Vitamin Supplements (2815)

Many people take vitamin supplements as a form of insurance to make up for possible deficits in their eating patterns. However, experts advise that a balanced diet featuring a variety of foods is a more reliable way to get vitamins and other nutrients.

Contrary to popular belief, you do not need vitamin supplements to deal with stress, and vitamins do not give you extra energy. Some vitamins can actually be dangerous if you take too much. Vitamin A and Vitamin D are beneficial at certain levels, but they can quickly become toxic when taken at very high doses. Vitamin B-6 can also be toxic if you take very large doses for several months or years.

Stores sell many substances with vitamin names, but many are not really vitamins because your body can make them even if they are not in the food you eat. Pangamic acid, rutin, bioflavinoids, and orotic acid are examples of unnecessary supplements that are not really vitamins. If you decide to take vitamins, avoid taking megavitamins or supplements with high doses of nutrients. The Daily Values found on Supplement labels can be your guide to estimating a safe level of intake for vitamins and other nutrients. You may have read that high doses of vitamin C are totally safe, but some people experience side effects like diarrhea when they take high doses of vitamin C. When in doubt, check with your doctor.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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