Multivitamins ....... is it really necessary ??

thecountofsudan
thecountofsudan Posts: 92 Member
edited November 9 in Food and Nutrition
Im been hearing conflicting views when it comes to multivitamins ........some say it can create toxic in your body ......and some say its necessary to fill the deficiency gap .........i wanna know what you think ??

Replies

  • Slasher09
    Slasher09 Posts: 316 Member
    People will always disagree but I do believe two things. One is that if you eat a varied diet that you don't need them and, two there are many people that don't eat a varied enough diet. When I know I am eating well and eating lots of varied produce/animal products I don't worry about it. When I am getting into a rut where healthy eating has gone by the way side and there are probably deficiencies, then yes I will try to remember to take one here and there. Some of the shake brands I drink have a lot of vitamins/minerals in them as well so if I drink one of those I won't worry about a vitamin that day.
  • tanowicki
    tanowicki Posts: 60 Member
    There a couple of the vitamins in multi-vitamins that can accumulate but you really have to work for it to be a toxicity issue. If you're eating one vitamin with a normal diet, there shouldn't be any toxic effects.

    Like Slasher09 said, if you eat a varies enough diet, you shouldn't need vitamins. That said, this time of year, I like to get some extra Vitamins C and D.
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
    Eat a varied diet with fruit and veg plus a source of protein and you will be fine.
  • brosis85
    brosis85 Posts: 114 Member
    I eat a very clean and nutritious diet ... but there are several things that I get from not only multivitamins, but other additional vitamins that help me feel more energetic, and that I know will help me in the long run. For example, calcium ... need it for them bones - regardless of how much you eat.
    - I take two multivitamins a day, calcium with vitamin d magnesium and zinc, vitamin c (to help reduce bloating) and my omegas.

    I think the core difference is figuring out what is in the 'multi' you take because some of them are absolute junk ... and doing what feels best for your body.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    tanowicki wrote: »
    There a couple of the vitamins in multi-vitamins that can accumulate but you really have to work for it to be a toxicity issue. If you're eating one vitamin with a normal diet, there shouldn't be any toxic effects.

    Like Slasher09 said, if you eat a varies enough diet, you shouldn't need vitamins. That said, this time of year, I like to get some extra Vitamins C and D.

    Basically, the fat soluble vitamins like "A", "D", "E", and "K" can build up if an excessively high dose is taken over time. You will never get an excessively high dose of any of them by taking a daily multi. Even the higher dose single vitamins are low enough to not cause problems unless you take way more than the recommended dosage.

    From Medscape.com as an example:

    Vitamin A: Supplements are typically 10,000-50,000 international units (IU) per capsule. Fish-liver oils may contain more than 180,000 IU/g. The acute toxic dose of vitamin A is 25,000 IU/kg, and the chronic toxic dose is 4000 IU/kg every day for 6-15 months. (4000 IU/kg is 4,000,000 IU/g)

  • sheepotato
    sheepotato Posts: 600 Member
    I don't know if they are necessary or not but I like them as a safety net. I try to eat a varied diet but I can't eat all the foods everyday so I know that sometimes there are holes in my nutrition.
  • KombuchaCat
    KombuchaCat Posts: 834 Member
    If you eat well they are probably not necessary but I take one just as insurance. The one I take has some herbs and probiotics as well which I like. Just don't slack on the healthy eating with the multi as a crutch.
  • goddessofawesome
    goddessofawesome Posts: 563 Member
    thecountofsudan wrote: »
    Im been hearing conflicting views when it comes to multivitamins ........some say it can create toxic in your body ......and some say its necessary to fill the deficiency gap .........i wanna know what you think ??

    Honestly you can't get all the "recommended" nutrients that your body needs from diet alone so yes, I personally feel that a multi-vitamin is necessary. I have a balanced diet and in addition to what I eat I take a daily multi, Omega-3, calcium, vitamin D, probiotics, prebiotics, digestive enzymes, among other vitamins to meet my daily needs. I also get my blood work done twice a year and adjust as necessary.

  • rsandem
    rsandem Posts: 16 Member
    If you have any signs of deficiencies, your doctor can easily test for that. I would only take what I knew I needed. I eat pretty healthy, but have some digestive issues that affect vitamin absorption. I take specific vitamins, but not a multivitamin (since I don't need half of it).
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    My doc has me taking Vit D and Folate.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    sheepotato wrote: »
    I don't know if they are necessary or not but I like them as a safety net. I try to eat a varied diet but I can't eat all the foods everyday so I know that sometimes there are holes in my nutrition.

    Me too. I don't eat as much fruit as many because I have to keep my total carbs low (although I do eat a fair amount of veggies) so I figure a multi is a good way to fill in. I also take Dr. prescribed high dose iron (chronic microcytic anemia) and she also suggested additional B-12 and D, both for the anemia plus there is some evidence that they can help diabetes and depression.

  • cwlsr
    cwlsr Posts: 71 Member
    I will keep it short! If you really want to know how you are doing on nutrition and have a smart phone with the MFP app you can look under the nutrition tab to check your vitamin count daily and weekly. If you are taking vitamins and log them in your food log they will show up in the count. Most major vitamin companies are in the database.
  • carriecarrio
    carriecarrio Posts: 70 Member
    I think it depends on your diet and your needs. My doctor prescribed multivitamins to me, they have all what I need. Otherwise I would supplement with vitamin D (especially during the winter months) and B-12.
  • ThisCharmingFellow
    ThisCharmingFellow Posts: 132 Member
    I've started taking multivitamins recently. Although my diet has changed remarkably over the past year (for the better) it is difficult for me to eat the balanced and varied diet I would like because of IBS and headache trigger issues. I'd like to think that the gap will be filled a little by the vits.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    no- wildly over rated.
  • spamarie
    spamarie Posts: 2,825 Member
    I asked the same question to my nurse (who specialises in weight loss and nutrition). She told me if you eat a varied and balanced diet, a multi-vitamin shouldn't be necessary for most people at most times.

    The only time I take supplements is in the run up to giving blood when I take additional iron. Although I am not anemic, my natural iron levels are borderline for what you need to give blood. The rest of the time I only take a supplement if I've not eaten properly for a few days due to illness.
  • 47Jacqueline
    47Jacqueline Posts: 6,993 Member
    I don't use multivitamins, but my last blood test showed a vitamin D deficit and the one before that showed me meeting the level. The difference was I had stopped taking supplements. So, I've started again.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    thecountofsudan wrote: »
    Im been hearing conflicting views when it comes to multivitamins ........some say it can create toxic in your body ......and some say its necessary to fill the deficiency gap .........i wanna know what you think ??

    In theory, as long as you're eating an adequate diet you shouldn't need them. In practice, it can be difficult to sustain that for many people.

    In terms of "toxic", for some minerals an excessive amount can have adverse side effects, although that excessive amount is huge, so you'd need to be taking several tablets per day alongside other supplements for them to have an effect.

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