So I take a multivitamin...

katyejean
katyejean Posts: 233 Member
edited October 6 in Food and Nutrition
I take a Women's One a Day Multivitamin every morning. And when I look on the app, it says I'm like 100%+ over my goal in those vitamins. (A, C, Calcium and Iron) But without the vitamin, I only get, say 9% of my Iron. Is it better to still be taking the multivitamin, or not? I know that generally, too much of anything can be bad. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Replies

  • rochey1098
    rochey1098 Posts: 285
    I think extreme overdose of vitamins cause side effects, if you're sure you're getting all your other vitamins then maybe look into rich sources of iron: liver, kidney, heart, lean beef, shrimp
  • LesliePierceRN
    LesliePierceRN Posts: 860 Member
    I'd ditch the multivitamin and just get some Slo Fe instead. That way you get your iron and not all the extra. Or, you could just bone your diet up with iron fortified cereals/multigrains.. that's how I get all of my iron.
  • furekurss
    furekurss Posts: 74
    I'd ditch the multivitamin and just get some Slo Fe instead. That way you get your iron and not all the extra. Or, you could just bone your diet up with iron fortified cereals/multigrains.. that's how I get all of my iron.

    im a sit back and enjoy this thread
  • Shelby814
    Shelby814 Posts: 273 Member
    The average person will probably not get in all of the necessary vitamins & minerals during the course of a normal day. Mega doses of vitamins & minerals can be a problem, but I doubt those are the type of overages you're going to experience. My opinion would be to continue taking the multivitamin. I take a multivitamin/multimineral supplement every day. I haven't grown any extra appendages yet. :)
  • SeaSiren1
    SeaSiren1 Posts: 242 Member
    Vitamins are best through food of course. That being said, take the multi, just add it to your diary at the end of the day so that you can see where you are foodwise and try to improve there.
  • Kallie1031
    Kallie1031 Posts: 1
    The vitamin C, and B vitamins that you are probably over are all water soluble meaning the excess will be flushed out not causing vitamin toxicity. In order to get vitamin toxicity on vitamin A and Iron you would have to take a lot of your multivitamins in one day, we are talking probably more than 5 a day for a number of days in a row. I personally think it is better to take the vitamin because you don't want to short yourself on vitamins as you diet.
  • yeabby
    yeabby Posts: 643 Member
    One thing to keep in mind is that the RDA is a minimum number. The actual amount that you need may be quite a bit higher depending on your body and food intake. I wouldn't be worried about going over 100%. It's probably a good thing. If you're concerned you can look up the toxic levels for the vitamins you are highest in.
  • rhce40
    rhce40 Posts: 201 Member
    The vitamins A, D, E & K are toxic to the himan body when taken in high doses, and I mean HIGH. Like multiple doses of just those specific vitamin supplements per days for awhile. The doses you get with a multivitamin are no where near high enough to do your body harm, and whatever excess vitamins your body doesn't need that day will just leave with your pee.
    I do highly recommend trying a B complex vitamin. It helps your body pull the nutrients from food better (it will make your pee bright yellow but that is completely normal)
  • Setof2Keys
    Setof2Keys Posts: 681 Member
    I have never researched it but was told by a friend that pre-natal vitamins are the only vitamins that are regulated by the FDA to actually contain what they list (courtesy of the March of Dimes). I would research it. I take pre-natals and others even though my youngest child is almost 7 years old. I definately feel the difference.
  • IvoryParchment
    IvoryParchment Posts: 651 Member
    Vitamin A is toxic in overdose. But natural sources of vitamin A actually contain a precursor, beta carotene. Your body won't convert that to vitamin A if you already have too much, so other than getting yellow skin, it won't hurt you if you aren't taking megadoses of vitamin A in pill form.

    Vitamin D is also toxic in overdose, but many people are getting too little because the RDA assumes you are getting sun exposure. Sunlight converts cholesterol in your skin to vitamin D. If you work indoors or have dark skin, you may need more than the RDA. Your doctor can check a blood level.

    Vitamin E, K and B12 are stored in the body, but I don't think a lot of people get toxic on them.

    Vitamin C and the other B vitamins will end up in your urine if you overdose, and so there's not a danger there.

    If you are deficient in B12 because you are incapable of digesting it, your doctor would normally notice a characteristic anemia after a few years when you use up your stored B12. But if you're taking folic acid, it might fix the anemia and hide the B12 deficiency. The other effect of B12 deficiency is damage to the nerves, including the brain and spinal cord, so taking megadoses of folate can be harmful in that rare instance.
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