Should I Be Taking a Multivitamin?

You may be asking yourself, should I be taking vitamins and supplements, like a multivitamin? Certain groups may actually benefit from taking one, while others may not see any real benefit. Ultimately it’s best to ask your doctor or registered dietitian if they recommend you take a vitamin or mineral.

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Do you fall into any of the following groups? If you do, it’s recommended you consider taking a daily multivitamin.

• Those who have conditions in which their body is unable to as effective absorb certain nutrients, such as inflammatory bowel disease, or celiac disease)
• Persons who’ve had weight loss surgery, or surgeries to the GI tract
• Pregnant people, or people wanting to become pregnant
• Persons with very poor appetite and unable to eat a balanced diet

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What if I don’t fall into any of those groups? Should I still take a multivitamin?

• It’s recommended to try and obtain important nutrients from food first. But if you’re concerned about your diet, and feel you may need to supplement in addition to what you eat, it’s best to check-in with your doctor or registered dietitian for further guidance

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How do I know which multivitamin to choose?

• It’s important to look for a multivitamin that best matches your needs. some text
  • Look for one that is formulated basedsome text
    • Your age (Adult versus 55+)
    • Gender
    • Specific life stage (such as pregnancy or lactation)
• Choose reputable brands that undergo third-party testing to maintain quality standards, such as United States Pharmacopeia (USP) or NSF International

If you have a history of weight loss surgery, it’s best to choose a bariatric-specific brand like Bariatric Advantage, Celebrate Vitamins, or ProCare Health, since these brands follow the American Society for Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery (ASMBS) guidelines for vitamins and minerals after surgery.

*References available with PDF download