If you take a multivitamin, it's probably because you want to do everything you can to protect your health. But there is still limited evidence that a daily cocktail of essential vitamins and minerals actually delivers what you expect. Most studies find no benefit from multivitamins in protecting the brain or heart.
When you start taking vitamins, you should expect to experience the following benefits - your energy levels will increase, more food will be converted into energy, your short-term memory will improve, your immune system will become stronger, your muscles will become stronger, and your skin will look healthier.
Can you really "feel" your multivitamin working? The short answer is that some people might feel a difference, and some people might not. That said, you can feel good about the fact that you're helping fill the nutrient gaps in your diet and investing in your health with the right multivitamin.
Generally, people take multivitamins daily for an extended period. However, the period depends entirely on the user. Some people take the supplements for a few days, while others may take them for years. For multivitamins to be fully absorbed into your system, one should take them with food.
Any ingredient in a multiple vitamin supplement can be toxic in large amounts, but the most serious risk comes from iron or calcium. Additional risks are associated with large or toxic doses of calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin A.
Test your vitamin levels
Ask your doctor to perform blood tests to determine what vitamin and mineral deficiencies you may have, and to establish a baseline by which you can measure the benefits of your multivitamin. Be sure to schedule follow-up lab tests 30 days after you begin a new multivitamin regimen.
Most people do not need to take vitamin supplements and can get all the vitamins and minerals they need by eating a healthy, balanced diet. Vitamins and minerals, such as iron, calcium and vitamin C, are essential nutrients that your body needs in small amounts to work properly.
This can include those who are on a low-calorie diet or avoid certain foods like vegetarians and vegans. Those who have impaired absorption due to conditions like Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease or a history of gastric bypass surgery should also speak to their doctor.
Generally speaking, the more severely deficient you are in a vitamin or nutrient, the faster you'll see a difference when taking supplements. However, in most cases, it takes around three to six weeks to see noticeable changes.
Excess vitamins may also affect the degradation of neurotransmitters and one-carbon metabolism. Therefore, excess vitamins may trigger obesity through multiple ways, including increasing fat synthesis, causing insulin resistance, disturbing neurotransmitter metabolism and inducing epigenetic changes.
Generally, taking a multivitamin is more of a holistic approach and helps fill any nutrient gaps in your diet. However, taking an individual vitamin or mineral supplement might be better for a targeted health concern.
Vitamin and mineral supplements can't replace a healthy diet, but a general multivitamin may help if your diet is inadequate or where there is already a well-supported rationale for you to take one.
The researchers concluded that multivitamins don't reduce the risk for heart disease, cancer, cognitive decline (such as memory loss and slowed-down thinking) or an early death. They also noted that in prior studies, vitamin E and beta-carotene supplements appear to be harmful, especially at high doses.
The role it plays in so many bodily functions and the staggering amount of people who are deficient in it makes Vitamin D the most important vitamin for your body overall, and there's a good chance that you are not getting enough.
The best way to know whether you need a multivitamin or a specific trace nutrient is to get blood work done by your health care provider. This test will show what your body is lacking. “If a person knows that their diet is lacking, then they may be prone to just take a multi-vitamin,” Newhouse said.
Taking Vitamins Safely
Pay attention to the label and don't exceed the recommended dose, as this can lead to an overdose of vitamins, resulting in health issues. Overdosing on certain vitamins can lead to toxicity, which can cause symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, and headache.
No, bright yellow urine doesn't mean that you're not absorbing your vitamins. Any vitamin that's mixing with your pee is a water-soluble vitamin, and any amount of it that your body doesn't need simply gets excreted through the urine. That means your body is taking in what it needs.
Constipation, diarrhea, or upset stomach may occur. These effects are usually temporary and may disappear as your body adjusts to this medication. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
“Many people experience stomach pains, nausea and even diarrhea.” Vitamins and supplements can also aggravate gastroesophageal reflux disease, peptic ulcers, gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive conditions, Dr. Lee says.
Do You Need Both? Taking both a multivitamin and a fish oil supplement is not necessary, but together they can seriously complement your diet. The purpose of a multivitamin is to fill the nutritional gaps for nutrients that you are not getting sufficiently from food.