Whereas a day by day multivitamin could be consumed at any time of day, consistency is vital, and having it with a bit of meals or water will help, says Doug Cook dinner, RD, a coauthor of Diet for Canadians for Dummies and host of the Pursuit of Well being podcast, based mostly in Toronto.
“What issues is taking dietary supplements persistently, in a manner that works for you,” Cook dinner explains.
Taking a multivitamin across the identical time every day helps guarantee a steady stage of vitamins. Whereas the physique does retailer some vitamins, many, like vitamin C, are short-lived and water-soluble (which means they don’t seem to be saved within the physique and extra is excreted in your urine), O’Neal says.
Maintain the 80/20 rule in thoughts: “Eighty % of the time, be per taking a day by day multivitamin,” says O’Neal. “However in the event you overlook to take it, say, 20 % of the time, it’s not the tip of the world.”
A day by day multivitamin could present nutrient insurance coverage — particularly when you have sure situations that put you susceptible to deficiencies. “For an in any other case wholesome particular person, meals is the very best supply for these nutritional vitamins and minerals,” says O’Neal. “The exception to this contains anybody who’s publish–bariatric surgical procedure or has different malabsorption considerations,” he provides.
Multivitamins may be useful for folks taking a GLP-1 medicine for weight problems and weight reduction. “GLP-1 medicines typically lower meals consumption, and if [you’re] experiencing vomiting, could result in thiamine and different B vitamin deficiencies in the long run,” says O’Neal.