Expert Q&A for How to Choose Vitamin Supplements

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What supplements can help with sleep?

David Nazarian, MD
Diplomate, American Board of Internal Medicine
Dr. David Nazarian is a board certified Internal Medicine Physician and the Owner of My Concierge MD, a medical practice in Beverly Hills California, specializing in concierge medicine, executive health and integrative medicine. Dr. Nazarian specializes in comprehensive physical examinations, IV Vitamin therapies, hormone replacement therapy, weight loss, platelet rich plasma therapies. He has over 16 years of medical training and facilitation and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine. He completed his B.S. in Psychology and Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles, his M.D. from the Sackler School of Medicine, and a residency at Huntington Memorial Hospital, an affiliate of the University of Southern California.

David Nazarian, MD

Diplomate, American Board of Internal Medicine

Expert Answer

There are many supplements that aid with sleep. Melatonin is the most recommended sleep supplement. It's natural and produced in the body. Other natural supplements include magnesium, vitamin B-6, and herbal remedies such as Valerian root. Vitamin D deficiency is also linked to insomnia and difficulty sleeping. If you have a vitamin D deficiency, boosting your levels with either prescription vitamin D prescribed by your doctor or vitamin D supplementation can greatly improve your levels and thus improve your sleep.

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What supplements can help strengthen your heart?

David Nazarian, MD
Diplomate, American Board of Internal Medicine
Dr. David Nazarian is a board certified Internal Medicine Physician and the Owner of My Concierge MD, a medical practice in Beverly Hills California, specializing in concierge medicine, executive health and integrative medicine. Dr. Nazarian specializes in comprehensive physical examinations, IV Vitamin therapies, hormone replacement therapy, weight loss, platelet rich plasma therapies. He has over 16 years of medical training and facilitation and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine. He completed his B.S. in Psychology and Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles, his M.D. from the Sackler School of Medicine, and a residency at Huntington Memorial Hospital, an affiliate of the University of Southern California.

David Nazarian, MD

Diplomate, American Board of Internal Medicine

Expert Answer

Multivitamins and minerals can help to lower the risk of heart disease. Coenzyme Q10, Omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, and L-Carnitine all help heart health. Making sure your blood pressure and blood sugars are controlled in addition to maintaining a healthy weight all contribute to heart health.

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Question

Is it better to get nutrients from food or supplements?

Dee Dine
Nutrition & Vegan Food Specialist
Dee Dine is a Nutrition and Vegan Food Specialist and the founder of Green Smoothie Gourmet, a blog dedicated to healthy, plant-based vegan, limited ingredient recipes. Dee holds a BS in Biology/Biochemistry with an emphasis in Immunology. Dee has written two books full of healthy plant-based recipes, including chocolate desserts, snacks, juices and, wellness shots. They are: "Crazy Healthy with 4 Ingredients: Dessert, Breakfast & Snack Vegan Recipes" and "4-Ingredient Smoothies and Juices: 100 Easy Nutritious Recipes for Lifelong Health". Dee is an editor with TheFeedFeed, a crowdsourced digital cooking publication, and has been featured on BuzzFeed, Marie Claire, the Academy of Culinary Nutrition, Well + Good, and Hello Glow.

Dee Dine

Nutrition & Vegan Food Specialist

Expert Answer

Food is always the best way to take in nutrients. However, dietary supplements—usually vitamins and minerals available in capsule or powder form—are useful to fill in gaps. This can be when you aren't eating foods that cover all the nutrients you need or when you need to enhance your health in a certain area.

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Question

Which type of vitamin supplements do I need?

Dee Dine
Nutrition & Vegan Food Specialist
Dee Dine is a Nutrition and Vegan Food Specialist and the founder of Green Smoothie Gourmet, a blog dedicated to healthy, plant-based vegan, limited ingredient recipes. Dee holds a BS in Biology/Biochemistry with an emphasis in Immunology. Dee has written two books full of healthy plant-based recipes, including chocolate desserts, snacks, juices and, wellness shots. They are: "Crazy Healthy with 4 Ingredients: Dessert, Breakfast & Snack Vegan Recipes" and "4-Ingredient Smoothies and Juices: 100 Easy Nutritious Recipes for Lifelong Health". Dee is an editor with TheFeedFeed, a crowdsourced digital cooking publication, and has been featured on BuzzFeed, Marie Claire, the Academy of Culinary Nutrition, Well + Good, and Hello Glow.

Dee Dine

Nutrition & Vegan Food Specialist

Expert Answer

It depends on your diet and what aspects of your health you need to enhance. For example, vitamin C and vitamin D boost your body's immunity. Fish oil supports the heart. Vitamin B12 supports nerve and blood cells, and is a popular supplement for people who don't eat meat and dairy since meat and dairy are the primary food sources of vitamin B12.

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What is the difference between vitamins and food supplements?

Claudia Carberry, RD, MS
Registered Dietitian
Claudia Carberry is a Registered Dietitian based in Little Rock, Arkansas. Claudia specializes in kidney transplants and counseling patients for weight loss. She works at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences center, and has been working there since 2015. Before her current role, she worked as a Clinical Nutrition Manager at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. She is a member of the Arkansas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Claudia received her MS in Nutrition from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she completed her 1200 hour dietetic internship. She received a BS in Nutrition Sciences from Southeast Missouri State University.

Claudia Carberry, RD, MS

Registered Dietitian

Expert Answer

Whole food vitamins are derived from whole foods. In many cases, increasing foods that are high in nutrients may be as effective as taking a vitamin.

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Question

Do vitamin pills really work?

Claudia Carberry, RD, MS
Registered Dietitian
Claudia Carberry is a Registered Dietitian based in Little Rock, Arkansas. Claudia specializes in kidney transplants and counseling patients for weight loss. She works at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences center, and has been working there since 2015. Before her current role, she worked as a Clinical Nutrition Manager at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. She is a member of the Arkansas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Claudia received her MS in Nutrition from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she completed her 1200 hour dietetic internship. She received a BS in Nutrition Sciences from Southeast Missouri State University.

Claudia Carberry, RD, MS

Registered Dietitian

Expert Answer

If you are deficient in a specific vitamin, then taking a vitamin pill will fix the problem.

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Question

What should a good multivitamin have?

Claudia Carberry, RD, MS
Registered Dietitian
Claudia Carberry is a Registered Dietitian based in Little Rock, Arkansas. Claudia specializes in kidney transplants and counseling patients for weight loss. She works at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences center, and has been working there since 2015. Before her current role, she worked as a Clinical Nutrition Manager at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. She is a member of the Arkansas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Claudia received her MS in Nutrition from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she completed her 1200 hour dietetic internship. She received a BS in Nutrition Sciences from Southeast Missouri State University.

Claudia Carberry, RD, MS

Registered Dietitian

Expert Answer

Everyone is different - vitamin requirements change with age and may be different between men and women. Talk to your doctor about what you may be deficient in and base your choice around that.

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Question

What vitamins can I take to get pregnant?

Claudia Carberry, RD, MS
Registered Dietitian
Claudia Carberry is a Registered Dietitian based in Little Rock, Arkansas. Claudia specializes in kidney transplants and counseling patients for weight loss. She works at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences center, and has been working there since 2015. Before her current role, she worked as a Clinical Nutrition Manager at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. She is a member of the Arkansas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Claudia received her MS in Nutrition from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she completed her 1200 hour dietetic internship. She received a BS in Nutrition Sciences from Southeast Missouri State University.

Claudia Carberry, RD, MS

Registered Dietitian

Expert Answer

There are no vitamins that will make you conceive. However, if you are trying to get pregnant you should be taking a prenatal vitamin that includes folic acid.

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