Do Multivitamins actually do anything?

D3struction@lemmy.world to No Stupid Questions@lemmy.world – 223 points –

I’ve gone back and forth on taking a multivitamin since I know my diet isn’t all that great. Ideally I should be working to improve that diet but let’s say due to certain circumstances that’s a bit difficult at the moment.

Would it be worth taking a 1 a day multivitamin to at least correct some possible deficiency or is it very unlikely that it would have any effect?

Not asking for professional medical advice or anything, mostly looking to see if anyone else is taking a multivitamin and if so why?

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To add to this, you really need a blood test to show what you need. Some docs will talk out their ass about dieting (this is rare, but it happens). Always get bloodwork to confirm.

Also, some vitamins are water soluble, others need to be taken with food. Your doc should know though

I’m a vegetarian and people assume I need B12, but my bloodwork shows I’m fine. I did need some D though, since apparently hiding inside for 3 years during a pandemic can impact your body… who would’ve guessed??

I did need some D though, since apparently hiding inside for 3 years during a pandemic can impact your body… who would’ve guessed??

Vitamin D deficiency is incredibly common. I think it's something like 1/3 or 1/4 depending on the season or where you live.

Of course, if you're a member of the red haired master race, your body produces it for you so it's less likely.

Vitamin D deficiency was also shown to be a co-morbidity with COVID. So to answer the question "do multivitamins do anything?" I'd say they could potentially have saved your life and you might not have noticed.

Before COVID, my wife nagged me into establishing a primary care physician since I hadn't gone in a while. So I did, they did a blood test, and showed that I was vitamin D deficient. I took some prescription vitamin D for like a week then my doctor told me to start taking a multivitamin. When they later announced it being a co-morbidity, I felt like I dodged a bullet.

A woman at work gave us all big bottles of vit D during the pandemic. I think it should last me until 2045.

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I'm a vegetarian, have gained weight but not to the point that it would explain why I feel like ass all the time recently. I should get blood work, I was thinking I had low testosterone or something but it could be anything really

Low iron is a common one iirc.

This is why I take a multivitamin. I deal with low iron and it helps a bit. Gotta be careful thought if you do have an iron deficiency since many multivitamins don’t have iron. I could just take iron supplements but my doctor agreed that it was a good idea to just go with a multivitamin.

Weight gain and low testosterone display similar symptoms but may not be related. (Fatigue and such) Check with a doc for sure.

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