What Are They?

A multivitamin is any preparation (EG capsule, tablet, liquid etc) which contains more than a single vitamin. Taking a multivitamin simplifies getting the nutrients you need instead of taking several individual vitamins.

Multivitamin Benefits

Multivitamins are packed with vitamins and minerals that help your body stay healthy and prevent illness. The body can’t naturally produce sufficient quantities of nutrients (vitamins and minerals) to provide the foundation for all normal biological functions. Eating a balanced diet is one way to get the nutrients your body needs. However, few of us get a truly balanced diet. In a survey of 21,000 American people not a single person obtained 100% of the RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance ) for each of ten basic nutrients. This highlights how important multivitamins are.

Different Types

The most popular types of multivitamins are; capsule, tablet, liquid and powder. Although you can get lesser found forms including patches you put on your body!

Are They All Equal?

No. There are different multivitamins for different bodies, for example one may be good for a pregnant women but not a teenage boy. As for different types of multivitamins some companies claim liquid multivitamins are better because they absorb into your body quicker, however some health experts question say this simply isn’t true. So forget about the type of multivitamin it is, just read what’s in it and who it is good for.

What Is The Best Multivitamin?

The truth is there is no ‘best’ multivitamin. There are lots of different multivitamins which all have different types and levels of effectiveness. To find out what is best for you always read the labels/online descriptions and compare prices so you get the maximum value for money.

Cost

You can get a pack of 30 capsules from around £2.00, although the more you buy the cheaper it gets per capsule so larger packs are better value. The price varies dependent on the type of multivitamin, the brand and the retailer.

Places To Buy in UK

Here is a selection of online shops you can buy multivitamins from, all have secure checkouts so paying is safe.
House Of Health – free delivery on orders over £20.
Home Herbs – free delivery on orders over £29.

Sources used for stats: ImmuneSupport.com. Image from sxc.

Seven Seas, the health supplements company, has launched a new range of women’s supplements called Femibion.

The range consists of 5 different products, they are designed to boost vitality and are targetted at women in a variety of situations. Here are the 5 products, a quick description and the RRP:

• Healthy Pregnancy – help naturally support your babys development – £13.99
• Energetic Mum – boosts energy, overall wellbeing and helps immune system – £9.99
• Balance – helps you feel calm and in control during your monthly cycle when hormones fluctuate -£9.99
• Radiance – maintain healthy radiant skin, hair and nails – £9.99
• Healthy Bones – for women over 50 for strong healthy bones – £12.99

They are already for sale on Boots.com and also at chemistdirect.

Source: email. Image: screenshot

You can get Vitamin A, B (8 different types), C, D, E and K. But why the random jump from E to K? Why didn’t they just call the next classification Vitamin F?

Here’s Why
Over time some vitamins have been either; re-classified, completely discarded or renamed – as in the case of Vitamin B which became a “complex” of vitamins. When scientists described Vitamin K most of the letters from F to J were already designated, and the vitamin is involved in the koagulation of blood following wounding, so it was reasonable to give it the letter they did. However over time with vitamin classifications changing it has left a gap.

Previously Classifed Vitamins
Here is the list of vitamins which are no longer recognised. First it has the vitamin name, then the chemical name and also the reason for the name change.

• Vitamin B4 – Adenine DNA – Metabolite
• Vitamin B8 – Adenylic acid DNA – Metabolite
• Vitamin F – Essential fatty acids – Needed in large quantities
• Vitamin G – Riboflavin – Reclassified as Vitamin B2
• Vitamin H – Biotin – Reclassified as Vitamin B7
• Vitamin J – Catechol, Flavin – Protein metabolite
• Vitamin L1 – Anthranilic acid – Protein metabolite
• Vitamin L2 – Adenylthiomethylpentose – RNA metabolite
• Vitamin M – Folic acid – Reclassified as Vitamin B9
• Vitamin O – Carnitine – Protein metabolite
• Vitamin P – Flavonoids – No longer classified as a vitamin
• Vitamin PP – Niacin – Reclassified as Vitamin B3
• Vitamin U – S-Methylmethionine – Protein metabolite

Maybe in the future we will have a Vitamin Z?

Source: Wikipedia. Image: sxc

Here is a video titled Truth About Vitamins by Dr Vincent Bellonzi, a certified Clinical Nutritionist based in Austin, USA.

This is a very good video to watch because it makes it clear how health supplements should be used.

To recap; in the video he stresses it is important you eat healthily to give yourself a good base and use supplements to give you the important vitamins, minerals and fatty acids you may miss from your food.

Millions of people take multivitamins every day, however many people aren’t really aware of the real benefits of them. It is understandable to take them going on the theory of ‘they are good for me’, this is true but different multivitamins have different benefits and are ideal for different people.

How Beneficial Are Multivitamins?
When I started researching multivitamins years ago my inital thoughts were “I guess they would help a little bit, but how much can a little pill really help?”, I’m sure many others think the same. The theory goes that if you eat a balanced diet you can get all the nutrients your body needs, so multivitamins aren’t needed. However, in a survey of 21,000 American people not a single person obtained 100% of the ‘Recommended Daily Allowance’ for each of ten basic nutrients! I think that statistic just about says it all, everyone of us needs multivitamins for our bodies to stay in peak healthy condition and prevent illness.

The Best Multivitamins
Despite what many manufacturers will say there isn’t one definitive best multivitamin, different multivitamins do different jobs – some are good for pregnant mothers whilst others are good for teenage boys. Some companies claim to be the best based on popularity but they probably spend the most on advertising! So to get the best for your body you will need to read the labels and compare prices.

For more info check out the article Multivitamins – Benefits, Types & Cost which is in the Health Products section of this website.
Stat Sources: ImmuneSupport