Should You Be Taking a Multivitamin for Your Health?

About one in three US adults uses multivitamins, according to reports from a JAMA Network survey. However, a recent study that examined nearly 400,000 medical records from healthy Americans over 20 years found that daily multivitamin use did not prevent cardiovascular disease. are cancer, heart disease and stroke. The study only looked at the risk of death as the primary outcome.

So does this mean that multivitamins are not good for health?

The obvious question remains – who, if anyone, should take a multivitamin?

For most adults, a nutritious diet that includes fruits, vegetables, proteins, healthy fats, and whole grains usually provides all the vitamins and minerals the body needs to function properly. Nutrients are best absorbed when eaten with food and have a major impact on the body’s ability to function properly. However, not all people can afford or are able to eat a nutritious diet. There are specific groups of people who can benefit from taking a multivitamin regularly.

Malnourished

Lack of vitamins in the body can cause certain diseases. For example, low levels of vitamin D in children can lead to a condition called rickets, which results in weak bones, stunted growth and bone deformities. In addition, scurvy, or vitamin C deficiency, can occur as was common among sailors who did not get enough fruits and vegetables in their diet. Patients with scurvy often have weakness, gum disease and poor wound healing. Although rickets and scurvy are rare in the US now, any vitamin deficiency in the body needs to be treated to prevent disease.

The elderly

As we age, our nutritional needs also change. For example, nutrients and vitamins such as calcium and vitamin D are important to ensure healthy bones and help prevent osteoporosis, a condition characterized by a weakening of the bones that can lead to fractures. their bones easily. For postmenopausal women, bone density naturally decreases with the low levels of estrogen that come after menopause, which increases the risk for older women to end up with the disease. of osteoporosis. Estrogen is an important hormone that helps promote bone formation. Taking multivitamins for postmenopausal women may reduce the risk of osteoporosis but may increase the risk of dying from heart disease. Elderly patients should talk to their doctors to find out which treatment is best for them.

People with Medical Conditions

Many medical conditions, such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and celiac disease, can affect nutrient absorption. Many patients with these conditions lack the ability to absorb nutrients which eventually causes vitamin deficiency in their body. In addition, gastric bypass patients are also vulnerable to vitamin deficiencies and may benefit from taking multivitamins. In this operation, the intestine is rerouted more than other parts of the intestine. These diverted intestinal tracts are where iron and calcium are absorbed, thus causing nutrient deficiencies that would need to be treated.

People with Dietary Restrictions

Some people with dietary restrictions, such as those who religiously follow a vegetarian diet, may not consume nutrients commonly found in animal products. Vitamins and minerals that are often missing from most vegetarian diets include vitamin B12, iron, calcium, zinc and vitamin D, according to Nordic Naturals. People with poor diets can take multivitamins to ensure they are getting all the essential vitamins their bodies need.

Pregnant Women

Pregnancy increases the need for many nutrients, including but not limited to folate, iron and calcium. Taking folic acid in the first trimester of pregnancy is important to prevent neurological defects in the fetus. In addition, anemia (a condition in which the body does not produce enough red blood cells) is a relatively common condition during pregnancy, and iron supplementation can help increase blood volume to prevent it. . Multivitamins for pregnant women are especially recommended by doctors to support the health of mother and baby in an effort to prevent conditions such as anemia in the mother and neurological disabilities in the child.

Although a multivitamin is certainly not necessary for everyone, certain groups of people should consider taking one. Taking too many multivitamins can also be problematic as vitamin overdose can occur. For example, although it is very rare, too much vitamin C can lead to stomach upset, diarrhea and kidney stones. Before taking dietary supplements, it is important to consult with your doctor so that they can provide individual recommendations based on your needs.