Cyanocobalamin also comes as injections, but these are generally not available on the NHS. If your doctor prescribes vitamin B12 injections, they will usually give you hydroxocobalamin, another type of vitamin B12. Sometimes the amount of vitamin D is expressed as International Units (IU). 1 microgram of vitamin D is equal to 40 IU. So 10 micrograms of vitamin D is equal to 400 IU. Should I take a vitamin D supplement? Advice for adults and children over 4 years old Key vitamins and minerals for women that you’ll find in the best multivitamins – over and above the useful nutrients for everyone – are calcium, vitamin D, iron, folate, magnesium, and B12. You’ve no doubt heard of biotin; it’s famous for playing an important role in the health of your hair, skin and nails. It also helps to convert certain nutrients into energy and helps to break down fat in the body. Biotin is not stored in the body, so a continuous supply is important. Biotin is considered very safe even in very high doses as the body eliminates any it doesn’t need in urine.

The Department of Health and Social Care recommends that babies from birth to 1 year of age should have a daily supplement containing 8.5 to 10 micrograms of vitamin D throughout the year if they are:

Your doctor may want to increase or decrease your dose of cyanocobalamin tablets depending on the level of vitamin B12 in your blood. What if I forget to take it? Vitamin D helps to maintain testosterone levels in men and is important for both men and women, especially as we age, for its ability to help the body absorb calcium and prevent weak bones and muscles. Taking a multivitamin tablet with decent levels of this will help prevent vitamin D deficiency or shortfall. The story also claimed that multivitamins and minerals “could do some elderly people more harm than good’. The research did say that “several studies demonstrated that routine vitamin and mineral supplementation in certain populations, for instance in elderly patients, could lead to a worse outcome.” But it is important to note that this refers to taking multivitamins routinely, not those which have been prescribed.

The first thing to look for is a multivitamin that has a wide range of active ingredients, ie, vitamins and minerals. This should help to ensure you’re not deficient in any nutrient, and will also hopefully supplement others that you may benefit from. There have been some reports about vitamin D reducing the risk of coronavirus (COVID-19). But there is currently not enough evidence to support taking vitamin D solely to prevent or treat COVID-19. Good sources of vitamin D Potassium acts as an electrolyte, helping the body to regulate fluid, regulate muscle contractions, send nerve signals and maintain a healthy heartbeat. It may also help to reduce blood pressure and protect against strokes, as well as protect bone density. Studies suggest that few people consume enough potassium in the diet, true more so for men than women. [4]It’s rare to find this trace mineral in your everyday multivitamin but it’s actually essential to your health. It acts as a co-factor for four important enzymes and without it, toxins and sulfites would build up in the body. Any excess is eliminated in urine. Some people will not make enough vitamin D from sunlight because they have very little or no sunshine exposure. To summarise, we need such essential nutrition for the normal functioning of the body, normal energy release, normal bones, and more.

Likewise, we don’t always have the time to cook nutrient-dense meals each day and certain sectors of the population are at risk of missing vital vitamins and minerals because of their diet. Our absorption of certain nutrients such as Vitamin D and calcium also falls as we age.Folate is an incredibly important vitamin for both men and women. It may help to protect against heart disease because it prevents the build-up of homocysteine – heart and circulatory diseases account for 27% of all deaths in the UK, that’s one death every three minutes. The researchers said: “Our study supports current professional guidelines that recommend against the routine use of multivitamin and mineral supplements for the purpose of cardiovascular disease prevention in the general population.” The British Heart Foundation view But the coverage did also advocate ‘eating more fruit and vegetables, exercising and avoiding tobacco’, which is helpful and is in line with our advice. The results were adjusted to factor in the participants’ fruit and vegetable intake, smoking habits, and physical activity We’d also recommend that you opt for a multivitamin specific to your gender. By choosing a multivitamin for men or a multivitamin for women, they should hopefully be tailored to your specific physiological needs. We’ll talk more about this in a moment, but you should know that men and women have different nutritional requirements: men need more zinc, for instance, while women require more iron and folate (folic acid). It’s worth making sure whatever multivitamin you choose takes that into account. Quality

Taking too many vitamin D supplements over a long period of time can cause too much calcium to build up in the body (hypercalcaemia). This can weaken the bones and damage the kidneys and the heart. Between late March/early April to the end of September, most people can make all the vitamin D they need through sunlight on their skin and from a balanced diet. Also referred to as cobalamin, B12 aids heart health, energy metabolism and cognitive function. Dementia and depression have been linked to low levels of serum B12. Older adults and vegetarians are more likely to have a B12 deficiency which can cause memory loss. There is no recommended maximum amount for vitamin B12, and higher doses have not been shown to be harmful. Vitamin A is an antioxidant and essential vitamin, important for maintaining normal vision. It also supports the immune system and plays a role in tissue repair, bone strength and healthy skin. Performance Lab NutriGenesis® Multi provides 67% of your recommended Daily Value (DV).There are no shortcuts when it comes to nutrition - supplements are not a replacement for healthy food About half of UK adults take some form of vitamin supplement, with multivitamin tablets being the most popular. While women have traditionally led the interest in such dietary supplements, men are increasingly turning to them as well.