Some of the most popular supplements come in a multivitamin which can help you avoid taking a dozen pills each day , but they can also be purchased as a standalone supplement. The simplest common denominator? Some common dietary supplements include:. Also, the products you buy in stores or online may be different from those used in studies, so studies may be misleading.

Also, federal regulations for dietary supplements are less strict than prescription drugs. Some supplements may contain ingredients not listed on the label , and these ingredients can be unsafe.

Certain products are marketed as dietary supplements and actually contain prescription drugs within them — drugs that are not allowed in dietary supplements. Read about the potential dangers of weight-loss supplements. Supplements should never be used in place of real food.

Vitamins and minerals are essential to helping your body develop and function as it should. Get information on a variety of health conditions, disease prevention, and our services and programs. It's advice from our physicians delivered to you on your time.

Sign up for the Health and Wellness Newsletter. There are 3 types of units used to measure amounts of minerals and vitamins:. Page last reviewed: 03 August Next review due: 03 August Home Health A to Z Back to Health A to Z.

Overview - Vitamins and minerals Contents Overview Vitamin A B vitamins and folic acid Vitamin C Vitamin D Vitamin E Vitamin K Calcium Iodine Iron Others. Consider changing to a non-effervescent tablet, particularly if you have been advised to reduce your salt intake. Find out about salt in your diet.

Page last reviewed: 9 October Next review due: 9 October Home Common health questions Food and diet Back to Food and diet. Do I need vitamin supplements? Folic acid supplement in pregnancy If you're pregnant, trying for a baby or could get pregnant, it's recommended that you take a microgram folic acid supplement every day until you're 12 weeks pregnant.

Vitamin D supplement From around late March or early April until the end of September, most people can get all the vitamin D they need through sunlight on their skin and from eating a balanced diet. It is recommended that: breastfed babies should be given a daily supplement containing 8.

Supplements containing vitamins A, C and D Children aged 6 months to 5 years should take vitamin supplements containing vitamins A, C and D every day.

Fizzy effervescent tablets: salt advice Effervescent vitamin supplements or effervescent painkillers can contain up to 1g of salt per tablet.

Manson, MD, DrPH 1,2 ; Shari S. Bassuk, ScD 1. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts. visual abstract icon Visual Abstract. Research Letter. Trends in Dietary Vitamin A Intake Among US Adults by Race and Ethnicity, Ting-Yuan David Cheng, PhD; Carrollyn Ferderber; Benjamin Kinder, MPH; Yu-Jung Jenny Wei, PhD.

Access through your institution. Add or change institution. Read More About Nutrition Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Download PDF Full Text Cite This Citation Manson JE , Bassuk SS. Select Your Interests Customize your JAMA Network experience by selecting one or more topics from the list below.

Overview - Vitamins and minerals Contents Overview Vitamin A B vitamins and folic acid Vitamin C Vitamin D Vitamin E Vitamin K Calcium Iodine Iron Others.

What this guide covers This guide has information about: vitamin A B vitamins and folic acid vitamin C vitamin D vitamin E vitamin K calcium iodine iron other vitamins and minerals — including beta-carotene, copper, potassium and zinc Use these links to find out what these nutrients do, how much of them you need, how to ensure you get enough, and what the risks are if you take too much.

Units There are 3 types of units used to measure amounts of minerals and vitamins: Milligrams — a milligram is 1 thousandth of a gram and is usually spelt out as mg Micrograms — a microgram is 1 millionth of a gram and is usually spelt out as μg or mcg.

International Units, which are sometimes used to measure vitamins A, D and E — and usually spelt out as IU. Vitamin A - Consumer Vitamin A - Vitamina A en español Vitamin A - Health Professional Vitamin A and immune function see Immune Function Rich sources of vitamin A include green leafy, orange, and yellow vegetables such as carrots and spinach.

B Beta-carotene see Vitamin A. Biotin - Consumer Biotin - Biotina en español Biotin - Health Professional Biotin is naturally present in some foods, such as salmon and eggs. Boron - Consumer Boron - Boro en español Boron - Health Professional Apples are a good source of boron.

Thiamin - Consumer Thiamin - Tiamina en español Thiamin - Health Professional. Vitamin B12 - Consumer Vitamin B12 - Vitamina B12 en español Vitamin B12 - Health Professional Foods from animals, but not plants, naturally have vitamin B Vitamin B6 - Consumer Vitamin B6 - Vitamina B6 en español Vitamin B6 - Health Professional Vitamin B6 is found naturally in many foods and is added to others.

C Calcium Calcium - Consumer Calcium - Calcio en español Calcium - Health Professional Calcium and Cancer Prevention: Strengths and Limits of the Evidence Source: National Cancer Institute NCI Calcium for weight loss see Weight Loss Calcium-rich foods include milk, cheese, and yogurt; vegetables like kale, broccoli, and Chinese cabbage; and canned sardines and salmon with soft bones that you eat.

Public Health Alert Concerning Dietary Supplements Containing Cesium Salts Source: U. Choline - Consumer Choline - Colina en espanol Choline - Health Professional You can get recommended amounts of choline by eating a variety of foods. Chromium - Consumer Chromium - Cromo en español Chromium - Health Professionals Chromium for weight loss see Weight Loss Chromium is a mineral found in many foods.

Copper - Consumer Cobre - Copper en español Copper - Health Professional Nuts are a rich source of copper.

Vitamin C - Consumer Vitamin C - Vitamina C en español Vitamin C - Health Professional Vitamin C and COVID see COVID Vitamin C and immune function see Immune Function Cancer: High-Dose Vitamin C patient version Source: National Cancer Institute Cancer: High-Dose Vitamin C health professional version Source: National Cancer Institute Cancer: Antioxidants Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Coenzyme Q10 Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality AHRQ Cardiovascular Disease: Antioxidants Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Coenzyme Q10 Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality AHRQ NIH COVID Treatment Guidelines on Vitamin C Source: National Institutes of Health NIH You can get enough vitamin C by eating a variety of foods including citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruit and their juices, as well as red and green pepper, kiwifruit, broccoli, strawberries, baked potatoes, and tomatoes.

D Vitamin D Vitamin D - Consumer Vitamin D - Vitamina D en español Vitamin D - Health Professional Vitamin D for weight loss see Weight Loss Vitamin D and COVID see COVID Vitamin D and immune function see Immune Function NIH COVID Treatment Guidelines on Vitamin D Source: National Institutes of Health NIH Very few foods naturally have vitamin D.

Fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel are among the best sources.