Additionally, adults with a history of prostate and breast cancers were more likely to use dietary and multivitamin supplements. Individuals who use dietary supplements (including multivitamins) generally report higher dietary nutrient intakes and healthier diets.
Women versus men, older adults versus younger adults, non-Hispanic whites versus non-Hispanic blacks, and those with higher education levels versus lower education levels (among other categories) were more likely to take multivitamins. In the 1999–2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 52% of adults in the United States reported taking at least one dietary supplement in the last month and 35% reported regular use of multivitamin-multimineral supplements. Some women may need to take iron, vitamin C, or calcium supplements during pregnancy, but only on the advice of a doctor. However, the NHS recommends 10μg of Vitamin D per day throughout the pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding, as well as 400μg of folic acid during the first trimester (first 12 weeks of pregnancy). Generally, medical advice is to avoid multivitamins during pregnancy, particularly those containing vitamin A, unless they are recommended by a health care professional. Pregnant women and elderly adults have different nutritional needs than other adults, and a multivitamin may be indicated by a physician. People with dietary imbalances may include those on restrictive diets and those who cannot or will not eat a nutritious diet.
Uses įor certain people, particularly the elderly, supplementing the diet with additional vitamins and minerals can have health impacts however, the majority will not benefit. In the United States, the FDA requires any product marketed as a "multivitamin" to contain at least three vitamins and minerals furthermore, the dosages must be below a "tolerable upper limit", and a multivitamin may not include herbs, hormones, or drugs. Most multivitamins come in capsule form tablets, powders, liquids, and injectable formulations also exist.
Some nutrients, such as calcium and magnesium, are rarely included at 100% of the recommended allowance because the pill would become too large. Some formulas make a point of including extra antioxidants. Multivitamins are typically available in a variety of formulas based on age and sex, or (as in prenatal vitamins) based on more specific nutritional needs a multivitamin for men might include less iron, while a multivitamin for seniors might include extra vitamin D. Many multivitamin formulas contain vitamin C, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12, A, E, D2 (or D3), K, potassium, iodine, selenium, borate, zinc, calcium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, beta carotene, and/or iron.