Are prenatal vitamins meant as an addition to multivitamins?
Question:
And if multivitamins can't be taken, is there anything prenatal vitamins don't provide that I should take supplements of?
Answers:
A prenatal vitamin is all you would need or want to take, if that's what you want to do. It's formulated to meet 100% of the requirements of a pregnant woman and her developing child, so it will probably provide more of some nutrients than you actually need. A good quality multi-vitamin/mineral supplement will do as well for you. Don't take both though, by any means. Some vitamins are fat-soluble and stored in the body, where large intake can build up to hazardous, life-threatening levels. Some vitamins are actually poisonous in high concentrations, and can cause irreparable damage, if not actual death. Excess minerals and the water soluble vitamins, like Vitamin C will be filtered out by the kidneys, but that can cause problems as well. Excess amounts of calcium can cause stones to form, a very unpleasant experience, and excess iron can cause problems as well. Look for a vitamin/mineral supplement that is chewable, and that provides no more than 100% of your recommended allowance. That way, you will have a greater chance of absorbing what you actually need and pay for, and not such a risk of taking in too much of any one thing. No point in paying for what you won't use, and flushing the money. Also no point in damaging your body taking too much of somethign either. Vitamins may or may not make a visible difference, it depends on your overall state of health and diet. If you are eating an otherwise balanced diet, you probably aren't deficient in anything enough to notice a radical change. The skin usually responds better to things applied on the surface, a good sloughing of the dead skin and a moisturizer. Your hair, well- not mistreating it with color, perms, and heat from dryers, curlers and irons usually helps the most. How fast your hair grows, and the length it will reach are genetically determined things. It's dead stuff you see, and no matter how healthy it may grow, if you damage it afterwards, vitamins and minerals won't help that. Prenatal vitamins are not miracle pills, and unless you are pregnant, or in really bad shape nutritionally, usually aren't worth the extra expense. Honestly, a good chewable multivitamin/mineral for an average adult will do just as well.
I still use prenatal vitamins w/out any other vitamins. Just my personal opinion that if prenatals give you nutrients while you are pregnant then certainly multis are not needed?
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