Post by the Scribe on Apr 3, 2021 11:34:56 GMT
Vitamins and mineral supplements can be expensive. There are at least 90 essential vitamins and minerals that everyone should consume every day. In a balanced diet one might get the right balance however with today's overused soils, insecticides, radiation of foods, etc. chances are food may not give you what you need. And then there is individual genetic issues where certain gene mutations won't allow absorption of certain vitamins and minerals. In that case those vitamins need to be taken in a methylated form.
If you cannot afford supplements in general but have a good, well rounded diet you might want to consider taking enzyme tablets along with pre and pro biotics to help digest the food properly. Gluten is supposed to be one thing to be avoided because it causes inflammation of the stomach and intestines and doesn't allow proper absorption. Fermented liquids like Kombucha, sauerkraut, kimchi etc. are especially good prebiotics to help digestion. Apple cider vinegar is another good additive especially on salads.
A multivitamin may help provide missing nutrients
Millions of Americans take a daily multivitamin. Health experts agree that certain groups of people can clearly benefit from a multivitamin, especially women who are pregnant or may become pregnant. Others may not need a multivitamin because the majority of Americans get plenty of nutrients from their daily diet. However, most experts say there is no harm in taking a daily multivitamin and it might help with nutrient balance if, for example, you can't stand eating your veggies, or eat a restricted diet for whatever reason.
However, if you have any health concerns, pre-existing conditions, or take other supplements or medications, always check with your healthcare provider before adding a multivitamin into your regimen. Also check with your child's pediatrician before giving your child a multivitamin. We do not cover multivitamins for children because most experts say you should not give your child supplements without a specific recommendation from a healthcare provider.
The FDA made an important change to its folate/folic acid recommendations
The FDA announced in July of 2016 that it was making changes to the way it measures folate, which is naturally occurring in foods, and folic acid, the synthetic form of folate. Since synthetic folate is metabolized differently than naturally-derived folate from food, synthetic folates are considered to be a higher concentration than they used to be. The new labeling takes into account both micrograms (mcg) and "dietary folate equivalents" (DFE). So, for example, if the folate levels in a supplement are exclusively from synthetic folate and currently are listed at 800 mcg, it will, in the future, be listed as 1,360 mcg DFE (the ratio is 1:1.7 for folic acid, 1:1 for naturally occurring folate). This means that, currently, almost all prenatal multivitamins with folic acid as its folate source actually provide more, sometimes much more, than the recommended RDA for folate, in spite of what the label says. However, since these rules have not yet taken effect, the current supplements are considered to be truthful in their labeling and still pass in testing for that. These labeling changes will take effect from July of 2018 to July 2019.
While there are legitimate concerns about ingesting too much folate because it can mask other issues, that is very rare and generally happens at much higher levels of supplementation. In the meantime, the take home message is this: if you're pregnant, folate supplementation is highly recommended. Work with your doctor to find the right type and amount of folate for you.
The reason that there are so many vitamins targeting adults over age 50 is because they have different nutritional needs than their younger selves. Older adults typically need more B vitamins, especially B-12, more calcium, less iron (especially women), less folate, and may benefit from a thermogenic ingredient, which can help burn calories. Some companies even make multivitamins specifically for older men or women, with tweaks to their formulas targeting that demographic. One thing you do need to watch out for: if you take a blood thinner, vitamin K can interfere with it, so be sure to check with your doctor.
Multivitamins for Women
Experts agree: all women of childbearing age should take a multivitamin containing folate or folic acid. Even though you may not be intending to conceive, if you do, the risk of neural tube defects is greatly increased without this supplement. The recommended daily allowance of folate for women ages 14 and up is 400 mcg DFE (which represents the FDA's newest measurements for folate as micrograms dietary folate equivalents). Multivitamins targeted at women under age 50 reflect these needs, and, in addition, often provide other nutrients, like iron, that menstruating women may lack.
Prenatal Vitamins
As noted above, all women of childbearing age should take a daily multivitamin with at least 400 mcg DFE of folate. Pregnant and breastfeeding women need even more folic acid – 600 and 500 mcg DFE, respectively. Again, these reflect the FDA's latest guidelines in measuring folate supplements, making it even more important that you discuss your supplement needs with your doctor.
Multivitamins for Men
Vitamins targeted at men often have formulations that specifically claim to benefit prostrate or heart health. While these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, the fact is that men can benefit from a multivitamin made for them. For one thing, men generally don't need more than 8 mg (milligrams) of iron a day, which is easy to get from diet alone, so men's formulas tend to be very low in iron.
Are multivitamins safe?
Enacted in 1994, the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) restricts the ability of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate supplements or ensure the safety of their ingredients. Under this act, the FDA is limited to collecting information on adverse side effects and to monitoring labeling claims. That means the most the FDA can do is pull a product off store shelves after a problem becomes apparent. It's up to the manufacturer to ensure that its multivitamins and supplements are safe. Under DSHEA, multivitamins don't require FDA approval, and manufacturers aren't required to register their supplements with the FDA before putting them on the market.
In an ideal world, manufacturers would be diligent about the safety of their multivitamins and truth in labeling. However, as professional testing shows, consumers need to be concerned about multivitamin quality. Among 35 products evaluated by ConsumerLab.com, 46 percent fail at least one test. Many don't meet the nutrient claims on the label, others improperly list ingredients.
It's not unusual for a multivitamin to exceed the upper limit (UL) for niacin and yet stay off of the "not approved" lists of most professional testing organizations. That's because niacin has thermogenic properties and is often targeted to other purposes, such as increased energy, aiding weight loss or lowering cholesterol. However, it's important to note that niacin can cause flushing and tingling at high doses -- and more serious side effects in a small minority of the population. Again, check with your healthcare provider if you have any concerns.
Regardless of existing regulations, consumers should be skeptical about health claims listed on multivitamin labels. While the original provisions of DSHEA require that manufacturers make no claims about their products preventing or curing diseases, some do so anyway. Keep in mind, there are no studies to show that any supplement can prevent or cure any condition (with the notable exceptions of iodine and folic acid). The only reason for the average person to take a multivitamin is to ensure you have a full range of daily nutrients, especially if you don't eat a balanced diet.
Choosing a multivitamin can be as difficult as swallowing a horse pill, especially with the multitude of options available. The most important factor in finding the best multivitamin is choosing one that is verified to contain the amount of ingredients that the label claims and that has been tested to be free of contaminants.
Fortunately, several sources provide good coverage of multivitamins to help narrow your choices. ConsumerLab.com is the best reviewer of multivitamins; it tests dozens of products to ensure that they dissolve properly, contain the ingredients listed on the label, and aren't contaminated with lead and other toxins. Some manufacturers pay to have their multivitamins included in the testing through ConsumerLab.com's voluntary Quality Certification Program, but those products are clearly listed in the results table and that payment does not influence the results. ConsumerLab.com's reports are available to subscribers only.
Labdoor is another good source for laboratory testing of multivitamins. They test a number of multivitamins for label accuracy, product purity, nutritional value, ingredient safety and projected efficacy. The multis tested are also ranked and rated against one another. Full results are available after free registration. Consumer Reports evaluated multivitamins in September 2010 to ensure they meet nutrient claims and dissolve properly; that report, though older, is free to the public.
User reviews are helpful for information on side effects like stomach upset, any odor or taste issues, and how easy a multivitamin is to swallow. Overall, though, when making our choices we focused our attention on accuracy in labeling to be sure that, when you do make a decision, you get what you're paying for.
Elsewhere In This Report
Best Multivitamins Multivitamins for Adults over 50 Multivitamins for Women Prenatal Vitamins Multivitamins for Men Buying Guide Our Sources
www.consumersearch.com/health-beauty/best-multivitamins
If you cannot afford supplements in general but have a good, well rounded diet you might want to consider taking enzyme tablets along with pre and pro biotics to help digest the food properly. Gluten is supposed to be one thing to be avoided because it causes inflammation of the stomach and intestines and doesn't allow proper absorption. Fermented liquids like Kombucha, sauerkraut, kimchi etc. are especially good prebiotics to help digestion. Apple cider vinegar is another good additive especially on salads.
A multivitamin may help provide missing nutrients
Millions of Americans take a daily multivitamin. Health experts agree that certain groups of people can clearly benefit from a multivitamin, especially women who are pregnant or may become pregnant. Others may not need a multivitamin because the majority of Americans get plenty of nutrients from their daily diet. However, most experts say there is no harm in taking a daily multivitamin and it might help with nutrient balance if, for example, you can't stand eating your veggies, or eat a restricted diet for whatever reason.
However, if you have any health concerns, pre-existing conditions, or take other supplements or medications, always check with your healthcare provider before adding a multivitamin into your regimen. Also check with your child's pediatrician before giving your child a multivitamin. We do not cover multivitamins for children because most experts say you should not give your child supplements without a specific recommendation from a healthcare provider.
The FDA made an important change to its folate/folic acid recommendations
The FDA announced in July of 2016 that it was making changes to the way it measures folate, which is naturally occurring in foods, and folic acid, the synthetic form of folate. Since synthetic folate is metabolized differently than naturally-derived folate from food, synthetic folates are considered to be a higher concentration than they used to be. The new labeling takes into account both micrograms (mcg) and "dietary folate equivalents" (DFE). So, for example, if the folate levels in a supplement are exclusively from synthetic folate and currently are listed at 800 mcg, it will, in the future, be listed as 1,360 mcg DFE (the ratio is 1:1.7 for folic acid, 1:1 for naturally occurring folate). This means that, currently, almost all prenatal multivitamins with folic acid as its folate source actually provide more, sometimes much more, than the recommended RDA for folate, in spite of what the label says. However, since these rules have not yet taken effect, the current supplements are considered to be truthful in their labeling and still pass in testing for that. These labeling changes will take effect from July of 2018 to July 2019.
While there are legitimate concerns about ingesting too much folate because it can mask other issues, that is very rare and generally happens at much higher levels of supplementation. In the meantime, the take home message is this: if you're pregnant, folate supplementation is highly recommended. Work with your doctor to find the right type and amount of folate for you.
Types of Multivitamins
Multivitamins for Adults over 50
Multivitamins for Women
Prenatal Vitamins
Multivitamins for Men
Multivitamins for Adults over 50
Multivitamins for Adults over 50
Multivitamins for Women
Prenatal Vitamins
Multivitamins for Men
Multivitamins for Adults over 50
The reason that there are so many vitamins targeting adults over age 50 is because they have different nutritional needs than their younger selves. Older adults typically need more B vitamins, especially B-12, more calcium, less iron (especially women), less folate, and may benefit from a thermogenic ingredient, which can help burn calories. Some companies even make multivitamins specifically for older men or women, with tweaks to their formulas targeting that demographic. One thing you do need to watch out for: if you take a blood thinner, vitamin K can interfere with it, so be sure to check with your doctor.
Multivitamins for Women
Experts agree: all women of childbearing age should take a multivitamin containing folate or folic acid. Even though you may not be intending to conceive, if you do, the risk of neural tube defects is greatly increased without this supplement. The recommended daily allowance of folate for women ages 14 and up is 400 mcg DFE (which represents the FDA's newest measurements for folate as micrograms dietary folate equivalents). Multivitamins targeted at women under age 50 reflect these needs, and, in addition, often provide other nutrients, like iron, that menstruating women may lack.
Prenatal Vitamins
As noted above, all women of childbearing age should take a daily multivitamin with at least 400 mcg DFE of folate. Pregnant and breastfeeding women need even more folic acid – 600 and 500 mcg DFE, respectively. Again, these reflect the FDA's latest guidelines in measuring folate supplements, making it even more important that you discuss your supplement needs with your doctor.
Multivitamins for Men
Vitamins targeted at men often have formulations that specifically claim to benefit prostrate or heart health. While these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, the fact is that men can benefit from a multivitamin made for them. For one thing, men generally don't need more than 8 mg (milligrams) of iron a day, which is easy to get from diet alone, so men's formulas tend to be very low in iron.
Are multivitamins safe?
Enacted in 1994, the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) restricts the ability of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate supplements or ensure the safety of their ingredients. Under this act, the FDA is limited to collecting information on adverse side effects and to monitoring labeling claims. That means the most the FDA can do is pull a product off store shelves after a problem becomes apparent. It's up to the manufacturer to ensure that its multivitamins and supplements are safe. Under DSHEA, multivitamins don't require FDA approval, and manufacturers aren't required to register their supplements with the FDA before putting them on the market.
In an ideal world, manufacturers would be diligent about the safety of their multivitamins and truth in labeling. However, as professional testing shows, consumers need to be concerned about multivitamin quality. Among 35 products evaluated by ConsumerLab.com, 46 percent fail at least one test. Many don't meet the nutrient claims on the label, others improperly list ingredients.
It's not unusual for a multivitamin to exceed the upper limit (UL) for niacin and yet stay off of the "not approved" lists of most professional testing organizations. That's because niacin has thermogenic properties and is often targeted to other purposes, such as increased energy, aiding weight loss or lowering cholesterol. However, it's important to note that niacin can cause flushing and tingling at high doses -- and more serious side effects in a small minority of the population. Again, check with your healthcare provider if you have any concerns.
Regardless of existing regulations, consumers should be skeptical about health claims listed on multivitamin labels. While the original provisions of DSHEA require that manufacturers make no claims about their products preventing or curing diseases, some do so anyway. Keep in mind, there are no studies to show that any supplement can prevent or cure any condition (with the notable exceptions of iodine and folic acid). The only reason for the average person to take a multivitamin is to ensure you have a full range of daily nutrients, especially if you don't eat a balanced diet.
Finding The Best Multivitamins
OUR SOURCES
1. ConsumerLab.com
"Product Review: Multivitamin and Multimineral Supplements"
2. Labdoor
"Top 10 Multivitamins"
3. Amazon
"Multivitamins"
OUR SOURCES
1. ConsumerLab.com
"Product Review: Multivitamin and Multimineral Supplements"
2. Labdoor
"Top 10 Multivitamins"
3. Amazon
"Multivitamins"
Choosing a multivitamin can be as difficult as swallowing a horse pill, especially with the multitude of options available. The most important factor in finding the best multivitamin is choosing one that is verified to contain the amount of ingredients that the label claims and that has been tested to be free of contaminants.
Fortunately, several sources provide good coverage of multivitamins to help narrow your choices. ConsumerLab.com is the best reviewer of multivitamins; it tests dozens of products to ensure that they dissolve properly, contain the ingredients listed on the label, and aren't contaminated with lead and other toxins. Some manufacturers pay to have their multivitamins included in the testing through ConsumerLab.com's voluntary Quality Certification Program, but those products are clearly listed in the results table and that payment does not influence the results. ConsumerLab.com's reports are available to subscribers only.
Labdoor is another good source for laboratory testing of multivitamins. They test a number of multivitamins for label accuracy, product purity, nutritional value, ingredient safety and projected efficacy. The multis tested are also ranked and rated against one another. Full results are available after free registration. Consumer Reports evaluated multivitamins in September 2010 to ensure they meet nutrient claims and dissolve properly; that report, though older, is free to the public.
User reviews are helpful for information on side effects like stomach upset, any odor or taste issues, and how easy a multivitamin is to swallow. Overall, though, when making our choices we focused our attention on accuracy in labeling to be sure that, when you do make a decision, you get what you're paying for.
Elsewhere In This Report
Best Multivitamins Multivitamins for Adults over 50 Multivitamins for Women Prenatal Vitamins Multivitamins for Men Buying Guide Our Sources
www.consumersearch.com/health-beauty/best-multivitamins