Comments on: Are Multi Vitamin Supplements Necessary?

By: Tom

Tom — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 00:27:24 +0000

Hey Lindsey. Sounds to me like cost is probably the main factor. I can’t think of any other reason they would have changed the dosages.

By: lindsey

lindsey — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 12:16:19 +0000

I started taking sanatogen A-Z over a year ago, it used to contain 100% of everything so i broke it in half so i only got 50% as i dont like tpo take the full amount of iron everyday as i know i dont need it, infact i wish it did not contain any iron. The reason i did this was because i noticed that taking it improved my skin and also prevented me getting pms. Ive tryed b complex by its self and it makes me fill worse but when taken as part of an A-Z its fine. This A-Z is the only thing thats ever helped my skin, im starting to think its to do with one of the trace minerals in it or some other conbination thats in it, i know its not zinc as ive tryed that by its self.

But now im not pleased as they have changed the formular, i think its checky of them as they have reduced A,C(69%!),E, B12 and K to below the RDA and slightly increased the RDA of the other B vitamins. Out of the minerals they have decided to leave the ones which are less needed and more toxic like iron, iodine and copper at 100% while putting manganease, chronium and selenium in at less then the RDA. They have increased the dose of zinc though.

Ive been taking the new dose for 2 weeks and have only just noticed the new levels on the bottle, my skin is still ok, im gonna finish this bottle but might not by them again. I think its robbery to sell an A-Z with low levels of certin things, it makes me wonder why they did it as it carnt of been for health reasons as they would have took the iron out.

It makes me wonder if its to do with cost, like they have put more of the cheaper ones in.

By: Tom

Tom — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 16:32:11 +0000

Hey Ahmed – I never really noticed them having an effect on my appetite but I do not take them at all anymore.

By: ahmed

ahmed — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 19:00:45 +0000

i think i feel hungry more often when i take multivitamins..what do you think?

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 19 May 2010 22:49:53 +0000

Hey Jason – No I don’t think overdosing does this.

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 17 May 2010 23:05:28 +0000

Is it possible that too much multivitamin consumption can interfere with the body’s true defense mechanisms …??

By: Tom

Tom — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 17:05:45 +0000

Hi Jessica – I agree that it is better to supplement a diet that is very lacking in nutrients with a multi vitamin, rather than continuing to eat this limited diet alone. However, this is only masking the problem. It is far better to look at the limited diet and make some positive changes so that it becomes richer in nutrients.

I do not agree with the example you use of fast food restaurants and rat race employees justifying the use of a multi vitamin. It is just as quick if not quicker to eat a healthy sandwich, a salad or a piece of fruit that you have brought to work than it is to walk to the fast food restaurant, queue, pay and then eat the meal.

I also think that the daily meal plan that incorporates all the vitamins and minerals is is a bit of a misconception. Yes to actually sit down and check of every single vitamin and mineral would be hugely time consuming. However, I really don’t think this is necessary. If you do some reading on the subject you will realise that fruits and vegetables are an excellent source of most vitamins and minerals. If you just make sure your diet contains a variety of fruits and vegetables you should be getting most of your vitamins and minerals from these foods. Fruits are a perfect snack food whilst vegetables are pretty versatile and complement most meals.

Anyway, as you say vitamins are a personal choice. This article is my opinion on them and you have a different opinion. I would advise you to take a look at your diet but if that’s really not an option then multi vitamins are a good fallback.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:39:02 +0000

I respect your research and I’m sure on some grounds you may be correct but I have to argue some points. Although, seeing as I did not research this topic, I am just giving my personal experience.
In my POV, multivitamins may indirectly promote bad eating habits, but in the end, it’s not the vitamin that that should take the blame for this, people should. We all choose what we eat. The multivitamin in my experience helps me to remember to eat healthy. True, it can be crutch for those who don’t wish to eat healthy but most people who chose to eat unhealthy won’t think twice about taking a multivitamin in the first place. Until I decided to take control of my weight problem, I hadn’t even thought of taking any.
When most people do decide to take them, they have decided to go on a diet and unfortunately most diets are “he said, she said” and /or“what worked for me”. Being as most people don’t really know how to eat properly, most diet and weight loss fads are unhealthy and rob the body of nutrients needed for the average day. In my experience, if you’re on a diet you’re not doing it right. Eating right should be a daily tradition, thus making the “diet” obsolete. We all make bad choices everyday. Eating becomes a convenience; ie. what is convenient for the time we have. Fast food restaurants are booming because the average rat race employee. Taking a multivitamin can help us balance the bad intake with the good intake. For those people I believe a multivitamin is a must.
I take Centrum Ultra Woman’s multivitamin. I reviewed the supplement facts chart and I only get 70% of my DV of vitamin A and 100% of my B12. The bottle also states that taking too much vitamin A can cause side effects and that only one dose (one pill) per day is recommended. Obviously the brand I take is aware of the affects certain vitamins can have on the body and, unlike the brand you stated in your blog, has taken the correct route in providing a more reasonable amount of the vitamin. So, it’s not just about taking a multivitamin, it’s about who your supplier is. You should always look at the supplement facts. You shouldn’t be taking anything with 1000% of any vitamin. Plus, we are not taking into account all the minerals we need as well that the pills supply us with. So, a multivitamin is also worth more than just 13 main vitamins, I’m supplied with over 25 vitamins and minerals in one dose.
Now, I don’t know much about what vitamins a male may need daily, besides the fact that after a certain age men shouldn’t take too much calcium, but women need a large amount of calcium. Our bones, breast and teeth are waged upon because we bear children. Calcium is needed to maintain our health before and after we start reproducing. Maybe the calcium statement is true for men, and maybe a calcium supplement may be bad for women who work on a dairy but most women do not get their daily value of calcium to help support their health.
Yes we should be getting our daily value of nutrients with everyday eating. But, I will admit that even I am too lazy to sit and think of a daily meal plan to satisfy my need of all the vitamins and minerals. The reason for that is to get the needed daily value will take precise shopping, cooking, ingredients (cooking most food drains the nutrients unless u steam) and measurements for months of meals if you don’t want a boring repetitive meal plan. Unless you’re a fanatic, I don’t see it happening. People like to plan ahead of time but the harder you make eating healthy the less likely people will make room in their lives for it. It’s just easier to eat something you know is healthy and miss out on a few vitamins here and there and have it supplied by a supplement. It’s better than skipping out on the needed amount altogether.
I honestly don’t know much about how our body is supposed to absorb vitamins. But to me, taking a good brand responsibly and watching what I eat here and their sound better to me that skipping out altogether. But no matter how I see it, vitamins are a personal choice, and that’s the way you choose to see them.
With all due respect.

By: Tom

Tom — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:26:22 +0000

Hi Mandy – I know it is difficult to overdose on vitamins to toxic levels. If you take one multi vitamin each day you will probably be OK. However, some people will take more than one a day because they think it will give them an added health benefit. This is when the threat of overdosing becomes a very real possibility.

By: Mandy Bartlett

Mandy Bartlett — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 02:37:44 +0000

I am currently taking a nutrition class and it is my understanding that the only vitamin that poses a very real threat of a true overdose is vitamin K. This would only pose a problem if one were taking some sort of a blood thinner. Unlike other vitamins, vitamin K is not stored in the liver and it would be very difficult to reach levels that would be considered toxic.

I know in the US, the diet is generally not well balanced and most people are in no real danger of meeting their RDA yet alone exceeding it. In these cases, a multi-vitamin could contribute greatly to improved immune function and overall wellness.

I agree with the fact that a well balanced diet should do the trick, and it is important to analyze which vitamins are more difficult for you to reach your RDA, be it due to food aversions or allergies. It is important to remember that these are supplements – not replacements.