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Multi-Vitamin
 
large product photo   OVERVIEW & BENEFITS

Multivitamin and multimineral supplements are specifically designed to provide a variety of both essential and/or non-essential nutrients for the body. The primary purpose of these supplements is to allow individuals the option of taking only one dietary supplement that provides many nutrients to the body. Multivitamin supplements can help to prevent both vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and are used by many to increase essential nutrients in the body to achieve additional health benefits.

Multivitamins usually contain at least 100%, if not more, of the recommended dietary allowance of essential vitamins. While not all multivitamins contain minerals, in the case of high potency multivitamins, mineral content may also exceed 100% of Daily Value or U.S. Recommended Allowance (USRDA). Nutrients that should be included in what we consider a complete multivitamin include:

While iron may be included in a good multivitamin supplement, it is not necessary. Phosphorus is also another essential mineral required by the body, but so much is consumed in the human diet that additional amounts, via supplements, are not needed.

One A Day Multivitamins

The majority of "One-per-day" multivitamins usually contain vitamin B-complex, along with variable levels of vitamins A and D, depending on the type of multivitamin. While some one-per-day multivitamins contain high levels of vitamin A and vitamin D, many multivitamins do not. As the body does not require as many minerals as vitamins, most multivitamins include small amounts of essential minerals including copper, zinc, and iron.

Some one-a-day multivitamins may not provide sufficient amounts of many essential nutrients for people who eat a traditional Western diet, who usually require additional amounts of vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin C.