Should vitamin and mineral supplements be used as substitutes for food?

Supplements aren’t intended to replace food. They can’t replicate all of the nutrients and benefits of whole foods, such as fruits and vegetables.

Do you think vitamin supplementation should be recommended for most individuals?

Do not rely only on supplements. There isn’t sufficient data to suggest that healthy people benefit by taking certain vitamin or mineral supplements in excess of the daily recommended allowance.

Why do physicians not recommend vitamin supplements to everybody?

They may be toxic, ineffective, or contaminated (all of which are not uncommon). In other words: Most people who eat a healthy diet are unlikely to benefit from nutritional supplements.

What happens if you have too much vitamins and minerals?

But routinely getting an overload of vitamins and minerals can hurt you. Too much vitamin C or zinc could cause nausea, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. Too much selenium could lead to hair loss, gastrointestinal upset, fatigue, and mild nerve damage.

What are the effects of too much minerals?

Minerals (especially taken in large doses) can cause side effects such as tooth staining, increased urination, stomach bleeding, uneven heart rate, confusion, and muscle weakness or limp feeling.

Under what circumstances might vitamin and or mineral supplements be recommended?

However, some people may need supplements to correct vitamin or mineral deficiencies and this includes:

• pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding.
• people who smoke, drink alcohol in excess or use illegal drugs.
• crash dieters or those on very strict diets.

Why vitamins and minerals are important?

What Do Vitamins and Minerals Do? Vitamins and minerals boost the immune system, support normal growth and development, and help cells and organs do their jobs.

Why do we say that vitamins are good supplements?

The most popular nutrient supplements are multivitamins, calcium and vitamins B, C and D. Calcium supports bone health, and vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. Vitamins C and E are antioxidants—molecules that prevent cell damage and help to maintain health.

Why do doctors recommend vitamins?

Vitamins and minerals are essential to helping your body develop and function as it should. While most people get all of what’s recommended by eating healthy, others need a little extra nutrient boost. That’s where supplements come in — providing you with the support your body needs to stay healthy.

What is the Recommended Dietary Allowance for vitamin A?

The Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) is based on the assurance of adequate stores of vitamin A. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for men and women is 900 and 700 μg retinol activity equivalents (RAE)/day, respectively. The Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for adults is set at 3,000 μg/day of preformed vitamin A. NCBI

Do current dietary patterns provide sufficient vitamin A to prevent deficiency?

Thus, current dietary patterns appear to provide sufficient vitamin A to prevent deficiency symptoms such as night blindness. The Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) is based on the assurance of adequate stores of vitamin A.

What is the average daily dietary intake of vitamin A (Rae)?

According to an analysis of data from the 2007–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the average daily dietary vitamin A intake in Americans aged 2 years and older is 607 mcg RAE [ 13 ]. Adult men have slightly higher intakes (649 mcg RAE) than adult women (580 mcg RAE).

Is it safe to take more than the Recommended Dietary Allowance?

With many vitamins and minerals, you can safely take a dose much higher than the RDA or DV without coming close to the UL. For instance, the average person can take more than 50 times the RDA of vitamin B6 without reaching the upper limit. But some people develop symptoms of nerve pain with these higher levels of B6.