Collection: Multivitamin Supplements

Adults, elderly, and children commonly use multivitamins to maintain healthy levels of nutrients (vitamins and minerals). Taking multivitamin supplements is beneficial to fill the nutritional gap without increasing calorie intake. Some multivitamins may contain more than 3 vitamins and minerals or over 10 micronutrients while some may also include over 30 vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. These are available in various forms like capsules, tablets, liquids, gummies, power, etc.

Health benefits of multivitamin Supplements

• To maintain nutritional status

Multivitamins are indicated for those who have a nutritional deficiency, are malnourished, have dietary restrictions, and have poor/impaired absorption due to Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, etc.

• Beneficial for vegans

Both plant and animal sources need to be consumed to obtain all vitamins and minerals . For example, vitamin B12 is mainly obtained from animal sources and its deficiency is common in vegans due to avoidance of such dietary sources. Vegans may require multivitamins to ensure sufficient intake of vitamins and minerals.

• Assists in maintaining good health

Those who eat a lot of processed food, have an unhealthy lifestyle, frequently travel, etc have compromised nutritional status. Combining a healthy lifestyle and high-quality multivitamins may help maintain good health and well-being. 

• Multivitamins for elderly

According to the Older Americans Act Amendment (2006), multivitamins should contain two-thirds of vitamins and minerals. It should provide the daily value of these vitamins formulated to meet the health needs of a particular life stage. These also support a specific health concern like those formulated to benefit joint health or eye health specifically.

• Men’s health multivitamins

These are available to support men's health in different age groups specifically because nutrient requirements vary with age. These multivitamins support adults and men over the age of 40, 50, and 55 +.

• Women's health multivitamins

These multivitamins address health issues like iron deficiency, hormonal health, bone health, etc. These also support pregnant women, breastfeeding, and women planning pregnancy.

• Multivitamins for children 

These are beneficial to prevent or treat deficiency and promote proper growth and development.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1) What do multivitamin supplements do to the body?

In modern lifestyle, people eat processed food that has no nutritional value. Exposure to toxins, stress, lack of sunlight, chronic illness, depleted soils, industrial farming, the nutritional status is highly compromised. Multivitamins play an important role in filling the nutritional gaps. Even if you are healthy and eating a balanced diet but deficient in vitamin B13, vitamin D, etc, you need to take multivitamins to fill this nutritional gap.

2) How do I choose a daily multivitamin?

Remember the following important points while choosing a multivitamin:

• Choose supplements based on age, if you are over 40, you should choose multivitamins 40+. If you are menopausal, choose supplements formulated to support health for women over 50 or 55 +. 

• Choose a reputable brand that uses high-quality ingredients.

• Always read the product description.

• Make sure to choose the right form of vitamins. Like vitamin D has two forms D2 and D3, magnesium has forms like magnesium citrate or magnesium glycinate. The form you need depends on your health status. Different forms have different benefits.

• Check the product label to confirm whether it is GMP-certified or not.

• Get your blood test done so that you can decide whether you need a multivitamin or an individual vitamin. Women need multivitamins with iron and men may need multivitamins without iron.

• If you have severe vitamin D deficiency or any other nutrient deficiency, you may have to take supplements for it separately.

• If you are a vegan, choose vegan supplements.

• If you have an allergy, check the label to confirm whether that supplement contains that allergen or not. Usually, high-quality supplements are free from allergens.

• Check the serving size.

3) Does multivitamins slow memory loss in older adults?

Yes, multivitamins improve cognition in older adults. The results of the COSMOS trial have concluded this result. In this study, daily multivitamins improved global cognition (overall cognition) and episodic memory (memory, information about past and present experiences). This study supports using daily multivitamins to preserve cognition or prevent a decline in cognition in the elderly.

4) What form of multivitamin supplement is best absorbed?

There are two important considerations regarding the absorption of multivitamin supplements.

• Firstly, liquid forms are well-absorbed by the body.

• Secondly, quality is important. High-quality supplements that are evidence-based and manufactured using high-quality raw ingredients have greater bioavailability and are also absorbed well by the body. 

So form and quality are both important that allow greater absorption of supplements.

5) What are the benefits of multivitamins? 

The health benefits of multivitamins are:

• Improve nutritional status.

• To maintain healthy bones.

• Develop strong immunity

• Promote healthy vision

6) Do multivitamins give you energy? How do multivitamins impact energy levels?

Our body needs vitamins and minerals to convert food into energy, maintain energy levels, and give us the strength to carry out daily routine activities. Hence deficiency of certain vitamins like vitamins B1, B2, and B3 affects energy levels. Micronutrient supplements modulate metabolic parameters because energy metabolism depends on vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients.

7) Is it better to take multivitamin supplements or individual vitamins?

If your lifestyle is healthy, taking a multivitamin is useful. Multivitamins are formulated specifically for children, adults, the elderly, menopause, and pregnant women, to cater to specific health needs. These multivitamins have all unique ingredients required for particular age groups. 

However, individual vitamins are recommended to provide a more personalized approach. For example, a pregnant woman who is taking prenatal multivitamins (with all key nutrients) may additionally require a separate folic acid supplement if she has a previous history of giving birth to babies with birth defects. If a person is healthy and has only vitamin D deficiency, he is given only vitamin D supplements. So the decision to take a multivitamin or an individual multivitamin depends on lifestyle, blood investigations, medical history, etc.

8) Do I need extra vitamin D if I take a multivitamin?

If you are already taking a multivitamin, check the label for vitamin D form and its dosage. Multivitamins contain vitamin D too. You should get your blood tests done to check vitamin D levels and then consult your doctor. Depending on blood investigations, the doctor will advise you whether taking a multivitamin is enough or if you need it separately. A healthy lifestyle is always important so take daily sunlight, and eat vitamin D-rich food like fish, egg yolk, mushroom, etc to get vitamin D. 

9) Can I take multivitamins without consulting a doctor? 

A doctor guides you well to choose the right supplement having the right dose and the ingredients you need based on your health status so it is advisable to consult your doctor before choosing any supplement. Like for example, if you have iron deficiency and you are taking a multivitamin without iron, your symptoms of iron deficiency won't improve and you will feel more tired over time. On the other hand, iron deficiency needs to be treated to prevent complications so doctors' opinion is important before taking any supplement.                                                    

10) What are the most popular brands of multivitamins available at Nutriessential?

Pure Encapsulation, Theralogix, New Chapter, Garden of Life, and Global Healing are the best brands of multivitamins available at Nutriessential. These brands have different multivitamins available to fulfill the unique needs of people with specific requirements or conditions like Ovasitol inositol powder by Theralogix, liquid supplement for women's hormone balance by Global Healing, etc.

11) When is the best time to take multivitamins?

Taking the multivitamin in the right way is important to produce the intended health benefits.

• Take the multivitamin after breakfast or lunch (heavy meals) and drink plenty of water.

• B and C vitamins are taken empty stomach with a glass of water in the morning.

• Vitamins A, D, and E are taken with a meal

• Prenatal vitamins are taken at any time of the day. Some women have morning sickness and symptoms of nausea and vomiting in the morning so these women can take prenatal multivitamins in the evening.
  

12) How long does it take for multivitamins to start working?

It may take weeks to months to see the health changes. 

 

13) How long should you take multivitamins supplements?

This depends on the type of vitamin deficiency you have, the condition for which you are taking multivitamins, dosage, etc. 

• Prenatal multivitamins are taken before and during pregnancy.

• Post-menopausal women need daily vitamin D supplement 

• Generally, multivitamins are taken for 2-3 months to see the health effects. Once the deficiency is corrected, the doctor may advise you to maintain a healthy lifestyle and eat a healthy diet.

• Long-term multivitamin supplements may be required for the elderly to maintain cognition.

14) Who needs multivitamin supplements and why take them?

• Those who prefer eating more unprocessed foods do not get enough vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, etc.

• Those who have a deficiency of omega-3, vitamin D, zinc, magnesium, iron, and folate should take a multivitamin containing all these nutrients.

• Pregnant women need prenatal supplements.

• People with impaired gastrointestinal absorption required additional nutritional support.

• To maintain digestive health.

• Lactose intolerance

15) Is it OK to take 2 multivitamins a day? Should I take all 3 multivitamins at once?

It is better to avoid two or three multivitamins a day. This is because they have similar nutrients present so taking multiple dietary supplements will exceed the upper limit of nutrients and negatively affect health. It is always advisable to consult a doctor before starting any multivitamin to make sure you choose the best multivitamin with the right composition and dosage your body needs. 

16) Do multivitamins have side effects?

According to studies, using high-quality or broad-spectrum multivitamins is considered safe. They are not associated with any risk of gastrointestinal side effects. However, there may be a slight increase in skin rashes.

17) Multivitamin what does it contain?

Generally, a multivitamin contains B vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamin D, and zinc. Some may also contain botanical extracts, food blends, and phytonutrients. Multivitamins contain specific ingredients also to provide specific health benefits.