No, you don't.
Unless you belong to the 'high-risk' group as listed below:
- elderly people
- vegans/vegetarians
- alcohol-dependent individuals
- patients with malabsorption of certain micronutrients.
If you do not belong to any of the group above, I would say you are wasting your money on the over advertised multivitamins. Consumption of individual micronutrients also should be treated with caution as you may find mega doses of a specific micronutrients which is not only unnecessary for your body, but may also cause other health problems. For example,excessive doses of vitamin A during early pregnancy and fat-soluble vitamins taken anytime may result in adverse outcomes.
It is proven that certain inadequacy of certain micronutrients may increase the risk for some medical conditions - suboptimal folic acid levels, along with suboptimal levels of vitamins B6 and B12, are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, neural tube defects, and colon and breast cancer; low levels of vitamin D contribute to osteopenia and fractures; and low levels of the antioxidant vitamins (vitamins A, E, and C) may increase risk for several chronic diseases. However this should not be an excuse for us to indulge in one particular micronutrient unless advised by a nutritionist/dietician.Food remains the best source of micronutrients. Remember, they are called MICRONUTRIENTS for a reason!
The Recommended Nutrient Intake for Malaysians gives you an idea on the limitation of intakes of various macro and micronutrients.
Further read:
Vitamins for Chronic Disease Prevention in Adults
3 comments:
It depends on which brand of multivit you taking. We cannot get enough multivit from food itself. Our daily food intake are no longer what they are 100 years ago. 100 years ago, to eat a chicken, you will have to wait for months, now you can get it in days, so are other vegetables. Therefore the amount of nutrient in each food has been cut down.
Multivit is needed to feed your cells.
i am taking USANA, an US brand and got that information there from the doctors if you may ask since you are a nutritionist. My sis is a pharmacist and she was the one who told me to take them
@ pingping
It depends on which brand of multivit you taking.
the brand of multivit may determine the rate of absorption.
We cannot get enough multivit from food itself.
depends on the type of food u r consuming
Therefore the amount of nutrient in each food has been cut down.
not quite. if u said more foriegn substance in the food items now than 100 years ago, then i might agree. but nutrient wise, we r doing great. for example fortification and excellent food processing have helped to minimize nutrient loss even in the processed food.
and got that information there from the doctors if you may ask since you are a nutritionist.
doctors gave information about the brand? interesting to know that actually.:)
i'm happy to hear feedback from consumers like you, ping ping. gave me a real insight into the outside world. thanks!
ammu.
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