Multivitamins

jspollner
jspollner Posts: 4
in Food and Nutrition
I have always take a daily multivitamin. I have noticed since starting MFP that I am meeting some of my nutritional goal - vitamin A and Vitamin C for example by food intake so the vitamin gives
me over - yesterday I had 205% of my vitamin c goal! Is it better to take individual vitamins for the areas where I tend to be deficient as far as my food intake? Is it bad to go over or does it not really matter? Just wondering what others think. My vitamin D has been low at my last two PCP appointments so I take that in addition. Amazing that you can usually get everything you need just from food!!

Replies

  • piersonj
    piersonj Posts: 62 Member
    For most vitamins your body will purge any excess it does not need. It is not unusual for me to have 300-400% of my vitamin C without added vitamins. Vitamin A is an odd one, it can come from an animal source and plant source. You can have problems with to much Vitamin A from animal sources (to much polar bear liver will kill you), but not vitamin A from plant sources (your body will purge it). You can talk with your doctor about vitamins that it is not ok to have a serious overage in.

    My understanding is that the recommended amounts are a minimum intake you should be shooting for.
  • gelar93
    gelar93 Posts: 160
    Vitamins are calculated with percentage based on a 2000 calories diet. Do you eat more or less than that? Because then your number would vary. In general as long as you eat normal taking multivitamins is not a big deal. Like what the other user said, your body will get rid of it most of the times, with an exception for vitamin A that can literally make you go blind and kill you.
  • jspollner
    jspollner Posts: 4
    Thanks. As I don't eat any polar bear liver, or too many animal products at all, I think I should be ok :)

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