Multivitamins - Who Needs To Take Multivitamin Daily?

By Tom Marshal

By definition, everyone needs vitamins. Because vitamins are needed only in small amounts, most people get more than enough from what they eat. For some, however, getting supplemental vitamins is truly vital, either because of people's choice of foods or because they are unable to absorb and digest one or more vitamins.

In humans there are at least 40 essential nutrients, including vitamins, trace elements, amino acids and fatty acids. Do we get enough vitamins, amino acids, fatty acids and trace elements from the food alone? An analysis of 43 different food crops found that from 1950 to 1999, the average content of calcium, phosphorous, iron, total minerals, and vitamins A, B2, B3, and C have all dropped significantly, up to 38 percent for B2 and 15 percent for vitamin C. The reduction in the nutritive value in the modern food supply shows us the requirement to take additional supplies. Though the fruits and the vegetables are still nutrient-dense food choices; but it does suggest supplementation may at least serve as a nutritional insurance.

When there is clear evidence of a vitamin deficiency, treatment decisions are generally easy. But when it comes to routine use of vitamin supplements, people taking vitamins that may have been suggested as a preventive measure. The categories of people who should take vitamin supplements to avoid illness are:

• Women of child-bearing age who might become pregnant are encouraged to take folic acid even before pregnancy.

• Vegetarians are particularly at risk. Riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin D and vitamin A are also concerns for those avoiding meat or animal products. One daily multivitamin will provide enough supplementation for all of them.

• Extra vitamin C and folic acid may reduce the risk of disease for people who smoke and drink too much. In addition, people who drink excess alcohol are more prone to thiamin (vitamin B1), pyridoxine (vitamin B6) and riboflavin deficiencies. A daily multivitamin provides inexpensive nutritional insurance.

• Poor nutrition is common in elderly people, especially those who are sick and frail. A multivitamin is often recommended to prevent complications from deficiencies in vitamin D and B vitamins.

Non-adequate supply of essential vitamins etc. will affect our health badly. For example, while thiamin deficiency is rare, short-term insufficiency can increase the buildup of lactic acid during exercise and it can result in fatigue and the possibility of deficiency for several vitamins. Check with your doctor before introducing any vitamins or supplements into your diet.

According to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, nearly 75 percent of light-skinned and up to 90 percent of dark-skinned Americans are vitamin D insufficient a doubling over the last 10 years. Calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus are essential to skeletal health, and required for hundreds of metabolic reactions. So intake of good Multivitamins will work as an enhanced protection for our health.

Tom Marshal is a freelance writer specialized in topics that cover health of the general public. Have you found this article helpful and informative?

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