Vitamins and Supplements

Introduction

In this blog, we’ll take a look at vitamins and supplements, including why you may need or want to take them, what different forms they come in, recommended multivitamins for everyone in your family from babies to children and men and women, vitamins to take if you’re often feeling tired or have low energy levels, how to know if you’re taking too many vitamins, the best vitamins and supplements for people age 50 and over, and whether you should take your vitamins in the morning or evening.

Why might I need to take a vitamin or supplement?

For most people, a healthy, balanced diet provides enough vitamins and minerals for your body. However, some people may need to take additional vitamins or supplements to correct a deficiency, help manage a health condition, or to improve overall health. This may be especially true for people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, have food allergies, or who have a condition that affects nutrient absorption.

What different forms do vitamins and supplements come in?

Most vitamins and supplements come in tablet, powder, or liquid form. You may also find some vitamins in the form of gummies. Children often find it easiest to take a gummy or to use a powder or liquid form of a vitamin or supplement.

At the end of the day, you should choose the form of vitamin that’s the best fit for you and your family, taking into account what’s easiest for you to ingest and what you prefer in terms of taste or texture. 

What are some recommended multivitamins?

For adults, Pharmacy Prime carries a range of multivitamins, such as Sanatogen A-Z One a Day Multivitamin tablets and Centrum Advance Multivitamins & Minerals tablets. We’re also pleased to offer Diso Multi-Vitamin Dissolvable Oral Strips in cranberry flavour, which are easy to take and are highly bioavailable, which means your body gets more of what it needs from the product, faster.

Specifically for men, Pharmacy Prime carries Seven Seas Perfect7 Man Plus Multivitamin tablets. These tablets contain a blend of cod liver oil with omega-3, plus essential vitamins and minerals.

For women, we carry Seven Seas Perfect7 Woman Plus Multivitamin tablets, which contain omega-3 plus essential vitamins and minerals, and Vitabiotics Wellwoman Original capsules, which are designed to support the nutritional needs of women of all ages with a balanced blend of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.

If you are pregnant or trying to conceive, we recommend you read our blog on trying for a baby / pregnancy, which includes information on particular vitamins that may be helpful during this time period.

Specifically for children, we carry Chewy Vites Kids Multivitamin gummies, which are great-tasting, easy to chew, and contain vitamins and minerals essential to healthy development and growth.

For babies aged 4 to 12 months, Pharmacy Prime offers Vitabiotics Wellbaby Multi-Vitamin Drops. 

What vitamins should I take if I’m always tired?

If you find that you’re often tired, and your doctor has ruled out any underlying health condition, it may be helpful to take some targeted vitamins or supplements.

B vitamins are essential for boosting energy and making you feel less tired. We carry Diso Energy Oral Strips in strawberry flavour, which are packed with B vitamins 5, 6, and 12, as well as Diso B12 Oral Strips in orange mint flavour, which contain B12 and B9.

If you prefer tablets, Pharmacy Prime also carries Valupak Vitamin B Complex tablets.

It may also help you to have more energy if you take an iron supplement. Vitabiotics Feroglobin Original Capsules contain a blend of iron, folic acid, and B12 to help reduce tiredness and fatigue. Floradix Formula Liquid Iron & Vitamins offers a liquid format; it contains iron and vitamins B2, B6, B12, and C.

How do I know if I’m taking too many vitamins?

It’s certainly possible to overdo it when it comes to taking vitamins and supplements. If, for example, you’re getting too much vitamin C or zinc, you may experience nausea, diarrhoea, or stomach cramps. Too much selenium may result in hair loss, fatigue, or gastrointestinal upset. 

If you’re unsure about if you’re taking too many vitamins or supplements, it’s best to check the dose and ensure that, with everything combined including your food intake, you aren’t exceeding the daily recommended amounts of any one vitamin. You should also speak with your doctor to ensure you’re taking the proper vitamins and minerals in the correct doses.

What vitamins are best for people over 50?

People over the age of 50 may need more of some vitamins and minerals than younger people do. Your doctor will best be able to recommend what you should consider adding to your individual regimen, but, in general, here are some vitamins and supplements that older people often need to take:

• Calcium - This works with vitamin D to help keep your bones strong, which can be an issue in older people, especially women. We carry Calcichew D3 Forte chewable tablets, which contain both calcium and vitamin D.

• Vitamin D - Many people are not getting adequate amounts of vitamin D. This is important in part because of how it interacts with calcium to ensure your bones remain healthy and strong. We carry Vitabiotics Ultra Vitamin D 1000 UI as well as Vitabiotics Ultra Vitamin D 2000 IU Extra Strength tablets. Additionally, we carry Pro D3 800 IU capsules, which are vegetarian and halal approved.

• Vitamin B6 - This vitamin helps form haemoglobin, the substance in red blood cells which is important because it carries oxygen from the lungs throughout your body.

• Vitamin B12 - This vitamin helps keep red blood cells and nerves healthy. Sometimes older people’s bodies have issues absorbing enough of this vitamin from food sources alone. Vegetarians and vegans are especially at risk of this, as natural food sources of vitamin B12 are all animal products.

We are pleased to offer Valupak Vitamin B Complex tablets, as well as Diso Energy Oral Strips in strawberry flavour, which are packed with B vitamins 5, 6, and 12, and Diso B12 Oral Strips in orange mint flavour, which contain B12 and B9.

Specifically for mature and older women, we carry Vitabiotics Wellwoman 50+ tablets, which are specifically designed for women aged 50 and above, and Vitabiotics Menopace tablets, which support overall women’s health during and after menopause.

Should I take vitamins in the morning or at night?

Vitamins are usually best taken in the morning with a meal, which will help to ease absorption. However, the most important thing is to take them regularly as part of a routine–for some people this may be easier to do later in the day, which is fine. Find what works best for you.

Summary

In conclusion, some people may find it necessary or beneficial to take additional vitamins and supplements, even if they are keeping to a healthy and varied diet. Whilst you should always speak to your doctor before adding a new vitamin or supplement to your regimen, we carry a range of multivitamins that are suitable for everyone in your household. We also carry different targeted vitamins and supplements to help address different gaps in your diet or issues you may be facing, such as fatigue. People aged 50 and older may have different needs from younger adults, and there are special products aimed at keeping this population healthy.