Multivitamins really necessary?

[Braveheart82]

I've been looking at the nutrition labels for the foods I eat and I can easily see that I get all the vitamins I need from those foods.

Yet, I still took a multi for a month but didn't really notice anything different.

Can you guys tell the difference or is it just a placebo kind of thing?

 

[CaptainNapalm]

If you're eating right and see you're getting your necessary intake of vitamins that way I see no point of supplementing with a multi. Excess of certain minerals and vitamins in your system can actually be counter productive in extreme cases.

 

[GreenOx]

All depends on how much and % of vitamins you are getting from your food. you drink orange juice that says it supplies 100% of your daily vitamin C requirement ...your body will not absorb 100% of that drink, your lucky to get 50% of the vitamin C out of it. Just like a multi vitamin your body will not absorb the full amount...thats why you see vitamins that are 100%+ some 500% vitamin C.... you can only absorb 100% of anything...I hate when people say I give 110%..impossible you would be dead at 100% exertion.

 

[Bottom's Up]

All depends on how much and % of vitamins you are getting from your food. you drink orange juice that says it supplies 100% of your daily vitamin C requirement ...your body will not absorb 100% of that drink, your lucky to get 50% of the vitamin C out of it. Just like a multi vitamin your body will not absorb the full amount...thats why you see vitamins that are 100%+ some 500% vitamin C.... you can only absorb 100% of anything...I hate when people say I give 110%..impossible you would be dead at 100% exertion.

read all 110% of this post.

 

[PushAndPull]

All depends on how much and % of vitamins you are getting from your food. you drink orange juice that says it supplies 100% of your daily vitamin C requirement ...your body will not absorb 100% of that drink, your lucky to get 50% of the vitamin C out of it. Just like a multi vitamin your body will not absorb the full amount...thats why you see vitamins that are 100%+ some 500% vitamin C.... you can only absorb 100% of anything...I hate when people say I give 110%..impossible you would be dead at 100% exertion.

You're making a huge assumption here. You're assuming that the percentages you're reading on the nutritional labels are completely accurate. They're the FDA daily recommended amount based on a 2000 calorie diet. So 500% Vit C is simply 5 times the amount the FDA recommends based on 2000 calorie diet. You might be able to absorb 200% Vit C if the FDA wrong, your calorie intake is higher, young, old, race, gender ect... It's not an exact science.

 

[ThreeGigs]

Necessary? No.
Cheap insurance? Yes.
How much selenium was in your foods? Iodine? Zinc? Phosphorus? What about all the other micronutrients that aren't generally listed on food labels?

I take a multivitamin because that way I don't have to worry about most vitamins and minerals. A mild oversupply of vitamins is generally well-tolerated by the body, so a multi will not do you any harm, unless you have an odd metabolic disorder. Plus, even though your food might contain 100% of a vitamin, it doesn't mean it's 100% bioavailable.

So I take a multi so I don't have to think about whether or not I got enough of a particular vitamin. I think I paid 16 or 17 bucks for a year's worth of tablets at a Walgreens. One (or several) less things to think about.

 

[wilcoxa]

I don't think you are going to notice a big difference when taking a multivitamin. I think overall, they make sure your body gets the right amount of vitamins, and keep you healthier over the long term. Ever since I have been taking vitamins, I rarely get sick.

 

[Braveheart82]

All depends on how much and % of vitamins you are getting from your food. you drink orange juice that says it supplies 100% of your daily vitamin C requirement ...your body will not absorb 100% of that drink, your lucky to get 50% of the vitamin C out of it. Just like a multi vitamin your body will not absorb the full amount...thats why you see vitamins that are 100%+ some 500% vitamin C.... you can only absorb 100% of anything...I hate when people say I give 110%..impossible you would be dead at 100% exertion.

Woah! Didn't know that at all...That's crazy. So just to be on the safe side, it's better to get more right? I always assumed your body got what was on the label...live and learn, live and learn.

 

[Braveheart82]

Necessary? No.
Cheap insurance? Yes.
How much selenium was in your foods? Iodine? Zinc? Phosphorus? What about all the other micronutrients that aren't generally listed on food labels?

I take a multivitamin because that way I don't have to worry about most vitamins and minerals. A mild oversupply of vitamins is generally well-tolerated by the body, so a multi will not do you any harm, unless you have an odd metabolic disorder. Plus, even though your food might contain 100% of a vitamin, it doesn't mean it's 100% bioavailable.

So I take a multi so I don't have to think about whether or not I got enough of a particular vitamin. I think I paid 16 or 17 bucks for a year's worth of tablets at a Walgreens. One (or several) less things to think about.

When you put it that way, that makes sense. Might as well cover the bases. Thanks!