You take a multivitamin every day? be aware of the dangers & bull; hello healthy

Since childhood, you may have often taken multivitamin or vitamin supplements. The difference between the two types of supplementation lies in their content. Vitamin supplements usually contain only one type of vitamin such as vitamin C or A. While multivitamins contain a mixture of several types of vitamins and minerals. Usually, multivitamins are consumed as a complement to daily food and drinks to meet the needs of micronutrients. Many also regularly take multivitamins every day to prevent deficiencies of certain vitamins or minerals.

Because multivitamins are only in addition to the micronutrients that are already contained in the foods and drinks you consume on a daily basis, experts are debating whether someone can overdose on a multivitamin. So far, there have been no cases of multivitamin overdose. However, excess of certain vitamins in the long term can actually increase your risk of developing certain diseases such as cancer or heart disease. So, you should be aware of the effects of taking a multivitamin every day.

Do you need a multivitamin?

Multivitamins were originally formulated for people who are malnourished, ill, or need supplementation with certain vitamins. However, currently various types of multivitamins have developed into supplements for endurance, increase concentration, prevent aging, and lose weight. In fact, if your diet is sufficient for your nutritional needs, you don't actually need to take a multivitamin anymore. The reason is, the various types of vitamins and minerals that are in your multivitamin can be found in natural sources such as vegetables and fruits.

Multivitamin supplementation is also not intended as a substitute for the nutrients your body needs. This is because the structure of the vitamins in your multivitamin pills or tablets is slightly different from the real vitamins you can get from nature. So as much as possible try to meet your nutritional needs from natural sources. In addition, various studies have shown that taking a multivitamin does not improve a person's performance or health condition. In people with adequate nutrition, multivitamins are nothing more than empty drugs (placebo effect).

Safe multivitamin dosage

Pay attention to the recommendations for use on the label of the multivitamin product you are taking or ask your doctor. Do not exceed the recommended dose and do not take it beyond the time prescribed by the doctor. Especially for pregnant women, do not take any multivitamins before consulting your gynecologist.

The dangers of taking a daily multivitamin

The effect of taking a multivitamin every day cannot be underestimated. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2007 and another study in the British medical journal in 2004, the Lancet, came up with some surprising results about the dangers of multivitamins. Of the hundreds of thousands of patients studied, those who took a daily multivitamin showed a lower life expectancy.

Other research results published in The Journal of Nutrition in 2007 proved that women who take a multivitamin supplement containing vitamins C, E, beta carotene, selenium, and iron are at increased risk of developing skin cancer. Therefore, pay attention again to the content of the multivitamins you consume every day and the dangers that may lurk. Usually the multivitamins available at pharmacies or health centers contain the following substances.

Vitamin A.

According to a study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, too much vitamin A in smokers can increase the risk of lung cancer by 28%. Vitamin A is usually found in beta carotene supplement products.

Vitamin E

If your body stores too much vitamin E supplements, experts believe that you will be at increased risk of developing heart disease. This was proven in 2005 in a study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association. In 2011, the scientific journal published the results of another study that proved a link between excess vitamin E supplements and the risk of prostate cancer.

Vitamin C

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, too much vitamin C supplements are dangerous for diabetics because of the risk of raising blood sugar. Thalassemia and hemachromatosis patients should also avoid multivitamin supplements containing vitamin C because they can absorb iron from the food and drinks you consume. In addition, excess vitamin C in the long term has the potential to cause interference with your kidney function.

Calcium

ALSO READ: Why Do Pregnant Women Need to Take Calcium Supplements? usually recommended for pregnant women or the elderly. In fact, calcium can easily be found in various products such as milk, yogurt and tofu. So, in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, it is stated that excess calcium supplements can cause hip fractures. In addition, in 2010 and 2013 the British Medical Association warned in the weekly journal BMJ that too much calcium supplements can also make you prone to heart disease.