Dietitians of Canada

Vitamin and mineral supplementation

Background

Vitamin and mineral supplements are needed at certain stages of the lifecycle to promote good health. For example, Canada’s Food Guide recommends that:

• Women who could become pregnant need a daily multivitamin with folic acid
• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding need a daily multivitamin with folic acid
• Men and women over 50 need a daily vitamin D supplement of at least 400 IU

More is not always better! Some vitamins, when taken in large amounts can do more harm than good. For example, too much vitamin E or folic acid could cause harm. A registered dietitian can assess your usual food intake and see if supplements are needed.

Position

• Vitamin/mineral supplements are not a replacement for a healthy eating plan based on Canada’s Food Guide.
• Supplements are needed to support good health at certain stages of the lifecycle.
• Nutrient intakes at or below the upper safety levels will not pose a risk to healthy people.
• Recent studies have shown that some vitamins and minerals taken in higher doses can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Vitamin D to help prevent osteoporosis is one example.
• Other recent studies show harm with high doses of vitamins or minerals. For example, folic acid and vitamin E show both benefit and harm.
• Further research is needed to confirm a benefit of intakes above recommended daily amounts for most vitamins and minerals.
• Consult with your doctor or a registered dietitian before using vitamin/mineral supplements above recommended levels.

Actions

• In 2008, dietitian researchers were granted funding to study the benefits and risks of vitamin and mineral supplements.*
  Learn more
• Based on the research findings on benefits and risks of vitamin and mineral supplements, DC is working with researchers at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon to develop and interactive tool to assist consumers to select a vitamin/mineral supplement that will support their health goals.
• DC endorsed the July 2010 Osteoporosis Canada guidelines for vitamin D supplements

* Funding granted from the Canadian Foundation for Dietetic Research