Pros and Cons of The Multivitamins Use - Essay Example

The tiring schedule of the modern world demands much energy and consistency from human body. Thus it becomes vital to receive the optimal levels of vitamins that the body needs so as to keep up with the energy expenditure requirements and also the well being of the body. The major count of the nutrient requirement of the body is met through the food intake. However, there are number of factors which influence the optimal utilization of energy from the food taken in. The physical and specific health related factors can influence the amount of nutrients received from food. The lack of quality in food can also cause limitations in the nutrient supply. If the body is deprived of the essential nutrients, it may lead to serious health problems. Multivitamins are used as an alternative nutrient source to supplement the energy needs of the body. They can be instrumental to support the body with the essential energy supply. Multivitamins are available in the market in different forms including capsules, tablets and nutrients. There had been continued research on the effects of multivitamin supplements on the body. Scientifically done researches have confirmed both the advantages and the disadvantages that the multivitamins can have on health. Several clinical experiments have confirmed the observations made by such researchers. The implications that multivitamins have in the clinical science is quite critical. The role that this supplementary source of energy can have in getting a person back to a state of physical well being and the subsequent maintenance of that state is quite important. However, it has also been noted that there are a number of disadvantages in association with multivitamins. Continued use of these has been reported to cause health problems. The objective of this essay is to critically evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of multivitamins. A number of scientifically and medically relevant literatures would be referred to support the objectives of the essay. Advantages The primary advantage of multivitamins is that is the easiest way to incorporate supplementary nutrients into the body system. This must be considered along with the fact that mere consumption of lump sum of food will not ensure appropriate nutritive requirements of the body. More specifically speaking people who use to have appropriate quantum of food can also have slight deficiencies in the nutrition levels. However, these minor deficiencies can lead to heath issues. The most common symptoms of such nutrient deficiencies are memory loss, sleep disorders and lack of energy and enthusiasm. Multivitamins serve as the ideal source to fill the gap in the nutrient requirements of the body. In this context it can be stated that multivitamins help to improve life and the process of well being. Thus it relates to the sociological and psychological well being as well. Sullivan; Ford; Azrak & Mokdad (2009, 384-90) conducted a behavioral risk factor surveillance system which investigated the specific characteristics associated with pregnant women who used multivitamins. The study concluded that there were significantly relevant differences in the sociological approach of women who used multivitamins with regard to socioeconomic factors including income, age, education level, desire for a child in the near future, physical activity, , race/ethnicity cigarette smoking status and body mass index Sullivan; Ford; Azrak & Mokdad (2009, 384-90). Thus it can be confirmed that though indirect, multivitamins improves the socioeconomic attributes of people. The role of multivitamins especially, folic acid has been proved clinically all through the years. Forster; Wills; Denning & Bolger (2009, 134-46) confirmed the importance of folic acid in both pre-pregnancy period and in the pregnancy period. The results of the study indicated an alarming statistics on low uptake rate of folic acid in women in pre-pregnancy period. It was indicated that on an average, pregnant women used 0.4 to 0.5 mg of folate per day (Forster; Wills; Denning & Bolger 2009, 134-46). This very much avers the importance of folic acid based multivitamins in the pregnancy period. On the other side the results also urged the need for developing awareness among women in the pre-pregnancy stage on the importance of consuming folic acid based multivitamins (Forster; Wills; Denning & Bolger 2009, 134-46). A very similar study in the Brazilian context done by Wehby; Castilla; Lopez-Camelo & Murray (2009, 78-87) has suggested generically the same results. There are ample evidences on the role of multivitamins as a clinical intervention for disease and disorders. Czeizel (2009, 260-268) has confirmed the role of supplementation with folic acids and other multivitamins in Periconceptional stage for the prevention of neural tube defects and other congenital abnormalities. It was concluded that multivitamin supplementation can be instrumental in the primary prevention of severe congenital abnormalities (Czeizel 2009, 260-268) One another key advantage of multivitamins in clinical intervention is the cost effectiveness and the balance with the benefit. Czeizel (2009, 260-268) has opined multivitamin supplementation as an effective tool in terms of cost- benefit balance in the prevention of congenital abnormalities. Another added advantage is that the supplementation of multivitamin is neutral to the patient environment including lifestyles, genetics and age. A study by Tian; Ong & Tan (2009, 165-172) has observed the extensive use of multivitamins among the university athletes in Singapore. This confirms the role of the same in serving as an additional energy source. However, an increased awareness on the utility of multivitamins and their optimal use was urged by the authors Tian; Ong & Tan (2009, 165-172). Disadvantages As with the case of other medications, multivitamins also have disadvantages in relation with its uptake. The consideration of the safety margins of multivitamins are often taken lightly. There must be serious reference to the severity and number of side effects involved while implementing any supplementation package. With the case of the side effects associated with multivitamins, most of it is caused due to inappropriate timing of consumption and over dosage. The side effects range from upset stomach, constipation, diarrhea, flushing, poor sleep, dizziness, headache etc. Multivitamins cannot be considered as a substitute for balanced diet. It must be used only incases of acute and specific deficiencies of vitamins and minerals. These cases occur in bed ridden stages where the patient has no option for other sources of energy. The ideal utilization of the conventional medicines and other herbal and nutritional products demand ample amount of energy expenditure by the body. This is because so as for the necessary elements within the medicines to be converted to usable form by the body, it needs disintegration into the required form. This breaking up process would cause high amount of energy, which would be crucial for an already ailing body. This would resultantly, reduce the efficacy of the medicine ultimately affecting the remedial capacity (Rite Care, 2009). Moreover this can cause long term heath impacts on the body. This can result in overburdening of the body, hypersensitivity, toxicity and other physiological complications. Regular intake of certain multivitamin tablets can shorten the life span instead of extending it. The various constituents of these multivitamins can prove unhealthy. For instance the fillers like artificial colours, sugar, Aluminum etc used in the pills are harmful to the body. Zhang; Coogan; Palmer; Strom & Rosenberg (2009, 691-698) has confirmed that long term use of Zinc through multivitamins and also the singular uptake of the same can double the risk of prostrate cancer. Satia ;Littman; Slatore; Galanko; White (2009, 815-828) has included that continuous use of beta-carotene, retinol, lycopene, and lutein supplements and other multivitamins can cause lung cancer risk. It is surprising to note that over dose of Vitamin C can create serious health problems. Excessive intake of Vitamin C can lead to renal stone formation which in turn results in renal failure if not properly managed. Vitamin C in excess amount can acidify our body fluid and thus acidosis; a condition in which body is dehydrated. Over use of Iron results in iron toxicity or iron poisoning and is responsible for a fibrotic situation of liver called Hemochromatosis. High dose of metal nutrients lead to organ failure in long run. Multivitamins often contains Potassium as one of the impotent constituent. The excess intake of the element results in a condition called Hyperkalemia which leads to heart failure even in normal people. Abuse of Calcium is a major cause for the formation of renal stones any where in the renal system The health condition of the patient is also significant. If a person is allergic to certain micronutrients the multivitamins rich in them must be carefully avoided. Multivitamins are loaded with Vitamin B which enhances the energy levels of the body. So the intake of multivitamins at night can lead to poor sleep. It is advised to take these tablets along with breakfast so that one can remain energetic the entire day. A multivitamin is highly loaded with vitamins which require large amount of water for its digestion and absorption. If taken in empty stomach multivitamin pills can cause constipation or diarrhea. In totality, the most important point to be taken care in the use of multivitamins is that it must be restricted to optimal levels. Proper medical guidance must be taken so as to maximize the benefits of the uptake while minimizing the disadvantages. If multivitamins are consumed with regard to all the scientific aspects of medication and human physiology, it can act as a real intervention in the clinical applications. On the other side the indiscriminate and inappropriate use of the same can cause serious health impacts. Refrences Czeizel, Andrew E , 2009, ‘Periconceptional folic acid and multivitamin supplementation for the prevention of neural tube defects and other congenital abnormalities’, Clinical And Molecular Teratology , Vol.85, No.4, 260-268 Forster, Della A; Wills, Gemma; Denning, Angela; Bolger, Melissa , 2009, ‘The use of folic acid and other vitamins before and during pregnancy in a group of women in Melbourne, Australia’ Midwifery, Vol.25, No.2, 134-46. Rite Care (2009), About Homeopathy & Homeopathic Medicine, Retrieved May 20, 2009, from http://www.ritecare.com/homeopathic/guide_general.asp Satia, Jessie A; Littman, Alyson; Slatore, Christopher G; Galanko, Joseph A; White, Emily , 2009, ‘Long-term use of beta-carotene, retinol, lycopene, and lutein supplements and lung cancer risk: results from the VITamins And Lifestyle (VITAL) study’, American journal of epidemiology , Vol. 169, No.7, 815-828 Sullivan, Kevin M; Ford, Earl S; Azrak, M Fuad; Mokdad, Ali, 2009, ‘Multivitamin use in pregnant and nonpregnant women: results from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System’, Public health reports, Vol.124, No.3,384-90 Tian, H H; Ong, W S; Tan, C L , 2009, ‘Nutritional supplement use among university athletes in Singapore’, Singapore medical journal, Vol.50, No.2, pp.165-172 Zhang, Yuqing; Coogan, Patricia; Palmer, Julie R; Strom, Brian L; Rosenberg, Lynn , 2009, ‘Vitamin and mineral use and risk of prostate cancer: the case-control surveillance study’, Vol.20, No.5, 691-698 Read More