Protein Diet: Do Your Home Work

 Research has suggested that Americans may be eating too many carbohydrates, especially simple carbohydrates, while not getting enough exercise. With the wave of the popular low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets sweeping the nation, one may find it convincing to experiment with such a diet.

Here is the reasoning: Excess intake of carbohydrates results in fat storage. Simple carbohydrates, such as sugar and white flour, rapidly spike insulin levels, thereby accelerating the conversion of carbohydrates to fat. By restricting carbohydrate intake altogether, the body is forced to rely on its fat stores for energy and hence the weight loss process begins.


However, it is important to realize that high-protein diets are not appropriate for everyone. In fact, these diets may do more harm than good and leave your intended weight loss sabotaged.

High-protein, low-carbohydrate diets are not appropriate for everyone. In fact, these diets may do more harm than good and leave your intended weight loss sabotaged. High-protein, low-carbohydrate diets trigger weight loss by inducing ketosis, a toxic state that also occurs in uncontrolled diabetes and during starvation. Ketones are by-products of the inefficient oxidation, or breakdown of fats. See also: Nutrition for a Ketogenic Diet and/or Low Carb Keytogenic Effects.

Definition of Ketosis by the Encyclopedia from NHS Direct Online:

Ketosis
Ketosis is the presence in the blood of abnormally high levels of acidic substances called ketones. The normal body fuel is glucose. Ketones are produced when there is not enough glucose in the bloodstream, and fats have to be used. When fats are used excessively as fuels, they are eventually converted to ketones. The real danger in ketosis is that ketones are acidic, and high levels of ketones make the blood abnormally acid.
Normally the blood ketone levels are low, but in starvation, untreated diabetes and when the diet is very high in fats and low in carbohydrates, the levels rise. Ironically, in diabetes, the blood contains large quantities of sugar, but because of the shortage of insulin, this glucose can't be used as fuel.
Mild ketosis may be a feature of excessive morning sickness in pregnancy and crash diets.

Ideally, fat burns in the flame of carbohydrates. When the body lacks sufficient carbohydrates to produce glucose for energy, it is forced to use stored fats for fuel. The brain and other organs are forced to rely on ketones as the primary energy source when the required carbohydrates are missing from the diet. (See also: BellyBytes.com: Carbohydrates)

Unfortunately, there are some not-so-pleasant side effects of ketosis -- among them constipation and bad breath. Short-term weight loss occurs quickly during the initial phase of the high-protein diet, partly because eliminating carbohydrates causes a loss of body fluids. The body is depleting liver and muscle glycogen (stored glucose) as well as excreting toxins via the urine.

This water loss occurs within the first seven to ten days, and many people mistakenly correlate this rapid weight loss with loss of body fat. The lost weight is really water loss caused by more frequent urination from restricting carbohydrates.

A study published last spring in the New England Journal of Medicine demonstrated the efficacy of short-term weight loss by means of a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet. The researchers found that those people who followed such a diet lost more weight during the six-month period than those following a low-fat diet. So we now have medical evidence to support the short-term use of high-protein diets.

There is no long-term evidence showing that people maintain weight loss through the use of these diets. In the long run, the diet may contribute to the onset of chronic medical conditions such as osteoporosis, cancer, cardiovascular disease and kidney insufficiency.

The diet lacks milk and dairy products, major sources of dietary calcium, while causing people to excrete more calcium than normal through their urine, which may affect bone tissue. Conversely, high-carbohydrate diets -- containing dairy products, beans, leafy green vegetables and fortified juices -- provide adequate dietary calcium, helping to build bone tissue. See also: Keeping Your Bones Strong.

High-protein diets also promote intakes of red meat far above the six ounces per day as recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA). It is well-known that meats cooked at high temperatures, including grilling and frying, produce heterocyclic amines, chemical compounds that have been linked to breast and colon cancer.

High-protein diets also increase one's intake of fat, especially saturated fat, cholesterol and protein, to levels well above what is recommended. Fat is a concentrated source of calories in our diet, ounce for ounce providing more than double the calories consumed from protein and carbohydrates. Fat consumed from meat, eggs and cheese is not stored as muscle but instead as body fat. Saturated fat has been linked to cardiovascular disease and colon cancer and it continues to play a role in the growing obesity trend.

Burden on the Kidneys
The kidneys are responsible for clearing the body of waste products produced by protein metabolism. Eating large amounts of protein places a strain on the kidneys, which may lead to long-term consequences.

Finally, high-protein diets are generally low in fiber, as they omit all fruit within the first 14 days and restrict starchy vegetables. Dietary fiber is an essential component of the diet and offers several benefits: It helps lower cholesterol, and it facilitates the excretion of wastes from the body -- thereby maintaining a healthy colon. Therefore, the low-fiber content of the high-protein diets may contribute to cardiovascular disease and may increase one's risk of developing colon cancer.

In short, there is sufficient evidence to support the use of a high-protein diet over the long term. The AHA Nutrition Committee of the Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism recently stated in Circulation Journal:
High-protein diets are not recommended because they restrict healthful foods that provide essential nutrients and do not provide the variety of foods needed to adequately meet nutritional needs. Individuals who follow these diets are therefore at risk for compromised vitamin and mineral intake, as well as potential cardiac, renal, bone and liver abnormalities overall.

Americans, on average, consume too much protein even without attempting a high-protein diet. To achieve long-term weight loss, a diet low in fat combined with physical activity is the best strategy. The AHA guidelines urge adults who are trying to lose weight and keep it off to eat no more than 30 percent of total daily calories from fat and less than ten percent from saturated fat. On the High-protein diets, meeting these goals is impossible.

A diet with a moderate carbohydrate content, containing fruits, vegetables, whole grains and non fat dairy products, is recommended. Fruits and vegetables are loaded with vitamins and minerals and of course, fiber.

Unfortunately there is no "quick fix" for losing weight and keeping it off. The weight loss equation is still a very simple one: Output must exceed input. You burn off calories by eating fewer calories and exercising more. The most successful weight loss strategies include watching portion sizes, being sensible about meals and snacks, and getting plenty of exercise.


The 3 Day DietIn truth, a diet called the "Three Day Diet" is nothing more than a very short term loss of bodily fluid. The basics of the diet: don't drink much water and eat around 600 calories a day. Lose up to 10 pounds quickly.

In short, and contrary to proponents of this diet, this is starving yourself for 3 or 4 days and is no solution to anything.

With this 3 Day Diet, you will more than likely gain the weight back quickly and probably end up adding some additional weight, to boot.


Having said that, and if you're still curious, here is what this diet is all about -- including it's own "claim to fame".
The Claim
The 3 Day Diet was developed for people who need to lose large amounts of weight.
The 3 Day Diet is chemically and enzyme balanced. If the diet is followed exactly, loss of 10 pounds in 3 days is possible.
The 3 Day Diet consists of ordinary foods found in your kitchen. No special expensive recipes or ingredients are required. No frozen diet meals to buy.
The 3 Day Diet is to be used for three days at a time. After three days of dieting you may return to your usual meals but, do not overeat. After four days of normal eating you may continue the 3 Day Diet.
This is not a starvation diet. In fact, you will be eating normal meals at normal times.
The Diet

DAY 1
Breakfast:
Black Coffee or Tea (if required, with 1-2 packets of Sweet and Low or equivalent)
1/2 a Grapefruit or Juice
1 Slice of Toast with 1 tablespoon Peanut Butter

Lunch
1/2 a Cup of Tuna
1 Slice of Toast
Black Coffee or Tea (if required, with 1-2 packets of Sweet and Low or equivalent)

Dinner
3 Oz. any lean red meat or chicken
1 cup each of:
green beans
carrots
regular vanilla ice cream
1 apple

DAY 2
Breakfast:
Black Coffee or Tea (if required, with 1-2 packets of Sweet and Low or equivalent)
1 Egg (boiled, scrambled, omlet)
1/2 a Banana
1 Slice of Toast

Lunch
1 cup of cottage cheese or tuna
8 regular saltine crackers

Dinner
2 beef franks
1 cup of broccoli or cabbage
1/2 a cup carrots
1/2 a banana
1/2 a cup of regular vanilla ice cream

DAY 3
Breakfast:
Black Coffee or Tea (if required, with 1-2 packets of Sweet and Low or equivalent)
5 regular saltine crackers
1 oz. cheddar cheese
1 apple

Lunch
1 boiled egg
1 slice of toast
Black Coffee or Tea (if required, with 1-2 packets of Sweet and Low or equivalent)

Dinner
1 cup each of:
tuna
carrots
cauliflower
melon
1/2 cup regular vanilla ice cream

How to Choose a Good Multivitamin

There are a lot of choices out there and looks can be deceiving. Some vitamins contain large quantities of the cheaper nutrients and none or almost none of the costly ones. Unfortunately your body needs those costly nutrients just as much as the other ones.

Look for all-natural ingredients without added chemicals. Since heat destroys nutrients you should find supplements that are processed with low or no heat. Look for a manufacturer who does extensive research and …this is important…publishes its clinical studies. A company that has been in business for a number of years should have a proven track record of integrity.

There are several other good indicators of the quality of a multivitamin/ multimineral supplement. Does it contain all 8 B vitamins? These are Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate (Folic Acid), Vitamin B12, Biotin, and Pantothenic Acid. Biotin and Folate are expensive nutrients. Many supplements shortchange the consumer on these. Your multi should contain 400 mcg of Folate, which is essential for prevention of birth defects.

Calcium is another good indicator. It is a bulky nutrient and difficult to include in a one or two tablet multi serving. Yours should have at least 450 mg which is 45% of suggested daily value. You may want to add a calcium supplement if you don’t consume enough dairy to reach the 1000 mg suggested value.

A vitamin that meets these criteria will cost more than drugstore vitamins but if you want better health it is the only choice to make.

Article Source: DirectoryArticles.com - Article Directory

Protein for Health
High protein diets have made a name for themselves when it comes to weight loss. But even for those with no need to lose weight, the issue of protein is critical. Although protein is the essence of life itself (our muscles, skin and bones contain it and every cell of our body utilizes it), recent research suggests the current recommended daily allowance (RDA) for healthy adults over 50 may not be adequate.

Your body relies on protein to build and repair body organs, muscles and bones and to make enzymes, antibodies and hormones, all of which are needed to keep your body running smoothly. Protein is made up of amino acids. Of the 20 amino acids that your body needs, eight must be obtained from the food you eat and are considered essential, while the remaining 12 are made by your body and are "nonessential".

About 75-percent of the protein you eat should be high quality, as determined by its amino acid makeup. "Complete" or high quality proteins contain all eight essential amino acids and come from animal sources (milk, eggs, meat, poultry and fish) and foods made from soy (tofu and tempeh). Most plant proteins (legumes, nuts, rice and other grains) are "incomplete" because they do not contain all the essential amino acids. But by combining incomplete proteins in a meal, you can amass protein of sufficient quality to be considered complete (beans and rice, peanut butter on whole grain bread, milk with cereal).

Protein requirements may increase with age. That is because changes in the function and capacity of all body systems occur with aging, including a gradual loss of lean body mass, like muscle. Although this loss means your body needs fewer calories, your protein needs are unchanged or perhaps increased. This challenges older individuals to consume enough protein without consuming extra calories.

So, How Much Protein is Enough?

The RDA for protein is based on body weight. Recent research indicates that the current recommendation (0.36 grams per pound of body weight) may not be sufficient to maintain muscle mass in healthy people over 50, and that an increase (to 0.45 grams per pound of body weight) may be recommended. A 125-pound woman would need approximately 56 grams of protein daily to maintain her muscle mass. Unless you are ill or recovering from surgery or injury, you do not need a high-protein diet. But it would be wise to discuss your protein needs with your doctor or dietitian.

Getting the right amount of protein plays a vital role in your health. Do you know what your protein needs are? Calculate them with the equation and peruse the following table for suggested foods for protein consumption. Calculate your daily requirement, keeping in mind 75-percent must be high quality protein.

Multiply your weight in pounds by 0.36 grams. Example: 125 x 0.36 grams of protein equals 45 grams of protein per day.

Commonly Eaten Foods and their protein content in grams  :
3 ounces chicken breast (no skin): 26g

1 ounce cheddar cheese: 7g

3 ounces beef, veal or pork: 25g

1 medium-sized egg: 7g

3 ounces white fish: 18g

1/2 cup cooked pinto beans: 7g

1/2 cup cottage cheese: 13g

1 ounce nuts: 6g

8 ounces 1-percent milk: 9g

1 slice wheat bread: 4g

2 tablespoons peanut butter: 8g

1/2 cup white rice: 2g



Protein for Health: Part Two
Protein is a part of every cell in your body, and no other nutrient plays as many different roles in keeping you alive and healthy. It is important for the growth and repair of your muscles, bones, skin, tendons, ligaments, hair, eyes and other tissues. Without it, you would lack the enzymes and hormones you need for metabolism, digestion and other important processes.

When you have an infection, you should eat more protein because it helps create the antibodies your immune system needs to fight disease. If you are injured, you may need more, as well, to help your blood clot and make repairs.

Your body can use protein for energy, if necessary, but it is best to eat plenty of carbohydrates for that purpose and save your protein for the important jobs other nutrients cannot do.

Pick Your Protein Carefully

Your body needs many different proteins for various purposes. It makes them from about 20 "building blocks" called amino acids. Nine of these are essential amino acid, which means you must get them from food. The others are nonessential. This does not mean you do not need them. You just do not have to eat them because your body can produce them.

It is easiest to get protein from meat, chicken, turkey, fish and dairy foods. Cooked meat is about 15 to 40 percent protein. Foods from animal sources provide complete protein, which means they contain all the essential amino acids.

Next to meat, legumes -- beans, peas and peanuts -- have the most protein. But they are called incomplete proteins because they are lacking some essential amino acids. You can get complete protein if you combine them with plant foods from one of these categories -- grains, seeds and nuts, and vegetables. Eat any two or more of these plant foods, with or without beans, and you get complete protein.

You do not have to eat these foods in the same dish, or even in the same meal. But many cultures have created combinations that work well -- like corn and beans in Mexico, or rice and split peas in India. Many Americans enjoy legumes and grains in a peanut butter sandwich.

Make Digestion Easier

Your body can digest and use animal protein more easily than plant protein. But be sure to avoid excess fat by choosing lean meats and low-fat dairy products. Legumes are next easiest to digest, followed by grains and other plant sources.

Cooking protein foods with moist rather than dry heat, perhaps boiled in a stew rather than fried, or soaking meat in a marinade using wine, lemon juice, or vinegar makes it easier to digest.

Set Healthy Limits

Since protein is so important to your body's survival, you may think you need to eat a lot of it. Fortunately, your body actually recycles protein from tissues that break down and uses it to make new ones. So you do not need more than 10 to 15 percent of your total calories from protein.

Protein deficiencies are common in poor, undeveloped countries. Even in modern nations, they sometimes occur in certain groups. In fact, vegetarians need to be very careful about eating the right combinations of plant foods to get enough complete protein.

The chances are far greater that you eat too much protein, especially from meat sources. The typical Western diet includes about 100 grams of protein, while 50 grams is closer to what your body needs.

If you are healthy, with no liver or kidney problems, you can get rid of any excess with little trouble. Yet, meat protein can be expensive and high in fat, two good reasons not to eat more than your body can use.

Beware the Dangers of a High-Protein Diet

If you are looking for a quick way to lose weight, it is easy to get fired up about a high-protein diet. Unfortunately, the American Heart Association, the American Dietetic Association and other health organizations advise against it.

An initial drop in weight is common with a high-protein diet, but it is due primarily to water loss. These diets do not work very well in the long run -- nor do they build muscles as they claim. Most important, they can be dangerous, increasing your risk of heart disease, kidney disease and artery damage, and bone loss.

While most high-protein foods contain plenty of vitamin B12 and iron, they are low in other vitamins and minerals. Only a diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, and grains supplies the other nutrients that keep you healthy.

Multivitamins Nutrition and Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV Disease in Africa

Readers could be forgiven for being confused by the literature on micronutrients and the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease. Micronutrients play important roles in maintaining immune function and neutralizing the reactive oxygen intermediates produced by activated macrophages and neutrophils in their response to microorganisms. Serum and plasma measurements of vitamins and trace elements, which are imperfect indicators of body stores, have shown that deficiencies are common among HIV-infected persons, especially those who are underprivileged, such as women in developing countries, and injection-drug users. A vicious cycle has been envisaged in which undernourished HIV-infected persons have micronutrient deficiencies, leading to further immunosuppression and oxidative stress and subsequent acceleration of HIV replication and CD4+ T-cell depletion.1

It has been difficult, however, to show causal associations between specific deficiencies and adverse clinical outcomes in HIV-infected persons, and data linking replacement or supplementation of specific micronutrients with a clinical benefit have been sparse and inconsistent. In this issue of the Journal, Fawzi and colleagues report the results of a controlled trial of multivitamin supplementation among HIV-infected pregnant women in Tanzania.2 Their report prompts important questions about the plausibility of the findings but also raises broader issues concerning the role of nutrition in the public health response to HIV infection and AIDS in Africa in this era of increasing access to antiretroviral therapy.

The authors compared supplementation consisting of multivitamins alone, vitamin A alone, or both with placebo. They found that women who were randomly assigned to receive multivitamin supplementation were less likely to have progression to advanced stages of HIV disease, had better preservation of CD4+ T-cell counts and lower viral loads, and had lower HIV-related morbidity and mortality rates than women who received placebo. Vitamin A appeared to reduce the effect of multivitamins and, when given alone, had some negative effects.

The credibility of these data is supported by sound study design and methods, appropriate analyses, and compatibility with the limited existing data, such as those showing decreased mortality among HIV-infected Thai adults who received multivitamins.3 Fawzi and colleagues have previously shown that multivitamin use is associated with improved pregnancy outcomes, including reduced rates of low birth weight, prematurity, and fetal death.4 Although some observational data have associated vitamin A deficiency with increased risks of perinatal transmission and other adverse outcomes,5 vitamin A supplementation has reportedly been followed by increased rates of mother-to-child transmission of infection.6 On the basis of these previous data as well as the current findings, there seems to be no justification for pursuing vitamin A supplementation as an intervention for HIV infection.

There has been little prior experience with extensive use of multivitamins in African populations, and long-term multivitamin administration has not been considered sustainable. Moreover, there are no solid data regarding the value of multivitamins among HIV-infected adults in the industrialized world, although routine supplementation is often practiced. Thus, before definitive recommendations can be made about routine use of multivitamins in the treatment of persons with HIV infection and AIDS, there is a clear need to confirm the new findings and to evaluate the effects of multivitamins in larger populations, particularly among persons with more advanced HIV disease or more serious nutritional deficiencies.

As a consequence of the recent substantial increase in funding and support for HIV and AIDS treatment programs, the treatment options for HIV disease and AIDS in Africa have changed fundamentally since the study under discussion was initiated. Needing to interpret their results against this altered landscape, Fawzi and colleagues speculate that by reducing the progression of HIV disease, the use of multivitamins may delay the need to institute antiretroviral-drug therapy, thus saving resources as well as preserving therapeutic options.

Individual, small clinical trials rarely form an adequate basis for policy formulation, and they are unlikely to answer convincingly the important questions now raised — specifically, whether multivitamin supplementation can reduce mortality in the context of increased access to antiretroviral-drug therapy and whether the initiation of such therapy can be delayed. These critical questions could potentially be answered in Africa by a so-called large, simple trial.7 Involving very large populations and assessing only hard end points such as mortality, large, simple trials are especially suitable for evaluating simple treatments that probably have moderate efficacy for common diseases. At a population level, such treatments can have a considerable effect on public health. Without such a study, it is unlikely that adequate evidence will become available to provide scientifically based recommendations concerning the use of multivitamin supplementation for patients with HIV disease and AIDS and for treatment programs in Africa.

Although definitive policy recommendations concerning multivitamin supplementation must await the appropriate evidence (ideally from a large, simple trial in a population with access to antiretroviral drugs), individual treatment programs and clinicians would be justified in routinely prescribing this nutritional support, since it may provide a benefit and does no harm. Multivitamins offer safe opportunities for patients to become accustomed to taking regular medication before beginning antiretroviral therapy. Multivitamins could be offered through home-based care programs that until now have too often ignored even basic biomedical interventions such as HIV testing, the need to rule out tuberculosis, and the provision of trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole to HIV-infected persons.

Fawzi and colleagues' study of multivitamin supplementation should stimulate broader discussion of the role of nutrition in patients with AIDS in the developing world. With its effects on morbidity, mortality, and poverty, the epidemic of HIV infection and AIDS has worsened food security in Africa, especially in the southern part of the continent, the area most affected by HIV. HIV disease increases metabolic requirements, suppresses appetite, may impair swallowing by causing oral and esophageal opportunistic infections, may be associated with malabsorption due to various gastroenteropathies, and perhaps most important, results in progressive disability and impoverishment, with a consequent inability to raise or afford food. Undernutrition also interacts with HIV in a variety of ways. Undernutrition may promote HIV transmission, for example, when sex is exchanged for money to buy food for oneself and one's family. The clinical picture of the HIV wasting syndrome (also known as the "slim disease"), a characteristic manifestation of AIDS in Africa, results in large part from undernutrition in the face of opportunistic illnesses, especially tuberculosis, which itself may be made more likely by inadequate food intake.8,9 Whatever its cause, a reduced body-mass index is a strong predictor of death.

As donor-funded initiatives expand in Africa, it has become clear that nutrition will have to be addressed in the treatment of HIV disease and AIDS. In the focus-group discussions that we conducted when starting an antiretroviral treatment program in a large Nairobi slum, every group interviewed listed the lack of food as the most likely cause of nonadherence to antiretroviral (ARV) drug therapy. One participant succinctly stated, "If you give us ARVs, please give us food, just food." There truly is irony, not captured in the language of treatment advocacy, in providing antiretroviral drugs to populations that lack access to safe water or food.

The possibility that a relatively inexpensive intervention such as multivitamin supplementation could reduce the risk of or delay HIV-associated disease and death raises the question of how other basic interventions need to be integrated into our nascent HIV and AIDS treatment programs. Africa's health needs extend beyond the treatment of HIV disease and AIDS; HIV-infected persons are at great risk from other threats, as well. For example, programs to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV will not fulfill their potential if ineffective maternal and child health services fail to prevent the many competing causes of death in women and children.

An obvious approach is the promotion of simple but important public health interventions alongside and as part of HIV and AIDS treatment initiatives. One example is malaria prevention through the provision of insecticide-impregnated bed nets. In western Kenya's Nyanza Province, an area where the prevalence of antenatal HIV infection is approximately 25 percent, the provision of insecticide-treated nets reduced infant mortality by up to 25 percent at a time when no program existed to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.10 Another example is the promotion of point-of-use chlorination to provide safe drinking water; implementation of this system reduced the incidence of diarrhea among HIV-infected adults in Tororo, Uganda, by 30 percent.11

Innovative schemes will have to be developed to address the need for food supplementation within HIV and AIDS treatment programs. One such scheme exists near Eldoret, in western Kenya, where a farm has been developed on donated land and is tended by some of the patients who receive care at the local clinic. In addition to antiretroviral drugs, food from the farm can be "prescribed" by health care providers for HIV-infected patients and their families.

A final word of caution is required with respect to the implementation of clinical and public health measures in Africa. A fine balance is required between the search for "simple" and "appropriate" interventions and efforts to institute the effective measures that we in the industrialized world take for granted. "Cost-effective" should not be a polite term for cheap, nor should "simple" mean not very effective. As attractive and important as simple interventions are and as massive as the shortage of basic public health infrastructure is, the need for antiretroviral therapy in Africa is real and compelling. The international community must continue to expand its efforts to meet this need.

The opinions and statements expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not represent the official policy, endorsement, or views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Public Health Service, or the Department of Health and Human Services.

Source Information

From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nairobi, Kenya.

by Barbara Marston, M.D., and Kevin M. De Cock, M.D.

How should I take multivitamins?

Use this medication as directed on the label, or as your doctor has prescribed. Do not use the medication in larger amounts or for longer than recommended.
Never take more than the recommended dose of a multivitamin. Avoid taking more than one multivitamin product at the same time unless your doctor tells you to. Taking similar vitamin products together can result in a vitamin overdose or serious side effects.

Many multivitamin products also contain minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. Minerals (especially taken in large doses) can cause side effects such as tooth staining, increased urination, stomach bleeding, uneven heart rate, confusion, and muscle weakness or limp feeling. Read the label of any multivitamin product you take to make sure you are aware of what it contains.
Take your multivitamin with a full glass of water.

The chewable tablet must be chewed or allowed to dissolve in your mouth before swallowing.

Measure the liquid form of multivitamins using a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you can get one.

Liquid multivitamins may sometimes be mixed with water, fruit juice, or infant formula (but not milk or other dairy products). Follow the directions on the medicine label.

It is important to take multivitamins regularly to get the most benefit.
Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the liquid medicine from freezing.

Store multivitamins in their original container. Storing multivitamins in a glass container can ruin the medication.

What happens if I miss a dose?


Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of vitamins A, D, E, or K can cause serious or life-threatening side effects. Certain minerals contained in a multivitamin may also cause serious overdose symptoms if you take too much.

Overdose symptoms may include stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite, hair loss, peeling skin, tingly feeling in or around your mouth, changes in menstrual periods, weight loss, severe headache, muscle or joint pain, severe back pain, blood in your urine, pale skin, and easy bruising or bleeding.

What should I avoid while taking multivitamins?

Avoid taking more than one multivitamin product at the same time unless your doctor tells you to. Taking similar vitamin products together can result in a vitamin overdose or serious side effects.

Avoid the regular use of salt substitutes in your diet if your multivitamin contains potassium. If you are on a low-salt diet, ask your doctor before taking a vitamin or mineral supplement.
Do not take this medication with milk, other dairy products, calcium supplements, or antacids that contain calcium. Calcium may make it harder for your body to absorb certain ingredients of the multivitamin.

What are the possible side effects of multivitamins?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

When taken as directed, multivitamins are not expected to cause serious side effects. Less serious side effects may include:

upset stomach;

headache; or

unusual or unpleasant taste in your mouth.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

What is the most important information I should know about multivitamins?

Never take more than the recommended dose of a multivitamin. Avoid taking more than one multivitamin product at the same time unless your doctor tells you to. Taking similar vitamin products together can result in a vitamin overdose or serious side effects.

Many multivitamin products also contain minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. Minerals (especially taken in large doses) can cause side effects such as tooth staining, increased urination, stomach bleeding, uneven heart rate, confusion, and muscle weakness or limp feeling. Read the label of any multivitamin product you take to make sure you are aware of what it contains.

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of vitamins A, D, E, or K can cause serious or life-threatening side effects. Certain minerals contained in a multivitamin may also cause serious overdose symptoms if you take too much.

Overdose symptoms may include stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite, hair loss, peeling skin, tingly feeling in or around your mouth, changes in menstrual periods, weight loss, severe headache, muscle or joint pain, severe back pain, blood in your urine, pale skin, and easy bruising or bleeding.

Do not take this medication with milk, other dairy products, calcium supplements, or antacids that contain calcium. Calcium may make it harder for your body to absorb certain ingredients of the multivitamin.

What is multivitamin?

Multivitamins are a combination of many different vitamins that are normally found in foods and other natural sources.

Multivitamins are used to provide vitamins that are not taken in through the diet. Multivitamins are also used to treat vitamin deficiencies (lack of vitamins) caused by illness, pregnancy, poor nutrition, digestive disorders, and many other conditions.

Multivitamins may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking multivitamins?

Many vitamins can cause serious or life-threatening side effects if taken in large doses. Do not take more of this medication than directed on the label or prescribed by your doctor.

If you have any medical conditions, ask your doctor before taking a multivitamin. If you have certain conditions, you may need a certain vitamin formulation or special tests while taking a multivitamin.

Do not take multivitamins without telling your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Some vitamins and minerals can harm an unborn baby if taken in large doses. You may need to use a prenatal vitamin specially formulated for pregnant women. Multivitamins can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.