Ask a Dietitian: Hope's Answers

How critical is it to take an age, gender or fitness related multivitamin?
Vitamins are nutrients which the body must obtain from either foods or the environment (such as Vitamin D from the sun). They are necessary for optimal body functioning and without them, optimal functioning is compromised, deficiency can occur, and death can result.

So, is age, gender or lifestyle related to vitamin needs?
That's an excellent question. We need the same vitamins throughout our entire lives- from birth to death. What changes is the amount that we need at each life cycle stage. These amounts are indeed related to our age and, in some cases, our gender. Our life styles do also influence how much we need in certain but not all vitamins. For instance, if a person smokes, they need more vitamin C than someone who does not smoke.

Does increased physical activity increase our vitamin needs?
Generally, as one is more active, they consume more calories (than a non-active person), so they are usually automatically obtaining increased amounts of the vitamins anyway. But, we really don't know a firm answer on exactly how much more of any of the vitamins one may need specifically due to increased activity. This is still actively being studied.

This is a long answer to say, the specialized vitamins available which brag of special weight loss properties, or heart health properties are usually quite unnecessary for the general public. The added ingredients mostly are included insufficient amounts to warrant any benefit whatsoever. You are donating your extra money spent on them to the manufacturer!! However, life cycles needs do change the amount we need, so vitamins marketed specifically for pregnancy, or infancy would be tailored to those groups and should be used.

Have a question for Hope? Contact us at 440-838-5600!

Hope Barkoukis, PhD, RD, LD
Assistant Professor, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Contributing Dietitian, Peak Performance Center

Nutrition Resources

American Dietic Association
Information, articles, and tools to eating right!

My Pyramid Tracker
USDA's personalized food log.  Graphics, pertinent information, and free!