Vitamins & Multivitamins Health Benefits

Which is the correct statement?

A. Following a daily regimen of taking vitamins and multivitamins has been found to provide a diverse variety of health benefits for the entire body.

B. After countless studies, vitamin and multivitamin supplementation has been found to offer few, if any health benefits.

If you answered "A," then congratulations are in order! You obviously take great care to ensure your health and the health of your family. These little, nutrient-laden capsules, tablets and softgels have actually been proven to display remarkable health benefits for your entire body. The healthful properties of vitamins and multivitamins are so far-reaching that even the medical community is now recognizing the potential benefits of these supplements.

Winning Over The Medical Community

Daily vitamins have been shown to be an inexpensive and effective way to safeguard your health. This was clearly illustrated by a recent research study presented at an influential conference entitled "Multi-Vitamins and Public Health." This study indicated that daily multivitamin supplementation by older adults could lead to more than $1.6 million in Medicare savings over the next 5 years, as well as potential cost savings from reduction in hospitalizations for heart attack, cancer and infection.

A 2002 Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) study provided support for these findings. The study's authors indicated that low levels of folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 pose a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, neural tube defects, and colon and breast cancers. Additionally, low levels of vitamin D contribute to osteopenia (decreased bone density) and fractures, while low levels of vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E may increase the risk of several chronic diseases.

This conference was attended by leading experts from government agencies, top research universities and health advocacy organizations. They concluded that most Americans do not get optimal amounts of key nutrients through diet alone, and that daily multivitamins, which are affordable and accessible, should be recommended to close the nutritional gap. The panel's findings indicated promising evidence supporting multivitamin use for the prevention of some chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease. Given these results, it is prudent to recommend that all adults take a daily multivitamin. For additional studies addressing the benefits of vitamins, click here.

Vitamins Can Ensure Daily Nutrition

The normal pressures of the modern world, along with deficiencies of essential daily nutrients, put our bodies under a tremendous amount of pressure. That's why it is so beneficial to take nutritional supplements for daily nutrition. These include vitamin C, crucial for ensuring immunity and overall health, vitamin K, vital for bone health, vitamin E, which boosts immune and cardiovascular function, as well as overall bodily health, and the various nutrients under the vitamin B banner. Essential minerals are another integral factor in any quality supplement, including calcium, which is necessary for muscle function and bone health, magnesium, for nerve and heart health, as well as relaxation, and zinc, which is required for proper immune function, and eye, cardiovascular and prostate health.

A variety of potent and essential antioxidants, shown to effectively defend the body against the dangers of free radicals, should be included in any vitamin or multivitamin. Among the most popular antioxidants are: coenzyme Q10, which is vital for heart and liver health, as well as for the production of cellular energy; selenium, for immune functioning and possibly a reduction in certain degenerative diseases, such as cancer; and lutein, which has been shown to offer amazing visual benefits. Plus, there are countless herbs that possess beneficial medicinal properties, and therefore, should be included in a proper vitamin supplement. These include: garlic, renowned for its cardiovascular, cholesterol and blood pressure support, ginkgo biloba, shown to support circulation to the extremities and the brain, while also enhancing memory and brain function, and ginseng, for natural enhancement of energy and endurance.

Within the vitamin world, you can find a supplement for virtually any health concern, including the eyes, heart, brain or immune system, as well as formulations for specific conditions, including allergies, bones/joints, skin, energy and vitality, and cardiovascular and digestive health. There are even nutrients for effective and stable weight management, and healthy sexual stamina, as well as formulas for overall men's and women's health.

Thanks to modern technology, vitamins are now available in a variety of forms, including tablets, caplets and softgels. There are even liquid vitamins for those who have difficulties with swallowing pills. If you want to bolster your health, but price is an issue, then discount vitamins are the answer! The Internet offers a treasure-trove of top-quality vitamins at discounted prices.

However, it is crucial to read the labels of these supplements. Unfortunately, many popular daily vitamins may be missing key nutrients essential for optimal health, such as calcium and magnesium. And, many of the included nutrients do not go past the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Daily Value recommendations (DV%), which only require the bare minimums. All of these measurements fall under the banner of the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs), which covers all reference values used for planning and assessing healthy diets. The most common may be that of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). The RDA is the average daily dietary intake level needed to meet the nutritional requirements of 97-98% of the healthy individuals in each age and gender group.

These levels were originally designed to prevent over-deficiency. But today, we are faced with far more pressing threats, such as aging and its associated diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, heart disease and cancer. The best idea is to choose your multi-vitamin based on these terms:

• Quantity: Each contained nutrient's level, and whether they are at high enough amounts to provide therapeutic benefits.
• Quality: The optimal form of the included nutrients. (Selenium is an excellent example.) You also need a supplement with only the necessary nutrients, and no artificial colors, flavorings, preservatives or fillers.
• Form: How the nutrient is present in the product, as well as how it is packaged and presented to the consumer.

Essential Daily Vitamin & Multivitamin Intakes

As recommended by the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) levels, here are the suggested levels and amounts of those nutrients shown to provide the most vital health benefits in an individual's daily diet.

Reference Values for Nutrition Labeling
(Based on a 2000 Calorie Intake; for Adults and Children 4 or More Years of Age)

Nutrient	Unit of measure	Daily values
Total Fat	grams (g)	65
Saturated fatty acids	grams (g)	20
Cholesterol	milligrams (mg)	300
Sodium	milligrams (mg)	2400
Potassium	milligrams (mg)	3500
Total carbohydrate	grams (g)	300
Fiber	grams (g)	25
Protein	grams (g)	50
Vitamin A	International Unit (IU)	5000
Vitamin C	milligrams (mg)	60
Calcium	milligrams (mg)	1000
Iron	milligrams (mg)	18
Vitamin D	International Unit (IU)	400
Vitamin E	International Unit (IU)	30
Vitamin K	micrograms (µg)	80
Thiamin	milligrams (mg)	1.5
Riboflavin	milligrams (mg)	1.7
Niacin	milligrams (mg)	20
Vitamin B6	milligrams (mg)	2.0
Folate	micrograms (µg)	400
Vitamin B12	micrograms (µg)	6.0
Biotin	micrograms (µg)	300
Pantothenic acid	milligrams (mg)	10
Phosphorus	milligrams (mg)	1000
Iodine	micrograms (µg)	150
Magnesium	milligrams (mg)	400
Zinc	milligrams (mg)	15
Selenium	micrograms (µg)	70
Copper	milligrams (mg)	2.0
Manganese	milligrams (mg)	2.0
Chromium	micrograms (µg)	120
Molybdenum	micrograms (µg)	75
Chloride	milligrams (mg)	3400