What Are The Most Common Vitamin Supplements?

Vitamin supplements are typically used to enrich an individual's diet and to provide nutrients they may not get from their food. Vitamins can be purchased over-the-counter, and doctors prescribe high-dose vitamin supplements for patients who have nutritional deficiencies. When using any form of vitamin supplement, it is important to read and follow any dosage recommendations on the label. Vitamin supplements could affect the efficacy of certain prescription medications, including those used to treat cancer, so patients should always ask their doctor before taking supplements of any kind. Some individuals who use vitamins experience side effects such as nausea, bloating, gas, and stomach cramps. If these occur, patients should discontinue the vitamin and inform their healthcare team. Spreading vitamin doses throughout the day may help minimize the potential for side effects.

Several of the most commonly used vitamin supplements are described below.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin and antioxidant. The vitamin helps protect the body from damage caused by free radicals, and it is used to build a protein that makes and repairs skin, ligaments, tendons, and blood vessels throughout the body. It is involved in the healing of wounds and the formation of scar tissue, and it helps repair bones, teeth, and cartilage. Since vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, it is not stored by the body, and patients need to take regular doses of the vitamin, either through food or through supplements, to maintain adequate levels. Deficiencies in vitamin C could lead to symptoms such as slower wound healing, decreased immune system function, anemia, bleeding gums, and nosebleeds. Currently, major health organizations recommend women who are nineteen years old and above take seventy-five milligrams of vitamin C each day, and men, ninety milligrams per day. Since smoking depletes vitamin C levels, patients who actively smoke should take an additional 35 milligrams of this vitamin daily.

Get more details on the most common vitamin supplements now.