Multivitamin Tablets - Uses, Side Effects, and Warnings

What Is a Multivitamin?

Multivitamins are a combination of different vitamins and minerals in food sources. They fulfill our everyday nutrition demands and help compensate for our poor eating habits. In addition, taking multivitamins can help reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases, stroke, cancer, and other health conditions.

Why Do We Need to Take a Multivitamin?

Our body requires a particular amount of micronutrients to nourish and keep the body healthy. For example, if we don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables in our daily diet. It can result in fatigue, memory loss, and mood changes. Taking multivitamins ensures that our body receives adequate vitamins and minerals. Some of the many reasons to include multivitamins in our regime include:

1. Healthy Aging - Our nutritional requirements increase as we age. At the same time, it also becomes difficult for the body to break down and absorb nutrients from the food we eat due to a decline in the production of digestive enzymes. Multivitamin supplements can correct these age-related deficiencies.

2. Boosts Immunity - Vitamin D and E boosts immunity and helps reduce allergy symptoms. Vitamin C is an antioxidant known to strengthen the immune system.

3. Improves Eye Health - Vitamins A, C, E, Niacin, and Selenium reduce the risk of macular degeneration. Multivitamins containing Lutein and Zeaxanthin protect our eyes from harmful light waves.

4. Reduces the Risk of Chronic Diseases - A daily multivitamins supplement can significantly reduce the risk of diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease in both men and women.

5. Reduces the Risk of Chronic Diseases - Heavy medications for conditions like diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders such as colitis, pancreatitis, or irritable bowel syndrome can disrupt the absorption of nutrients. Multivitamins can compensate for the loss.

6. Recommended Dietary Allowance - Multivitamin supplements provide extra vitamins and minerals to pregnant and lactating women, people undergoing surgery, inherent deficiency, exercise-induced nutrient depletion, and malabsorption disorders like Crohn’s Disease.

7. Reduces Stress and Depression - Vitamin B stimulates the nervous system to produce stress-relieving hormones, improving mood and treating depression.

8. Healthy Hair and Skin - Vitamin B3 (Niacin), biotin, and vitamin C help give fuller hair, while vitamins A, C, and E improve the skin tone.

The other benefits of taking multivitamins may include increased energy levels, reduced anxiety, improved muscle strength, and healthy hair and skin.

What Do Multivitamins Contain?

Besides well-known nutrients like vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, and potassium, a good multivitamin should include:

• Thiamine, Riboflavin, and niacin.

• B 6 and B 12, and folate.

• Selenium, and Zinc.

• Vitamin A ( including beta carotene, E, and K).

• Vitamin D2 or D 3.

How to Take Multivitamins?

Take multivitamins with a full glass of water. Chew the chewable tablets before swallowing. The sublingual tablet is placed under the tongue until it dissolves entirely. Do not chew or swallow whole. It is advised not to take more than the recommended dose as it can result in serious side effects. Take tablets regularly to get the most benefit.

The recommended dose of multivitamins is one tablet orally, once a day. Always store multivitamins in their original container and at room temperature.

Do You Need to Take Multivitamins if You Are a Vegan?

Animal foods contain B12. People following strict plant-based diets risk deficiencies in vitamin B12, calcium, zinc, iron, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids. Vegetarians and vegans may benefit from multivitamins.

What Are the Side Effects Associated With Using Multivitamins?

Side effects of multivitamins that are likely to occur when taking multivitamins include:

1. Constipation.

2. Dark stools.

3. Nausea.

4. Vomiting.

5. Abdominal pain.

6. Less common side effects,

7. Dizziness.

8. Allergic reactions.

9. Trouble breathing.

10. Unpleasant taste in the mouth.

11. When taken in large amounts, multivitamins containing calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc can cause tooth staining, increased urination, stomach bleeding, uneven heart rate, confusion, and muscle weakness.

What Happens if You Take an Overdose on Multivitamins?

Taking more than two multivitamins can harm your health and even cause toxicity. For example, large doses of vitamins A, D, E, or K can cause life-threatening effects and may affect the kidneys, increase the risk of bleeding and promote the formation of calcium stones. The most expected overdose symptoms include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, severe headaches, changes in menstrual periods, and tingling in or around the mouth.

What Precautions Should Be Taken When Taking Multivitamins?

• Allergic Reactions - Multivitamins should not be used if you have had allergic reactions to the drug or any of its ingredients.
• Pregnancy - Vitamin A is fat-soluble, and excess amounts get stored in the liver. This accumulation has toxic effects and can lead to liver damage or congenital disabilities in the fetus.
• Hemochromatosis - Do not take multivitamins if you have Hemochromatosis, where there is an excessive build-up of iron in the body. This condition is more common in men.
• Wilson’s Disease - Multivitamins are contraindicated for Wilson’s disease, a rare inherited disorder that causes the accumulation of copper in the body.
• Hypervitaminosis - Avoid multivitamins if you have preexisting hypervitaminosis or abnormally high vitamin levels.
• Impaired Kidney function - Avoid vitamins like A, E, and K that can build up in the body when given to patients with poor kidney function.
• Liver Disease - Excess iron, niacin, and vitamin A may cause liver injury, and give it with caution.
• Smoking - Smokers should avoid multivitamins A as large amounts of beta carotene or vitamin may increase the risk of lung cancer.

What Should You Avoid When Taking Multivitamins?

Avoid multivitamins with:

• Milk or dairy products.
• Antacids.
• Calcium supplements.
• High salt food.
• These can interfere with the absorption of multivitamins.
• Multivitamins may interact with certain medications or affect their work in your body. These include:
• Tretinoin or Isotretinoin.
• Diuretics.
• Other vitamin supplements.
• Alendronate.
• Levothyroxine.
• Certain anti-seizure drugs.
• Antibiotics such as Tetracyclines and Ciprofloxacin also interact with multivitamins.

What Are the Best Types of Multivitamins?

When looking for the right multivitamin, always consider the following:

1. It should be natural.
2. Allergen-free.
3. Highly bioavailable(easy for the body to absorb).
4. Purity tested.
5. Made without fillers, artificial colors, or additives

Conclusion

Supplements should be considered boosters and not replacements for a healthy diet. It is best to meet our daily nutrient requirements with various nutritious foods and a balanced diet of fresh, whole foods. The primary purpose of multivitamins is to fill the nutritional gaps in our diet.