Q: Do I need to take vitamins and other supplements if I eat a balanced diet?
A: Multivitamin and mineral supplements are America's most popular choice of dietary supplement. And as science research continues, we find even more benefits from getting our nutrients from whole foods. Popping a pill will NOT make up for a lousy diet!
There are no established guidelines on what a multivitamin should contain and available products vary in specific vitamins and minerals and their amounts. Nutrient requirements vary with age, gender, health status and the use of alcohol, tobacco and what medications a person is on. So which multivitamin-mineral supplement to choose?
Buyers, beware. First take a look at your diet and decide if you need a supplement. Can you make small changes to make your diet healthier? Talk with your health-care provider or registered dietitian. Unless advised otherwise, choose a multivitamin/mineral supplement that does NOT include mega doses (very large doses) of any certain vitamin or mineral. Certain vitamins and minerals can actually have drug-like or physically damaging effects in large doses.
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
