Do you have a special multi-vitamin requirement?

Everyone needs the same group of vitamins. We only differ on the dosage because of certain differences such as our habits, lifestyles and health condition. A person who doesn't get enough sunlight, for example, will need extra Vitamin D compared to someone who gets regular sunshine.

Age and certain conditions are also a consideration for the type and dose of multi-vitamins you need to use. Children's multi-vitamin requirements, for example, differ from the needs of adult men and adult women. Pregnant women also have special multi-vitamin needs. And as you progress in life, the recommended daily allowance for certain vitamins may also increase or decrease.

How do I find the best multi-vitamin?

When you have so many choices (and we mean many), it can get downright confusing when it comes to deciding which multi-vitamin to buy. One keyword search in the internet and you'll get millions of hits, each one a promise that it is the best multi-vitamin brand around. So how do you search for the best multi-vitamin for you?

Put your trust on reputation. There are many companies that claim too many things about their products which are often bogus. But then, there are also upstarts that operate an honest-to-goodness business. Check consumer reports or go the Better Business Bureau website and search for complaints lodged against these companies and their products.

Read the label. Don't buy a multi-vitamin product with no labels to indicate the percentage of recommended daily allowances and a list of active ingredients. The label should tell you what each pill consists of and how much of the ingredient was used. If the list of ingredients is not included, you risk taking a multi-vitamin with components that cause side effects.

If there is an ingredient you don't recognize, ask your pharmacist or do some research. Many multi-vitamin products don't just contain vitamins; they also contain herbal ingredients, some of which have unproven effects.

Look for the expiry date. The manufacturing date is also indicated on the label and can indicate that the product is good for 6 months to about 2 years. The multi-vitamin product should also come with a return policy.

How do you take your multi-vitamin?

Multi-vitamin products are commonly manufactured in tablet form. When they enter your body, they disintegrate, get absorbed and later enter the bloodstream. There are also gel capsules that release the multi-vitamins once the protective covering is dissolved. These forms are ideal for people who prefer the convenience and ease of use and storage.

Multi-vitamins can also come in powder and liquid forms and are often mixed with food and drinks. If you dislike swallowing pills or tablets, you might want to use these instead.

What are the vitamins that should go into a multi-vitamin pill?

Multi-vitamins are not necessarily complete. Some may even contain just three or five of the most important vitamins and may already be marketed as multi-vitamins. However, don't rule these out yet. If you only need certain combinations of vitamins, these can come in handy.

If you prefer multi-vitamin products that you can take regularly, go for those that contain all or most of the following vitamins:

- Antioxidants and fat-soluble vitamins such as A, C, D, E and K.

- Water-soluble vitamins such as the B group: B1, B2, B3 or niacin, B6, B12, folic acid, biotin and pantothenic acid.

What is the advantage of taking multi-vitamin products?

The first is that a multi-vitamin product is already complete. You don't need to take 5 or 10 pills in order to complete your daily dose. Second, there is no fear of overdosing on fat-soluble vitamins because they come in the appropriate amounts. And third, multi-vitamin products are convenient. They are easy to find, purchase, use and store.