Vitamin & Mineral Supplements

Some people need a vitamin-mineral supplement to meet specific nutrient needs.

Older adults and people with little exposure to sunlight may need a vitamin D supplement.  

Pregnant women are advised to take an iron supplement. To reduce risk of a birth defect, women who could become pregnant are advised to eat foods high in folic acid or to take a folic acid supplement. 

Adults over age 50 are advised to get their vitamin B 12 from a supplement or from fortified foods. 

People who seldom eat dairy products or other rich sources of calcium need a calcium supplement. 

People who eat no animal foods need to take a vitamin B 12 supplement. 

People on very low calorie diets may need a multivitamin-mineral supplement. Sometimes vitamins or minerals are prescribed for meeting nutrient needs or for therapeutic purposes.

       Supplements of some nutrients, such as vitamin A and selenium,  can be harmful if taken in large amounts.

Because foods contain many substances that promote health, use the food guide pyramid when choosing foods. Don't depend on supplements to meet your usual nutrient needs.

Dietary supplements now include vitamins, minerals, fiber, herbal  products, and me-any other substances offered in over-the-counter forms. Herbal products usually provide very small amounts of essential nutrients. The value of most herbal products for health has not been established. At this time, there are few standards for their purity or potency.

The Dietary Supplement Quality Initiative Web site is designed to help consumers evaluate supplement contents, evaluate labels, as well as understanding regulatory issues among other things. This information can be found at supplement quality website.