 Your best source of vitamins and other nutrients is a balanced diet--one containing all food groups, including plenty of fruits and vegetables. If you're too busy to eat a well-balanced diet, you may benefit from taking a daily multivitamin/multimineral product to supplement your nutritional needs. When choosing a multivitamin/multimineral product, look for one containing the essential vitamins A, D, E, B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B6, B12, C, and folic acid. It should provide 100 percent of the daily value for each vitamin in a single daily dose. Avoid products that contain more than 100 percent of the daily value for vitamins A and D, which can be toxic in high doses. The essential minerals to look for in a multivitamin/multimineral product include iodine, copper, and zinc. Again, look for a product that provides 100 percent of the daily value of these minerals. Calcium is also important, but you'd need a huge tablet or capsule just to provide 100 percent of the daily value. If your diet doesn't provide enough calcium, consider taking a separate calcium supplement. There are no established daily values for the minerals selenium, chromium, manganese, molybdenum, chloride, nickel, tin, silicon, vanadium, and boron. But most multivitamin/multimineral products contain these minerals in amounts considered safe and adequate. Most multivitamin/multimineral products also contain iron. While everyone needs a small amount of iron every day, this is usually satisfied by iron from foods. The 10 to 20 mg of iron in multivitamin/mineral products can help to supplement the diet. Many people should not take iron supplements in addition to the amounts in their multivitamin. On the other hand, people with anemia and women of childbearing age (many of whom suffer from iron deficiency) may benefit from extra iron. Many good multivitamin/multimineral products are available. Select a product made by a manufacturer that you have confidence in. Good products include Centrum, >One-A-Day Maximum,
drugstore.com multivitamins and Theragran-M. Multivitamin/multimineral products offer inexpensive "nutrition insurance" but aren't substitutes for a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables offer many nutrients not yet identified that may well protect against cancer and heart disease--and no multivitamin/multimineral products have proven to provide you with them. Sources:
Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs. American Pharmaceutical Association, 2000.
Silverman, H.M., J.A. Romano, G. Elmer. The Vitamin Book. Bantam Books, 1999.
Drug Facts and Comparisons. Facts & Comparisons, 2006.
This answer prepared 11/2/2000.
This information updated 2/7/2007.
|
view shopping bag
