men or women. When selecting your multivitamin, be sure to select one that matches your demographic.
Since most of us do not know the exact amounts of each vitamin or mineral that our body needs, multivitamin labels include for each of its components the per cent of recommended daily value. In other words, if an element is included at 100 per cent of the daily recommended value, then that supplement will provide you with the full amount needed in one day for that specific component. Some multivitamins include more than 100 per cent of the recommended daily value for certain nutrients or vitamins. Ultimately, this is unnecessary and those multivitamins with 100 per cent are sufficient. Keep in mind that certain components such as calcium and magnesium are rarely included at 100 per cent of the daily value as it would make the multivitamin too large in size to swallow comfortably.
Where Are Multivitamins Available?
Multivitamins are available at the pharmacy and come in a wide array of options. Visit Lindo’s pharmacy to find the multivitamin of your preference. If you have any questions, speak with a pharmacist who can help you decide what is best for you.
Stephanie Simons is the head pharmacist at Lindo’s Pharmacy in Devonshire. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and has been practicing for over 20 years. She is a registered pharmacist with the Bermuda Pharmacy Council and is a member of the Bermuda Pharmaceutical Association.
