The Value of Vitamin and Dietary Supplements

Healthy eating is the best source for vitamins, minerals, and nutrients for human body needs.  Multivitamins are not to substitute for a balanced diet or a healthy lifestyle, but it can provide a nutritional back-up for a less-than-ideal diet, as the best eating plans can still fall short of meeting all of the nutrients per recommended daily intake (RDI).  You may fail to meet dietary recommendations for many reasons, including appetite, diet restrictions, less than healthy food choices, poor dental or health conditions, etc. Taking a once-daily multivitamin may benefit you to fill in small nutritional gaps in an easy way.

Although the benefit and risk of vitamin supplement debates are ongoing, as newer research findings become available, expert opinion remains consistent as the best advice for the public - “stick to a varied diet, if you want to take supplements, take a multivitamin-multimineral that has RDA amounts. In order to get RDI amounts of calcium and vitamin D, a single nutrient supplement may be necessary for some people. ”

In fact, daily multivitamins are the most commonly used supplement for maintain health. For different gender and stages of life, special formulas are made available (i.e., for man, woman, prenatal, silver, etc). As calcium and vitamin D deficiencies are common, additional supplement are often recommended. It is also essential to get some sun outdoor for vitamin D deficiency prevention.

Please be aware that dietary supplements are not approved by the government for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed. The manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements are responsible for making sure their products are safe BEFORE they go to market. Manufacturers are required to produce dietary supplements to minimum quality standards and ensure that they do not contain contaminants or impurities, and are accurately labeled. Therefore, it will be wise to choose trusted brands for more reliable consumer safety protection. Pick products with the seal of the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), to ensure they’ve been tested for purity and potency. Please read product labels carefully for amount per serving and take amount from other sources, including diet, for consideration. Few basic formulas in trusted brands with economical packaging are provided below.

Note: liquid forms of these supplements are available, mainly for individuals having difficulties swallowing; not proven for better absorption.

For individual specific conditions, check ahead with your physician for your personal vitamin and mineral supplement needs. Review your medication list with all supplements at your well visit and make sure your clinical laboratory results are within normal range. Bone density test (DXA) is also recommended for osteoporosis diagnostics in higher age group or as necessary every 1 – 2 years.
 
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Recommended reading Dietary Supplements are not Drugs 

Additional readings:

1. How to Choose a Multivitamin http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/nutrition-vitamins-11/choose-multivitamin
2. Do Supplements Help, or Harm? http://www.thedoctorwillseeyounow.com/
3. Reference Daily Intake https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reference_Daily_Intake
4. Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know   http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/

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