Can I Take Men's Vitamins If I'm A Woman

Hypertension is a common chronic disease worldwide and a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease . It is characterized by several pathophysiologic pathways including endothelial dysfunction, vascular inflammation, increased arterial stiffness . However, little is known whether supplementation of vitamins and minerals may have a preventive role in hypertension development. Multivitamins are supplements including a wide-range of essential nutrients at amounts typically found in a healthy diet.

Multivitamins are the most commonly used dietary supplement in the US and its prevalence has steadily increased during the past few decades . In the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey study, more than one-third of US adults reported current daily multivitamin use . Multivitamins were also commonly taken in several countries in European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study. Thus, these data highlight the importance of monitoring dietary supplement use and evaluating its benefits and risks in chronic disease prevention including hypertension. Multivitamin supplements typically aim to mirror the combination of low-dose essential vitamins and minerals that would be obtained through a healthy diet e.g. the DASH diet. Several vitamins and minerals have been suggested to have important roles in the mechanistic pathways in hypertension development.

Nutrients with antioxidant properties may inhibit oxidative stress caused by increased reactive oxygen/nitrogen species, which is involved in the pathophysiology of hypertension . Vitamin D inhibits the expression of renin gene, which reduces activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, leading to favourable effects on volume homeostasis and BP reduction . Magnesium may have BP lowering effects as a calcium channel blocker. Magnesium also regulates intracellular calcium, sodium, and potassium; low magnesium levels have been linked to insufficient amounts of prostaglandin E1, which leads to vasoconstriction and increases BP . Potassium promotes vasodilation through stimuli of the sodium pump lowering cystolic calcium . Moreover, a Cochrane review of randomized trials testing potassium supplementation reported nonsignificant BP lowering effects however, there was heterogeneity between trials .

The best way to get these vitamins and other nutrients is by eating a healthy, balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, lean meats, healthy fats, and low-fat dairy. But if you're not, you may not be getting adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals to keep you feeling your best. A specially formulated multivitamin for your age and gender, like Nature Made Multi for Him or Multi for Him 50+, provides nutritional support to fill in nutrient gaps missing from your diet. The human body requires 13 vitamins and at least 16 minerals essential to your health.However, while all adults need a variety of key vitamins and minerals every day, men and women have different requirements.

For instance, women of reproductive age require more iron than men of the same age, so women's supplements typically include iron and men's supplements don't. If you're asking yourself, "What vitamins should I take daily for a man? " keep in mind that it varies depending on your age and lifestyle. In the present study, we excluded 10,227 women with baseline history of hypertension defined as having a self-reported SBP ≥140 mm Hg or DBP ≥90 mm Hg, or being on antihypertensive treatment. We also excluded 926 women with missing information on multivitamin supplement use and lifestyle, clinical and dietary factors considered as covariates.

Thus, 28,157 women were included in analysis with follow-up from baseline through 2012. The trial ended in March 2004 and women who were still alive and eligible and willing to be followed on an observational basis (89%) were included in the observational follow-up. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants and this research was approved by the institutional review board of Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. To reduce the risk of having a child with neural tube defects, it's recommended that women who are trying to become pregnant get 400 to 800 micrograms of folate or folic acid a day through diet and supplements. Other healthy adults — both men and women — need only 400 mcg a day. While uncommon, getting too much folic acid by taking supplements can mask the symptoms of vitamin B-12 deficiency and delay diagnosis and treatment.

It's also important to remember that multivitamins and supplements are not a replacement for a healthy, well-balanced diet. If you're someone who strives to eat a healthy diet, then you might know a thing or two about eating foods that contain important vitamins and minerals. Vitamins and minerals are essential for good health and eating a balanced diet will provide the vitamins and minerals your body needs.

However, for many, eating healthy can be a challenge and taking a multivitamin multimineral supplement is a good strategy to stay on track. If you need to take a multivitamin, you'll want to take it in a way that maximizes absorption of its nutrients (i.e., essential vitamins and minerals) but is convenient enough so that you don't skip taking it. In that case, take your multivitamin with whichever meal contains the most fats and oils. Taking your multivitamin with a meal may also reduce stomach upset or nausea that can occur with these supplements.

After age thirty, women's bone density declines at a faster rate than men's. This means that a good multivitamin and mineral supplement for women will typically include higher amounts of calcium for bone health and vitamin D, to aid the body in absorbing calcium. Women's multivitamins are also often higher in folate than those for men.

Folate is especially necessary for women during childbearing years because it reduces the risk of specific birth defects. Multivitamins won't contain the full daily value for all micronutrients, such as calcium, magnesium and choline, because you'd end up with a pill too big to swallow. While people with specific nutritional deficiencies can benefit from a supplement—especially one a doctor tells them to take—the evidence on daily multivitamins is lackluster. A 2012 review published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that multivitamins had no effect on mortality. And when it comes to preventing cancer or heart disease, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has found "insufficient evidence" that vitamin supplements do any good.

In the case of beta carotene and vitamin E supplements, the Task Force has actually advised against taking them. According to the NIH, it's also generally recommended that women who want to become pregnant get 400 micrograms of folic acid a day to lower the risk of neural tube defects in newborns. However, unless you're planning to become pregnant or are pregnant or have a particular nutrient deficiency, you probably don't need a multivitamin, Rumsey says. The most common deficiencies in the U.S. are iron, calcium, and vitamins B12 and D, Keatley says. Being deficient in any one of these will make you feel tired, which is a pretty vague symptom. Still, if you're struggling with fatigue, it's worth asking your doctor for a blood test to see if a deficiency could be to blame.

For those who eat a healthful diet, a multivitamin may have little or no benefit. A diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, good protein sources, and healthful fats should provide most of the nutrients needed for good health. When it comes to specific vitamins and minerals, some Americans get less than adequate amounts, according to criteria set by the National Academy of Medicine. For example, more than 90% of Americans get less than the Estimated Average Requirement for vitamin D and vitamin E from food sources alone. Unlike prescription drugs, dietary supplements are not reviewed by the U.S.

As a result, they may contain contaminants, like metals, pesticides, chemicals or bacteria, which may pose risks for pregnancy. Also, most supplements are not thoroughly studied, which can lead to issues related to quality standards for ingredients and strength. For example, vinpocetine — an ingredient found in a number of dietary supplements, including those marketed for weight loss, enhanced memory, focus, mental acuity or increased energy — is not safe during pregnancy. Other commonly used supplements that may cause harm during pregnancy include melatonin and St. John's wort. Hypertension is a major risk factor for CVD and is characterized by multiple pathophysiologic pathways such as endothelial dysfunction, vascular inflammation, increased arterial stiffness . Salt reduction is considered as one of the most important dietary advises in the prevention of hypertension .

However, besides salt reduction, there are other dietary preventive strategies shown to be of importance in both hypertension prevention and BP reduction as well as lowering subsequent risk of CVD . The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet has been pointed out as a promising dietary intervention . The DASH diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products providing adequate intakes of several essential vitamins and minerals . If you're a healthy adult, taking a multivitamin won't lower your risk of heart attack, stroke or death from cardiovascular disease.

Can I take men's vitamins if I'm a woman Preventive Services Task Force concluded that there is insufficient evidence to support any benefit from vitamin and mineral supplementation for the prevention of cancer or cardiovascular disease. In light of this, improving your diet is likely a better bet than stealing your girlfriend's vitamins. People think of multivitamins as a sort of "nutritional insurance," but they can't make up for a healthy diet. While women of childbearing age may need supplemental folic acid, most people can get all the nutrition they need simply by eating a variety of healthy foods. Folate (also known as vitamin B-9 or folic acid) is another common deficiency for us.

If you're over 13 years old, you should be getting about 400 to 600 micrograms. This vitamin is essential for DNA production, the development of red blood cells, and preventing anemia. And to prevent anemia, you need it in conjunction with vitamin B-12 and iron, two other vitamins and minerals we tend to be deficient in. A prenatal vitamin should be a sufficient source of vitamins during a woman's pregnancy. Talk to your health care provider about a prescription for a prenatal vitamin that is approved for use prior to getting pregnant and during pregnancy. Once pregnant, women should avoid taking more than twice the recommended dietary allowances of vitamins and minerals.

Excessive intake of vitamins and minerals, such as iodine, can cause problems in pregnancy. If you're a healthy guy and have no major dietary restrictions, you don't need a multivitamin. A pill containing 20 vitamins and minerals is never going to replicate the complex mixture of healthful compounds in whole foods.

Many people take a multivitamin end up using them to justify less healthy eating habits. There's no standard definition for what needs to be in a multivitamin, specifically what nutrients it should have and in what quantities, according to the NIH. These include calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, several B vitamins, vitamin A, vitamin K, potassium, iodine, selenium, borate, zinc, manganese, molybdenum, beta-carotene, and iron. Vitamin D helps keep the bones, teeth and muscles healthy, and is an essential nutrient for everybody, not just pregnant women. We can also get it in our diet, by eating foods like oily fish, eggs and red meat.

If you're wondering why you may need women's multivitamins, that's all down to the fact that the female body often requires more of some, or even completely different, nutrients to men! The best multivitamins for women contain a selection of various vitamins and minerals which can help support all aspects of your health. Despite what some ads may imply, a multivitamin won't magically turn you into an energetic, incredibly healthy superhero. What it can do is cover for deficiencies in your diet, Gina Keatley, a certified dietitian-nutritionist practicing in New York City, tells Allure.

"The more processed a food item is, the more likely it is that it will be deficient in vitamins and minerals," she explains. A multivitamin is supposed to provide for what processing removes from our food. They're "almost like a safety net to ensure that you are consuming plenty of important vitamins and minerals," she says. Since men and women's multivitamins are formulated differently, will you get sick if you take the wrong kind? However, long-term use may cause some negative effects like mineral build-up, particularly in men who are getting too much iron.

The best vitamins for men and for women should have a wide range of important nutrients, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, which are the fat-soluble vitamins, and water-soluble C and B vitamins. Minerals should include calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, copper, chromium, manganese, and molybdenum. These are daily requirements recommended in the Dietary Reference Intakes developed by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and they help to set the dietary guidelines in the US and Canada. A woman's menstrual cycle leaves her physically depleted in certain nutrients each month, and then her body barely has time to recover before it begins all over again. For this reason, pre-menopausal women require more iron in their diets than men do. Most women's multivitamins contain higher amounts of iron than what's found in the best multivitamins for men.

Men should not take supplemental iron unless they are specifically diagnosed as anemic. Because excess iron isn't eliminated from the body through urination, it can build up to toxic levels—especially in men. Iron overload can cause specific health issues which would need to be diagnosed and addressed. People who are middle-aged or older, are overweight, or have darker skin might need supplements.

If you're unsure about your vitamin D status, ask your doctor about having a blood test. For instance, the Tufts and Harvard study found that large amounts of calcium supplements (in excess of 1,000 mg/day) were linked to an increased risk of cancer deaths. If you're not getting the daily recommended allowance of key nutrients by eating a healthy diet, you might benefit from taking amen's multivitaminor one specifically formulated for men over 50. This ensures you're hitting your daily target for a broad range of key nutrients, especially as you age. For me, on days I'm eating healthy, I take half of my multivitamin. While you should be getting the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients you need through your diet, it's possible to miss out on getting enough of what your body needs.

A healthy diet is the first step, but if you're still not getting the right vitamins and nutrients, talk to your doctor. They may recommend taking supplements or have recommendations on how to adjust your diet. Be sure to buy from sources that are reputable as the FDA doesn't monitor production of supplements.

Preventive Services Task Force, do not recommend multivitamins either. It's not that they're harmful (they typically contain safe levels of vitamins and minerals compared to some megadose single-nutrient supplements), but the research isn't there that they're all that healthful. I'm not saying guys shouldn't also pay attention to their diet (I advocate a plant-heavy Mediterranean approach), but it's not likely that you're eating all the nutrients you need all the time. Data suggests that 90 percent of men fall short in one or more of the 16 essential vitamins and minerals. "A multivitamin can't take the place of eating a variety of foods and food groups," Alissa Rumsey, a registered dietitian in New York City and founder of Alissa Rumsey Nutrition and Wellness, tells Allure.

Here's what the experts want you to know about multivitamins, plus how to tell whether they're right for you. The Iowa Women's Health Study looked at the use of 15 vitamins and minerals, including multivitamins, at three different intervals and identified the numbers of women who died over a 19-year period. It showed that women over the age of 55 who took multivitamins were at higher risk for dying than those who did not.

As a result, it is unknown whether the women were already taking vitamins when they became ill, or if they became ill and then started taking vitamins. In women who were already sick, taking vitamins was unlikely to lower their risk of dying. This page specifically discusses the use of multivitamins, which typically contain about 26 different vitamins and minerals, and often provide 100% of the Recommended Daily Allowance of these micronutrients.

We will explore situations that a multivitamin may be health-promoting, as well as if there is a benefit or harm in taking extra nutrients from a pill if the diet is already adequate. Like almost all multivitamins, gender-specific varieties claim a long list of supposed benefits. The website for One A Day Women's says the product supports health of the bones, breasts, heart, reproductive system and skin.

Centrum Ultra Women's promises to boost the immune system and provide more energy along with healthy skin, nails and hair. One A Day Men's Health Formula claims to support the prostate and heart. Centrum Ultra Men's supposedly enhances immunity and energy while supporting prostate, colon and heart health.

A good quality multivitamin, regardless if targeted to a woman or a man, should be formulated with a wide range of vitamins and minerals. Key nutrients to look for include the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K along with the water-soluble vitamins C and B-complex. Key bulk minerals to look for include calcium and magnesium along with the trace minerals zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, chromium and molybdenum. Fabricant has said that dietary supplements spiked with prescription drugs are "the largest threat" to consumer safety. Since 2008 there have been recalls of more than 400 such products, mostly those marketed for bodybuilding, sexual enhancement, and weight loss, according to the FDA.