We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Fitness

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Complete Multivitamin?

By J.M. Densing
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 5,121
Share

A complete multivitamin is a dietary supplement, often in pill form, that contains essential vitamins and minerals. These substances are very important to support health and well-being because they are needed by the body to perform many functions. Multivitamins are often recommended to ensure that individuals get enough of these vital substances since it's difficult to acquire the recommended amounts of each through diet alone. This can be particularly important for those who may not eat an ideal diet.

Most multivitamins contain a range of vitamins and minerals that have been found to perform important functions within the body. In a typical supplement there will be 100 percent or less of the RDA, or recommended daily allowance, of each substance. Some types of complete multivitamins may also contain extra amounts of specific vitamins or minerals for particular purposes — extra B12 for additional energy, for example. To be considered a complete multivitamin, a supplement generally must also contain iron in addition to the other vitamins and minerals.

The minerals found in a complete multivitamin are important for a person's health and well being. These substances help the body perform various vital functions and assist in growth and development. Iron, for example, is vital for the proper formation of red blood cells. Calcium is vital for bone health and strong teeth, and magnesium is needed for proper muscle and nerve functioning, as well as many other body processes. There are many other important minerals, including zinc and copper, in multivitamins too.

The typical complete multivitamin contains an array of important vitamins as well. Vitamin A is necessary for vision and the B vitamins help the body process nutrients to get energy. Vitamin C helps with immune functions and bone development. Vitamin E also plays a role in immune functioning and vitamin K is needed for proper blood clotting after an injury. Most multivitamins contain a range of other vitamins as well.

Medical professionals often recommend the use of a daily complete multivitamin for healthy children and adults to prevent possible nutrition deficiencies. It’s difficult to get the recommended daily allowance of each vitamin and mineral from food sources alone, even if a person eats a healthy diet. These supplements should be used with caution however, since some have certain compounds which could interact with medications a person may be taking. It’s always a good idea to discuss any supplement use with a doctor before proceeding.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-complete-multivitamin.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.