You all must have heard your doctor advising you to take multivitamins multiple times in your life. But have you wondered why? Why multivitamins are so essential for health? Is your diet not enough to make up all the nutrients that we need? Do multivitamins have side effects? Is an overdose of multivitamins harmful? Is there any drug interaction or reaction while taking multivitamins tablets? Do multivitamins enhance our immunity? Are my healthy diet and proper exercise routines not enough to compensate for all my deficiencies? And so many questions pop up in your mind.
WHAT ARE MULTIVITAMINS?
Multivitamins are formed by combining different but essential Vitamins that we require daily for the functioning of normal body metabolism, but these vitamins are not present in the diet we take. Therefore, we need multivitamin tablets to make up for the deficiency created by the absence of these vitamins in our diet and also to fill the deficiencies created by different conditions such as pregnancy, nutrition disorders, and other digestive diseases.
Vitamins are micronutrients that are required in very small amounts but are essential for our body’s normal functioning. They act as a building block for our body but are naturally not synthesized in our bodies and we must take them through supplements.
WHAT HARM CAN VITAMIN DEFICIENCIES CAUSE TO US?
If our body becomes deficient in certain vitamins, it can cause really big harm to our health.
- Vitamin A deficiency can cause Night blindness by inhibiting the production of a pigment in our eye that enables us to see in darkness.
- Vitamin B deficiency particularly B12 deficiency can cause anemia due to a lack of healthy red blood cells that require B12 for their normal production.
- Vitamin C deficiency is a leading cause of scurvy and the reason behind this is the lack of collagen production which needs vitamin C.
- Vitamin D deficiency is a major factor in the development of rickets in children. This is because vitamin D helps in absorbing calcium and phosphorus which makes our bones strong. Hence, deficiency of vitamin D will result in a decrease in bone density.
- Vitamin E deficiency can cause damage to our nerves due to the accumulation of free radicals that damages the nerves and muscles.
- Vitamin K deficiency can cause bleeding disorder because it helps in blood coagulation by producing the protein that forms clots.
MULTIVITAMINS TABLETS AND SUPPLEMENTS
Multivitamin tablets and supplements not only contain essential vitamins that we require for our nutritional and health benefits but also contain various minerals that we need daily.
These are the preparations that are produced in laboratories and are available in various forms such as tablets, capsules, powders, or injection forms.
MEN VS WOMEN’S VITAMIN REQUIREMENTS
Yes, there is a difference between men and women in terms of their vitamin requirements. The big difference is created by the variation in the daily dietary allowance recommended for both men and women. As we know, women need fewer calories than the calorie intake of men, but they need vitamins in higher amounts than men.
Another reason is that menstruating women will lose a greater amount of iron than men of the same age. Also, pregnancy, lactation, and postmenopausal hormonal changes can cause deficiency of certain vitamins. Moreover, men above 50 do not require iron as the level of iron builds up in the body with time. And elderly people require more Vitamin B12 which is less absorbed in older ages.
VITAMINS WOMEN REQUIRE
The nutrients that women need throughout life change with increasing age. Different phases of a women’s life such as menstruation, pregnancy, lactation, lifestyle variations, and postmenopause create deficiencies in vitamins. For example, a woman who smokes will require a greater amount of vitamin C as compared to a woman who does not smoke. Also, a pregnant woman less than the age of 19 years will require less amount of vitamin C than a pregnant woman older than 19 years of age.
Girls in the teenage group are found to be at greater risk of developing a deficiency in vitamin D, folic acid, and vitamin A.
Women in the age group of 19 to 50 years are found to be deficient in vitamin D and vitamin B6.
During pregnancy and lactation, the nutrient requirements of woman increases, therefore, they develop more vitamin deficiencies and hence require Multivitamins tablets to fill up the deficient vitamin.
Women beyond the age of 50 years are at increased risk of developing a deficiency in vitamin A, C, D, B12, and B6.
Also, different health conditions can lead to a loss of different vitamins such as malnutrition and eating disorders. Obese women are also at an increased risk of developing vitamin deficiencies. Different autoimmune disorders, Diabetes, and gastrointestinal diseases can cause deficiency of one or more vitamins.
BENEFITS OF VITAMINS IN WOMEN
Vitamins play many crucial roles in providing immune functions, production of energy, development of the brain, body’s metabolism, healthy appearance, and other vital processes. We all try to eat a healthy and balanced diet but still some nutrients get deficient which need to be filled by multivitamin tablets. Multivitamins provide us with the energy that we lack during the day by releasing the energy which is trapped in the carbohydrates. It also improves our heart health and memory as well.
Vitamin A– Vitamin A is an excellent nutrient for good vision, boosting immunity, the normal development of a fetus, and cell growth. Women are at great risk of developing vitamin A deficiency and must be given its supplements.
Vitamin B– Thiamine provides a good energy boost. Riboflavin acts as an antioxidant and also helps in growth and development. Niacin improves the function of the nervous system. Vitamin B5 is required for the production of various hormones and neurotransmitters. Vitamin B6 boosts energy, and obese women are at increased risk of developing its deficiency. Vitamin B7 plays a role in energy production.
Vitamin B9 deficiency occurs in conditions such as malabsorption, pregnancy, alcohol consumption, etc, and is required for DNA, RNA, and red blood cell production. Vitamin B12 is required in the normal functioning of nerves.
Vitamin C– Vitamin C has a vital role in the production of collagen, and for our immune system to function properly.
Vitamin D– It is there to maintain the normal levels of calcium and phosphorous. Therefore elderly women are at increased risk of developing its deficiency and require vitamin D supplements.
Vitamin E– vitamin E has a role in reproduction, and also improves skin, hair, and nails.
Vitamin K– Vitamin K is required for wound healing and for blood to clot properly. Its deficiency in women can be caused by genetic conditions.
SIDE EFFECTS OF MULTIVITAMINS
–Overdose: An overdose of multivitamins can cause harmful effects on the body, especially caused by an overdose of vitamins A, D, E, and K. It can be life-threatening. Multivitamins normally do not cause any harm to pregnant or breastfeeding women. But it can be potentially harmful to the fetus if taken in excess. Overdose symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, menstrual irregularities, muscle weaknesses, etc.
– Minerals overdose: Most multivitamin tablets also contain some amounts of minerals in them such as magnesium, iron, and calcium. It can lead to an overdose of these minerals which can result in symptoms such as a yellowish stain on teeth, variation in heart rate, weakness of muscles, and mental confusion.
–Allergic reactions: Certain drugs can cause an allergic reaction which includes symptoms of breathlessness, rashes, a swollen tongue and lips, anxiety, and confusion.
– Drug interactions: Multivitamin tablets or supplements can also interact with certain drugs. Therefore, you must seek a doctor before taking a multivitamin tablet if you are taking any of the drugs which may interact with it. Certain drugs which may interact with multivitamins include NSAIDs, antibiotics, antacids, and some blood pressure medicines.
BEST MULTIVITAMINS TABLETS AVAILABLE FOR WOMEN TODAY
There are different types of Multivitamins tablets and supplements available today Best Multivitamins tablets for Women in Pakistan include the following :
1. Vitamax Women
Vitamax Women is a multivitamin supplement manufactured by the company Nutrifactor. It contains 23 vitamins and minerals which help to improve skin, hair, and nails, provide nutritional support, serve as an energy boost, and improve bone health.
2. One a Day women’s Multivitamin
This multivitamin tablet is manufactured by the Bayer corporation and aids in boosting immune health, and heart health and also enhancing daily energy levels.
3. Centrum women multivitamin
Centrum women multivitamin is manufactured by the pharmaceutical company Gsk. It supports and boosts daily energy levels, and enhances immunity and body metabolism.
Vitrum multivitamin tablets are manufactured by the Searle company and are a combination of different vitamins containing Vitamin B and vitamin C in high amounts and also contain other minerals including zinc. It fills up the nutritional deficiencies caused by certain eating disorders and illnesses.