Sci 241 Checkpoint Multivitamin Review

Checkpoint: Multivitamin Review

SCI/241

July 14, 2011

Although it is recommended to take multivitamins, I do not. I have tried taking them, but each time I have, I seem to get sick shortly after taking them. I examined a bottle of One a Day for women that my girlfriend takes, where the bottle states it provides 100% of the daily recommended vitamins and minerals. I do not see the minerals: Chloride, Fluoride, Iodine, Molybdenum, Phosphorous, Potassium, Sodium, or Sulfur, listed on the label.

Benefits of taking multivitamins include preventing or treating vitamin deficiency that can cause a person to catch a serious illness and anyone can have a deficiency. There are 13 essential vitamins the human body requires to help function properly which are vitamin A, C, D, E, K, B12, and 7 B-complex.

Taking too much of certain vitamins can raise your level of your intake to near toxic levels. For example, if a person takes too much Niacin, they could experience rashes, nausea, and flashing. The recommended dose for Niacin is 14 to 16 mg per day and according to the label, the multivitamin contains 50 mg per capsule. Vitamin B-12 has no toxicity risk, whereas taking too much vitamin B6, which helps hemoglobin synthesis, can cause numbness and nerve damage. The recommended intake is 1.7 mg a day, and the multivitamin has 25 mg per capsule.

If a person has any concerns about taking a multivitamin, what kind, or how much/often to take them, they should consult a doctor. Toxicity can affect anyone and varies based on age, sex, nutritional status, and concentration of the substance. If a person takes multivitamins and has adverse reactions or abnormal body routines, they should consider halting their use and consult a physician or dietician.

Reference

Ng, N (2002). Consequences of Vitamin Toxicity. Retrieved July 15, 2011, from http://www.livestrong.com/article/96141-consequences-vitamin-toxicity/