Multivitimins
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jontywontytong
Posts: 33 Member
Is it worth the extra money to buy a big brand multivitamin that cost 3 times the cheaper one even if they both list the same amount of vitamins as ingredients
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Replies
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Some would say even the off-brand vitamins are not worth it unless you are correcting for a deficiency or supplimenting to fill holes caused by things like b-12 for people eating a plant-based diet.1
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In a recent test of multivitamins, ConsumerLab.com found that Equate-Mature Multivitamin 50+ sold by Wal-Mart was just as good as the name brand Centrum Silver, but at less than a nickel a day is half the price.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/05/health/05patient.html?_r=0
Note: Recent studies have indicated that taking a multivitamin won’t protect you from heart disease or cancer. And experts maintain that if you eat well, you don’t need vitamin supplements.1 -
My advice would be to not waste any money on them if you're any bit concerned about the price.0
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Honestly, multi-vitamins aren't worth any cost. Just eat a varied diet, with lots of variety of whole grains, dairy, low fat protein, veggies, and fruit. This will help you get the vitamins and minerals you need.2
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If you're regularly eating food made with commercial flour, and you're using regular table salt, and you're drinking fortified milk, it's unlikely you'll run into significant deficiencies for a long time. Those products have been specifically fortified to prevent the vast majority of illness caused by missing vitamins and minerals.
On the other hand, if you're eating at a calorie deficit for a long time, I think an inexpensive multivitamin is a fine investment. Sometimes people get into food ruts when losing weight and don't realize how low they are on particular important vitamins and minerals. Vitamin D, C, Calcium come to mind. Particular diets (vegan, keto) also might warrant some supplementing. Put an average day into https://cronometer.com and see how you feel about it.3 -
Honestly, multi-vitamins aren't worth any cost. Just eat a varied diet, with lots of variety of whole grains, dairy, low fat protein, veggies, and fruit. This will help you get the vitamins and minerals you need.
This is the correct answer. Unless you have a specific deficiency, there is no benefit in vitamin supplements
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/more-evidence-that-routine-multivitamin-use-should-be-avoided/1 -
I have been at a calories deficit for a long time and supplement with multivitamins in case I'm not getting enough from food0
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jontywontytong wrote: »Is it worth the extra money to buy a big brand multivitamin that cost 3 times the cheaper one even if they both list the same amount of vitamins as ingredients
I always buy the store brand. They are the same thing with a different label and cost.0 -
Vegans can run up deficiencies where there isn't enough in the diet. This could be the B vitamins or Iron.
Those of us who have had Bariatric surgery have known mal-absorption issues, so I'll be on vitamins for life.
I think young women of childbearing age should be on Folic acid to prevent a particular birth defect (Spina Bifida).
Those of us with anemia benefit from an iron supplement, and that sort of deficiency should not be ignored.
Calcium deficiency is hard to catch without a bone scan, but I wouldn't like to find out after the fact.
Look for this:
http://www.usp.org/usp-verification-services/usp-verified-dietary-supplements1 -
The OP's question wasn't whether to take a multivitamin, but rather, which brand to use. If you responded "don't take one", you missed the point of the question.
My doctor has me taking a multivitamin, a calcium supplement and a vitamin D supplement. It's what he thinks I should be doing, and I comply.
Sometimes I buy the name brand, and sometimes I buy the store brand. I find them equally efficient.4 -
As someone that works in the medical field it is a good idea to take at least a multivitamin while working out. Generic and brand names are usually the same only different cost. I buy the store name because it has the same vitamins in it at the same %. This topic could go rounds, some people will agree while others wont. Just depends what YOU want to do. I myself take a multivitamin0
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JanetYellen wrote: »experts maintain that if you eat well, you don’t need vitamin supplements.
The experts can't agree on what "eating well" entails.
A calorie deficit could conceivably lead to nutrient deficit, and since most don't eat perfectly 100% of the time, it makes sense to take a multi during weight loss.. at least occasionally.
OP - Since it's an unregulated industry, i'd go with a brand certified by a reputable, independent lab - USP & NSF are the main ones here in the US.
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I started taking a multi vitamin when I noticed I was lacking certain vitamins/minerals on a regular basis, and the multi fills in these gaps. I really need to eat way more fruits and veggies..1
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I personally prefer the GNC brand Active multi-vitamin. Not because it has magical properties of any kind...I just liked them because they gave me some energy, and it was the only multi-vitamin I've found so far that doesn't cause me to be nauseous.0
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dragon_girl26 wrote: »I personally prefer the GNC brand Active multi-vitamin. Not because it has magical properties of any kind...I just liked them because they gave me some energy, and it was the only multi-vitamin I've found so far that doesn't cause me to be nauseous.
About the nausea, I find that if I take multivitamins on an empty stomach, I get very nauseous. I just have to make sure I take them after I eat a meal.0 -
jontywontytong wrote: »Is it worth the extra money to buy a big brand multivitamin that cost 3 times the cheaper one even if they both list the same amount of vitamins as ingredients
No, I buy a multivitamin from Sainsbury's I think cost me 50p. It has exactly the same as any other normal multivitamin costing pounds more.0 -
jontywontytong wrote: »Is it worth the extra money to buy a big brand multivitamin that cost 3 times the cheaper one even if they both list the same amount of vitamins as ingredients
No. Most differences are just marketing and most vitamins are useless unless you REALLY have a deficiency. I've seen a $10 bottle of centrum multivitamin sold here (Korea) for over $100 because it's supposedly "high quality imported luxury item" or something to that effect.0
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