Why Take a Multivitamin? Is a daily vitamin necessary?

As doctors we are often asked “Should I take a multivitamin?” Some will suggest that they eat a healthy diet already so is it needed? Others want to take one “just in case.” And the answer is not simple.

The role of standard multivitamins has been called into question lately. And it very well should be. Recent studies have questioned multivitamins usefulness and suggested their potential for harm. To those of us in the medical field this is not surprising. Every medicine a doctor recommends (including things found over the counter) has potential side effects, so why should multivitamin supplements be any different?

In fact they are no different. Many of the multivitamin supplements on the market today are far exceeding recommended doses of certain nutrients. Research has shown that these excessive vitamin doses can be harmful. For example, too much Vitamin A may lead to higher rates of cancer. Likewise the US Preventative Task Force has not recommended the regular use of some vitamin supplements at all, stating insufficient data exists to justify their use.

On the flip side, we know from years of seeing women in our medical practice, that most of us are Vitamin D deficient and many of us lack enough iron. We don’t eat meat the way we used to and we wear sunscreen and avoid the sun (for good, health reasons like skin cancer prevention). We may note symptoms of nutritional deficiencies like hair loss (see our blog on vitamins for hair loss in women) or fatigue. Or we may feel OK but be unaware of harm to our bodies, such as loss in our bone density, that may one day lead to osteoporosis.

So you ask, why take a multivitamin?

1. Nutritional Deficiencies- We are not perfect in our diets. Even the “healthiest” of eaters fall short on something– it may be something such as Vitamin D which is not readily found in most food sources.
2. Low Vitamin Levels in the Food Supply- After years of poor farming practices the soil has bene demineralized and our fruits and vegetables are grown for shelf life and appearance not nutrients.
3. We don’t eat the way we used to– While many of us have adopted healthier habits, this has actually led to lower levels of important nutrients such as iron (mostly found in red meat) and iodine (mostly found in table salt or processed foods).
4. Feel Better-It turns out that many people feel much better once they start taking a multivitamin that is geared toward their individual needs.
5. Take only what you need— Get a PERSONALIZED daily vitamin

What vitamins to take is a complicated subject to say the least. Many people are looking for an all in one vitamin. However, our experiences has taught us that we are not all alike. We each have different genes and different lifestyles that interact to give us unique nutritional needs. The standard multivitamins do not suffice. In fact, multivitamins may contain many unnecessary and potentially harmful ingredients (Vitamin A and heavy metals) but not enough of essential vitamins.

Get a Personalized Multivitamin

Rather than suggest a generic all in one vitamin, or custom vitamin packs full of pills, Vous Vitamin® was developed by us doctors to find the individual combination of nutrients that is ideal for each person at a given point in life. Filling out our personalized vitamin quiz, telling us about who you are, will help us determine exactly what supplemental vitamins are suited to you. You will then get to benefit from a safe, naturally derived and medically sound all in one vitamin (take two tablets daily). You will find your Vous.

Romy Block specializes in Endocrinology and Metabolism and is mother to three active adolescent boys. Arielle Levitan is a Doctor of Internal Medicine with a special interest in Preventive Medicine and Women’s Health.  She is a mother of three teenagers. As professional women with active family lives, they recognize that people often neglect their own health needs and are uncertain about what vitamins to take. Each person is different in her diet, exercise and health history, and will benefit from different nutrients.  After years of advising their patients about the proper vitamins to take,  Drs. Block and Levitan created Vous Vitamin® to provide people everywhere with quality vitamins that are suited to their individual needs. They are authors of the award winning The Vitamin Solution: Two Doctors Clear Confusion About Vitamins and Your Health (She Writes Press, 2015). Take your vitamin survey now to get exactly the right vitamins for your needs.

The statements made in this article have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products offered by Vous Vitamin® are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Nothing contained herein is intended to be a diagnosis or constitute medical advice.  The symptoms described in this Blog may be a result of a serious medical condition which requires medical treatment.  You should consult with your doctor if you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned in this Blog and before beginning any vitamin or supplement regimen.