Multivitamin/multimineral supplements are the most popular product on the market. But it is really hard for someone to find the best multivitamin for himself. Here are some tips for your reference to find the best multivitamin based on your age, gender, and medical condition.
1, Measurement of ingredients
Remember that 1 mg (milligram) equals 1,000 mcg (micrograms), and 1 gram is same as 1,000 mg. Some vitamins, such as vitamin A, D, E are using IU (International Units) as unit of measurement; it stands for certain ingredients measured by their activity rather than weight.
2, Dietary supplements must labeled with detail percentage of Daily Value of each ingredient
But we may always saw that the percentages of the vitamins, such as vitamin A, vitamin B6, etc. are exceeding the recommended levels of DV. As the Daily Values were outdated standards established in 1968 by FDA. So Daily Values can be misleading when a customer picks up one multivitamin supplement. Actually the consumers should know the values of RDAs (Recommended Dietary Allowances), AIs (Adequate Intakes) and ULs (Tolerable Upper Intake Levels).
These values (RDAs, AIs and ULs) are collectively called as Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). These values are established by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. Here is the detail explanation for each standard:
RDA is the average daily dietary intake level that is thought to be sufficient to meet the nutrient requirement of nearly all healthy individual in a particular life stage and gender. For example, recommendation values of each vitamin/mineral for pregnant women and lactating women are different. A best multivitamin should be in accord with all of RDAs requirement for each ingredient.
An Adequate Intake (AI) is an approximation used when there is not sufficient information to develop an RDA.
A Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) is the highest level of daily intake of a nutrient that is likely to pose no risk of adverse health effects for most people.
3, Many people take mega does of vitamins or minerals that go far beyond what the body needs for normal functioning
If intake increases above the UL, the risk of adverse effects may increase. Like the RDAs and AIs, the ULs standards vary according to someone’s age and gender. Individuals are advised not to regularly exceed the UL without a doctor’s advice and supervision.
4, Vitamins and minerals have many important function in the body, but be patient before you can find any obvious improvement sign in your body
Since few people today are severely deficient in any nutrient, the actual benefits of multivitamin are generally subtle.
Best multivitamin is worth of taking some time for you to have a study or get recommendation from a professional physician.
