Do I need vitamin supplements?

Most people do not need to take vitamin supplements and can get all the vitamins and minerals they need by eating a healthy, balance diet .
Vitamins and minerals, such as iron, calcium and vitamin C, are essential nutrients that your body needs in little amounts to work properly .
many people choose to take supplements but taking excessively much or taking them for excessively farseeing could be harmful. The Department of Health and Social Care recommends certain supplements for some groups of people who are at hazard of insufficiency .

Folic acid supplement in pregnancy

If you ‘re meaning, trying for a baby or could get fraught, it ‘s recommended that you take a 400 microgram folic acidic append every day until you ‘re 12 weeks pregnant. Folic acerb supplements need to be taken before you get pregnant, so begin taking them before you stop using contraception or if there ‘s a prospect you might get pregnant.

Folic acid can help to prevent nervous tube defects such as spina bifida .
Find out more about vitamins, supplements and nutrition in pregnancy .

Vitamin D supplement

From around former March or early April until the end of September, most people can get all the vitamin D they need through sunlight on their bark and from eating a balance diet .
however, during the fall and winter, you need to get vitamin D from your diet because the sun is not impregnable enough for your body to make vitamin D .
Because it ‘s difficult for people to get adequate vitamin D from food alone, everyone ( including fraught and breastfeeding women ) should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D during the fall and winter .
Some groups of the population are at greater risk of not getting enough vitamin D and are advised to take a accessory every day of the year.

It is recommended that :

• breastfed babies should be given a daily supplement containing 8.5 to 10 micrograms of vitamin D from birth, even if the mother is taking a supplement containing vitamin D herself
• babies having 500mls (about a pint) or more of formula a day should not be given a vitamin D supplement, because infant formula is fortified with vitamin D and other nutrients
• all children aged 1 to 4 years old should be given a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D
• people who are not often exposed to the sun – such as people who are frail or housebound, are in an institution such as a care home, or usually wear clothes that cover most of their skin when outdoors should take a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D

Find out more information about vitamin D .

Supplements containing vitamins A, C and D

Children aged 6 months to 5 years should take vitamin supplements containing vitamins A, C and D every day .
Find out more about vitamins for children or ask your health visitor for advice .
You can get Healthy Start vitamins for dislodge if you qualify for Healthy Start .
A GP may besides recommend supplements if you need them for a aesculapian condition. For exemplar, you may be prescribed iron supplements to treat cast-iron insufficiency anemia.

Fizzy (effervescent) tablets: salt advice

Effervescent vitamin supplements or bubbling painkillers can contain up to 1g of strategic arms limitation talks per pill. Consider changing to a non-effervescent tablet, peculiarly if you have been advised to reduce your salt intake .
Find out how a lot salt is adept for you .
page last reviewed : 22 November 2019
Next reappraisal due : 22 November 2022

source : https://nutritionline.net
Category : Healthy