Multi-Vitamin & Mineral

Anyone looking to cover nutritional gaps in their diet to ensure optimal intake of the essential vitamins & minerals for overall health and wellness can benefit from VitaMedica’s high-potency Multi-Vitamin & Mineral. This physician-formulated supplement is suitable for both men and women; however, because it includes higher amounts of the B-Complex, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D than a typical multi, VitaMedica’s Multi-Vitamin & Mineral is especially well-suited for women between the ages of 35 – 65 years.

Nutritional supplements have an excellent safety track record. However, certain individuals should seek the advice of their doctor before beginning any nutritional supplement program particularly diabetics, pregnant or lactating women. VitaMedica’s Multi-Vitamin & Mineral contains niacin, which may cause a temporary redness of the skin and flushing. The evening formulation contains vitamin K and is contraindicated in patients taking blood thinners. Please refer to the Directions section for more information on precautions and contraindications.

To enhance absorption and to provide the right nutrients at the right time of day and night. The morning formulation contains nutrients needed to stay energized and alert, with stable blood glucose levels during the day and to cope with stress (B-complex, chromium). Conversely, the evening formulation contains nutrients needed during the evening to promote rest and relaxation, enhance dreaming during sleep, and restore brain neuro-chemicals (calcium and other minerals). Another reason for taking supplements in the morning and evening is that the water-soluble vitamins (vitamin C and the B-Complex) are better absorbed if taken in divided doses. These nutrients are not stored in the tissues like the fat-soluble vitamins and need to be replenished throughout the day.

Yes. While adult women should obtain about 1,000-1,500 mg of calcium per day in their diet, it is difficult – and not recommended – to obtain this amount just from supplements. The best way to reach the daily recommendation of calcium is by eating foods high in calcium, such as low-fat dairy products, some dark green leafy vegetables, salmon, and peanuts, and using a supplement like VitaMedica’s Multi-Vitamin & Mineral to cover any remaining balance.

Although most people have heard of beta-carotene, many other carotenes exist including alpha-carotene, gamma-carotene, lycopene, zeaxanthin, and lutein. While not all the carotenes convert to vitamin A, all provide excellent antioxidant protective benefits. Most supplements contain just beta-carotene and in many cases, the source is not natural but is synthesized. Betatene is a naturally occurring blend of carotenes, which includes beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, and lutein. Betatene is derived from D. salina algae and is grown on the world’s largest cultivated algae farm, located in Whyalla, Australia.

Not necessarily. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that has an excellent safety track record. While most individuals are accustomed to taking 500, 1,000 or even 1,500 mg of vitamin C daily, our bodies do not require this amount for optimal health and wellness. At high doses, the risk of toxicity with vitamin C is very low because unlike their fat-soluble counterpart, the body does not store the excess. But, taking amounts over 1,000 mg can cause gastrointestinal upset in some people. Supplementing the diet with 300 mg per day of vitamin C to support general health and wellness is sufficient for most individuals. A higher intake is recommended during periods of stress (injury, sickness, surgery) which is why VitaMedica’s Clinical Support Program is formulated with 750 mg of this nutrient.

To provide both vitamin E activity and antioxidant protective benefits. Vitamin E refers to a family of eight compounds: four tocopherols and four tocotrienols. In each family, the members are named alpha, beta, gamma, and delta. Normally in foods that contain vitamin E, each of the family members is present. However, in most supplements and topical skin care products, only one member is provided, typically alpha-tocopherol. While alpha-tocopherol provides the highest level of vitamin E activity, some of the other members like delta-tocotrienol and gamma-tocotrienol have more potent antioxidant effects. Including all members of the vitamin E family in a formula is more expensive but the finished product provides a broader range of benefits.

The RDAs or Recommended Daily Allowances are nutritional guidelines that were originally established in 1941 by the National Academy of Sciences. The Guidelines reflect the minimum requirements to achieve health but do not take into consideration sex, age, weight, activity levels, and other dietary factors. For this reason, the RDAs are viewed as being deficient particularly as it relates to key antioxidants such as vitamin E and vitamin C. Instead, Optimal Dosages have been established by industry leaders that better reflect nutritional requirements based on findings from the many research and longitudinal studies conducted since 1941. Multi-Vitamin & Mineral has been formulated to contain optimal amounts of each ingredient to ensure safety and efficacy. Of these, the B-Complex has a superlative safety profile even at much higher intakes than the RDA, as these water-soluble vitamins are not stored in the body.

Bioflavonoids are compounds that are found widely in plants. These plant chemicals are responsible for giving fruits and vegetables their color (reds, yellows, blues). Good sources of flavonoids include all citrus fruits but also tea, red wine, and even dark chocolate. Flavonoids serve several purposes for plants including protection from insects and microbes, and like other phytochemicals, flavonoids have potent antioxidant protective benefits. Flavonoids enhance the absorption of vitamin C, have an antibacterial effect, and promote circulation.

Women of child-bearing age need to make sure that they obtain an adequate amount of iron. Iron is important for growth, promoting resistance to disease, and preventing fatigue. However, iron-containing supplements should only be taken after lab tests show an iron deficiency. This is important because iron-overload is twice as common as iron deficiency. Importantly, iron supplements should be taken separately from a Multi-Vitamin & Mineral formulation because iron interferes with the absorption of other nutrients.

In general, our bodies absorb vitamins without much difficulty, but minerals are not absorbed so well. Chelation is a process that combines a mineral with an amino acid to enhance the absorption of the mineral by fooling the body into thinking it is absorbing the amino acid attached to the mineral. The mineral is pulled into the body along with the amino acid, ensuring its absorption. The extra expense related to this additional process to attach the amino acid to the mineral is well worth it.

Because herbal supplements should be taken separately and used for condition-specific purposes only. In most cases, the practice of combining herbals with a multi-vitamin & mineral formulation supports a marketing position rather than providing a health benefit because the dosing is usually very low. Varro Tyler, a leading herb expert, recommends that herbs be used only for specific conditions and for a limited duration. Examples would include dong quai to relieve menopausal symptoms or St. John’s Wort to quell mild depression.

In most cases, it is not necessary. One of the benefits of using VitaMedica’s Multi-Vitamin & Mineral supplement is that it provides all the key vitamins and minerals necessary for optimal health and wellness. Thus, many patients can simplify their nutritional supplement regimen by eliminating most or all the additional supplements they have been taking. The only exception is women who have been instructed by their doctor to take additional calcium to prevent the progression of osteoporosis, and any individual instructed to supplement with iron due to a diagnosed iron deficiency.

The color-coding is helpful to distinguish between the daytime and evening supplements. The morning formulation is coated by the B-vitamin riboflavin, and the evening formulation is coated with the mineral zinc. Both are natural colorants and do not contain any artificial dyes or colorants.

The recommended dosing is to take 3 of the Morning tablets with breakfast or lunch, and 3 of the Evening tablets with dinner or before bedtime. Taking the product with food helps enhance the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients, and reduces the chances of experiencing GI upset when first taking the supplement.

VitaMedica’s Multi-Vitamin & Mineral tablets have been uniquely designed with a flatter, more oblong shape than traditional tablets to facilitate ease of swallowing, but can be broken or mixed in with some food (smoothie) if necessary. For those individuals who have trouble taking tablets, eating a banana beforehand can help to slide the tablets down the throat. For those who have a sensitive stomach, it becomes even more important to take the tablets with food.

While the concept of taking one tablet a day is ideal, it is difficult to provide all the essential micronutrients that the body requires in a single tablet. The main challenge is with bulk nutrients such as calcium which are large molecules that take up a lot of volume; the size of a tablet with the full amounts of all nutrients would be so large as to be entirely impractical. Additionally, a one-a-day method of delivery is not ideal for the water-soluble vitamins (B-complex and vitamin C) which are not stored in the body and therefore need to be replenished throughout the day. Gummi versions of vitamins, while increasingly popular, face the same dilemma with the further downside of added sugars and artificial colorants.

Maintaining overall health and wellness starts with a health-promoting diet rich in fruits, vegetables and high-quality protein and fat sources. VitaMedica’s nutraceuticals are designed to help cover any nutrient gaps that may remain, and target specific health objectives. Healthy Skin Formula and Clear Skin Formula provide nutrients to banish blemishes from the inside out and promote a clear complexion. Anti-Aging Formula, our most popular product, includes our high-quality Multi-Vitamin & Mineral plus our Phyto-5 Phytonutrient Complex and organic flax seed oil in 30 convenient daily packs.