VITAMIN AND MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS

Do vitamin and mineral supplements really optimize health as well as prolong and improve our quality of life? The complete scientific answer is unknown. But, Americans are consuming more vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplements than ever before.

Vitamins are needed for normal body functions, mental alertness, and resistance to infection. Without vitamins the body would not be able to process proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Some vitamins help produce hormones, blood cells, and chemicals in the nervous system. Minerals support normal growth, healthy bones, and teeth, as well as regulate water and chemical balance in the body.

It may be beneficial to take a vitamin or mineral supplement for the following reasons:

when a health condition restricts the absorption of nutrients or requires a special diet
if poor dietary habits include limiting food intake or not eating a variety of foods
if pregnant, prenatal vitamins with folate reduce the risk of neural tube defects in newborns
if age 65 or older, supplements reduce the risk of infections and improve immune function
if a postmenopausal woman, supplements help protect against osteoporosis
premature infants need supplemental iron and vitamin K to maintain health or
when taking selected medications or abusing alcohol or narcotics, supplements replenish depleted key nutrients and improve health

The best way to ensure adequate nutrition of all vitamins and minerals is to consume a balanced diet that incorporates a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products, and whole grain foods.

For additional assurance, take a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement that provides 100 percent of the U.S. Daily Recommended Intake (DRI) for all vitamins and minerals. Remember, excess intake of vitamins can be harmful.

Watch out for enriched and fortified foods. Enriched means that the nutrients were lost during processing and were added back. Fortified means one or more nutrients were added that were not originally there. Read food labels to see what nutrients have been added and what percent of the Daily Value for each nutrient is met with one serving.

Follow these basic guidelines if you take supplements:

to avoid megadoses, choose a multivitamin-mineral supplement that provides about 100 percent Daily Value of all that are included
be sure the product label shows both approval by the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) and the expiration date
keep all supplements out of sight and reach of children
store all supplements in a dry, cool place
if there is a problem with swallowing, look into using chewable or liquid forms of the supplements
check with your doctor, pharmacist, or registered dietitian before taking supplements, especially if taking medication or a health problem exists and
avoid all dietary supplements that contain ephedra (High blood pressure, stroke, heart attacks, and death are linked to ephedra use.)

When buying supplements, buy from a reputable company. Some supplements can contain toxic impurities. The FDA regulates vitamin and mineral supplements only if harm (or death) is reported.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIL File NUTR4830.rf2 VRS# 6987 Data Version 7.0