Do I Need to Take Extra Vitamin D if I Take a Multivitamin?

Learn why it's important to consider taking an additional vitamin D supplement when taking a multivitamin.

Do I Need to Take Extra Vitamin D if I Take a Multivitamin?

Multivitamins are a great way to ensure that your body is getting all the essential nutrients it needs. However, it's important to note that these supplements may not provide enough of certain vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin D. If you're looking to get the most out of your multivitamin, it's important to consider taking an additional vitamin D supplement. According to Dr.

Cherian, if you have a specific nutrient deficiency, it's best to take a supplement with that specific nutrient. This is a more targeted approach to meeting your health goals and rebalancing your body. Taking a multivitamin combined with a vitamin D pill should be perfectly safe. Before you start taking any supplements, it's important to visit your doctor and make sure you don't have a vitamin D deficiency.

While vitamin D can be beneficial, there are potential side effects, so supplementation should only be used in patients who have low levels of vitamin D and need to bring their serum levels back up to normal. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, Dr. Deal recommends continuing to take vitamin D supplements for as long as your doctor prescribes them. Vitamin D is related to healthy development for both you and your baby.

For years, health care providers have recommended that postmenopausal women take calcium and vitamin D supplements to prevent osteoporosis, a disease that weakens bones and is a major cause of devastating fractures in old age. We also surveyed supplements labeled as vitamin D supplements or suggested to help maintain healthy bones. Dietary supplements such as multivitamins can help fill nutritional gaps and eliminate the need for multiple additional supplements. Research linking calcium supplements to heart attacks and strokes has caused many people to take vitamin D supplements alone in order to prevent them.

Adults and children over 4 years of age are recommended to take a 400 IU vitamin D supplement during the fall and winter, with year-round supplementation for people with limited exposure to the sun or with dark skin pigmentation.