Prenatal vitamins are specially formulated multivitamins that make up for any potential nutritional deficiencies in the pregnant woman's diet. While these supplements contain numerous vitamins and minerals, the folic acid, iron, and calcium content are especially important.
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Environmental Working Group (EWG) answeredNiacin (B3) is a nutrient commonly found in fortified food products. Excessive intake can cause skin reactions such as flushing and rash. It can also lead to nausea and liver toxicity. -
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Bryce Wylde , Alternative & Complementary Medicine, answeredA recent study, "Dietary supplements and mortality rate in older women: the Iowa Women's Health Study," found little evidence that dietary supplements, including multivitamins, prevented chronic diseases among women. Unless you are deficient in a particular vitamin there is little reason to take them, according to a researcher who participated in the study. Most people get sufficient vitamin intake from their food.
I’m not a strong advocate of the "multi." I am a strong advocate for functional testing and customizing individual supplement plans. -
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Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredTaking vitamin supplements may be dangerous to your health if you overdo it, which can lead to potentially dangerous side effects, or if you take dietary supplements at the same time you take certain medications, which may trigger dangerous supplement-drug interactions.
For example, some dietary supplements might interfere with cancer treatment or increase the risk of cancer coming back. Calcium supplements can interfere with your body's absorption of certain antibiotics, thyroid medication and anticonvulsant drugs. Consuming too much vitamin A may increase your risk of the brittle-bone disease osteoporosis. Too much vitamin B6 may lead to nerve problems that could throw off coordination. Ask your doctor if he recommends dietary supplements for you and, if so, the safest way to take them. -
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Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredSee All 2 AnswersThe health benefits of vitamin supplements are tested differently than the health benefits of drugs. Before a drug is available on store shelves or by prescription, the manufacturer does laboratory, animal and human testing on the medication, then submits all of the test results and other information available to an independent panel of experts at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for review. If the FDA decides that the drug is safe and effective, it may approve it for sale and distribution in the U.S.
In contrast, regulation of dietary supplements falls under a law passed by Congress in 1994 called the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act. Under this law, the FDA does not review the safety, effectiveness or health claims of supplements before they are brought to market. The manufacturer is responsible for making sure that the product is safe and provides the benefits it claims to have on the label. Talk to your doctor for more information about the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements. -
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Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredSee All 3 AnswersYou can get enough vitamins from food, provided you eat a well-rounded, varied diet and you don't have any health conditions that affect what you can eat or how well your body absorbs nutrients from food. To make sure you're consuming a diet that meets all of your nutritional needs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) suggests:
- aiming to make half of what you eat fruits and vegetables
- choosing low-fat dairy products
- consuming a variety of protein sources, such as fish, meat, chicken, eggs, beans and nuts
- making sure at least half of the grains you consume are whole grains
- minimizing your intake of high-fat foods or those with lots of added sugar or salt
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Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredSee All 2 AnswersYou may need to take a vitamin D supplement if you avoid the sun, but that depends on what you mean when you say "avoid." If you get even a few minutes of midday summer sunlight on your arms or legs -- and a bit more in winter -- your skin may be able to produce adequate amounts of vitamin D. If you get less than that, be sure to eat foods fortified with vitamin D, take a supplement or do both.
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Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredSee All 2 AnswersIt's not yet clear whether taking supplements can help you live longer or stay healthy. Experts agree that taking supplements, such as a multivitamin, can prevent deficiencies of nutrients. According to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, those who took a daily multi were 8 percent more likely to hit the recommended targets compared with those who didn’t.
But research on whether supplements extend your life or keep you healthier has been inconclusive. A National Institutes of Health expert panel concluded that there isn't enough evidence to recommend a daily multivitamin to prevent chronic disease. It is also possible to get too much of certain vitamins and minerals, especially if you often eat fortified foods, so speak with your health-care provider before taking any supplement. -
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Bryce Wylde , Alternative & Complementary Medicine, answeredThe right amount of vitamin supplement to take can vary. Your diet should provide most of the vitamins your body will need.
However, a doctor might determine that you are deficient in one or more vitamins or minerals and may want you to take a supplement. It’s important to understand the risk of taking too much of what you don’t need. But you should balance that against the risk of getting too little of a vitamin in which you are deficient. Ultimately, you need to test yourself to know your specific and very individual demands. And there are many accurate tests that can help you determine those needs.