About Vitamins

These days, many of us wonder if we're eating properly; some of us know we aren't. A question that gets asked regularly at the pharmacy is, "What kind of vitamins should I be taking?"

That's a hard question to answer, because many factors must be considered before deciding to take vitamin supplements at all. An appraisal of an individual's overall state of health is important in determining which vitamin supplements, if any, are required in the diet.  

In Canada, over-nutrition is more common than malnutrition. There are some situations in which vitamin supplementation is a good idea, such as during pregnancy and lactation, in managing blood coagulation disorders, or in chronic kidney failure, but the need for vitamin supplementation in the general public is relatively low.

Many people assume that there are so many vitamin products on the market, it must be important to take them regularly. There are definite signs and symptoms of vitamin deficiencies; these symptoms are rare in our society.

Remember that your doctor is the best person to determine whether or not you actually have a deficiency, because many symptoms can indicate problems other than a vitamin deficiency.

Prior to taking vitamin supplements, other medications that you may be taking should be considered, because there are a number of drugs that interact with vitamins. For example, antacids containing aluminum hydroxide (like Mylanta®, Diovol®, Maalox®) can decrease the amount of vitamin A that gets absorbed, if taken together; cholestyramine (Questran®) can cause a decrease in the absorption of all fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E and K); and vitamin C can cause an increase in the amount of iron that gets absorbed. Ask a pharmacist about possible interactions with your medications before deciding on a vitamin supplement.

Of course, the best way to ensure that you get the proper amount of each vitamin is to eat a well-balanced diet. Your pharmacist can suggest foods to help increase your vitamin intake, before resorting to supplements. If you already eat a wide variety of foods on a regular basis, you probably do not need to take vitamin supplements.

Remember, if you have concerns about your vitamin intake, talk to your pharmacist or to your doctor, before buying a vitamin supplement.

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