Multivitamins

jspollner

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!!

piersonj

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

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

Thanks. As I don't eat any polar bear liver, or too many animal products at all, I think I should be ok