It's been said for many years now that using a multivitamin daily can help you live longer. Is that true?

In a recent study researchers in Denmark and other European countries, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, argue that taking vitamins can actually help people live longer.

Are multivitamins safe?

The vitamins are recommended for years because they help to get key nutrients if your diet is low in fruits and vegetables - and may help prevent cancer and heart disease. Specialists of vitamins at Tufts University and the Linus Pauling Institute at the University of Oregon argue that multivitamins are not dangerous. The best option is to prefer familiar names and check whether the product is approved by the EMEA. Watch out for "notified" products. This means that they have been known to EOF, but not yet approved and therefore are not necessarily safe.

How do I find which are the right multivitamin for me?

• When you are of childbearing age, make sure that your multivitamin contains 300 micrograms (mcg) folic acid, which helps build and maintain new cells.
• Pregnant women should also get a vitamin with 600 mcg folic acid daily. This nutrient also reduces the likelihood of neural tube defects such as spina bifida.
• Women before menopause have to take multivitamin with iron to replace the iron lost during menstruation.
• The menopausal women should avoid iron. "But beware: too much iron increases the risk of heart disease," says Mayr Stampfer, Ph.D., Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology, School of Public Health at Harvard.
• If taking medication, speak to your doctor about the possibility of dangerous interactions (vitamin E, for example, is a problem if you take blood thinners).
• If you suffer from some form of cancer, you should ask your doctor about the risks before taking vitamins. Cancer cells need vitamins to grow. In addition, some may interfere with chemotherapy.

What is the best way to avoid feeling sick after taking multivitamin?

Think about whether you need to change brand. The test is the best way to see what brand is bad for your stomach, leading to irritation. Also, make sure to take your multivitamin with food because your body needs fat (or lipids) to absorb some vitamins. The download method (pill, liquid, chewable tablet) made no difference.

How much of each vitamin should my multi-vitamin contain?

The numbers of quantities per serving on the label should match the Recommended Daily Amount (RDA). No problem if it is higher, provided they do not exceed the tolerable limit (UL). While most vitamins are listed in milligram (mg) or micrograms (mcg), the label can be used in IU (international units) of vitamins A, D and E. The RDA for vitamin A is 2.300 IU, of vitamin D and 200 IU vitamin E, 22 E. What does the column% of the daily nutritional value? Better to be careful with it: the numbers have not been updated since 1968!