Do Vitamin Supplements Work? Only if You're Taking Them Properly

Preventative health strategies such as vitamin supplementation have seen a massive surge in popularity over the last year, due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has seen people become increasingly concerned with strengthening their immune system and improving their overall mental wellbeing.

However, do vitamin supplements work? And if so, what supplements should you be taking to get the best health benefits?

Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about vitamin supplementation, including the answer to some key questions, such as: what happens if you miss a pill, how long does it take for supplements to take effect, and most importantly, are multivitamins actually worth it?

Plus, find out a simple way to remember to take your vitamins and any other tablets you need each day without fail.

Why should I take vitamin supplements?

If you are still on the fence when it comes to vitamin supplementation, then it can be a good idea to learn a bit more about what they are, how they can improve your health, and how often you should take them.

Currently, multivitamins and multi-minerals are the most popular supplements in the UK, owing to their ‘all-in-one’ approach to supplementation. It’s easy to see the appeal, with most brands promising to improve your health, compensate for poor eating habits, and even in many cases reduce your risk of developing chronic diseases such as cancer, COPD, heart disease, and diabetes.

Should I take a multivitamin every day?

Although health professionals state that you should be able to get all the vitamins and minerals you need from your diet, the reality is that in a world commonly ruled by cost and convenience, most people don’t, which is where daily supplementation can be beneficial.

However, which supplements will actively improve your health when taken daily?

According to the experts, the below supplements are, for many people, worth taking each day:

• Multivitamins
• Fish oil
• Magnesium
• Vitamin D3
• Probiotics
• Vitamin B12 if you are following a vegan diet
• Folic acid if you are pregnant

Since the emergence of the global pandemic, there has also been a huge rise in people seeking out vitamins good for the immune system, with major health authorities such as the NHS suggesting that adults take a vitamin D supplement during the autumn and winter, when the sun is not strong enough for your body to make enough of this vitamin itself.

Are hair, skin and nail supplements worth it?

Hair, skin and nail supplements are extremely popular, promising to make your hair and nails grow faster and your skin glow. Usually containing a combination of biotin, fish oil and vitamins A, C, and E, 

these high-performing ingredients work together to provide the nutrients your body needs for healthy cell regeneration and collagen production.

The evidence suggests that these supplements will only make a significant difference to your appearance or your health if you are actually lacking in the supplement’s ingredients. However, low levels of the nutrients responsible for healthy hair, skin, and nails can result in hair loss, dry and brittle nails, and rough, scaly skin patches, amongst other unpleasant symptoms, so regular supplementation can ensure that if you’re not getting enough of them from your diet, you are still providing your body with a potentially crucial secondary source of these vital nutrients.  

How long does it take for supplements to take effect?

There are several factors affecting how long a supplement takes to start working, including:

• The severity of your deficiency
• The dosage you are taking
• Your personal absorption rate
• The quality of the supplement
• How regularly you are taking the supplement
• The cause of your deficiency
• Your overall lifestyle and habits

However as a general rule, you should expect to begin seeing results within 3 months of taking a supplement, so long as you are keeping strictly to your dosage schedule.

What happens if I miss a pill?

You may think that a missed vitamin dose here and there will not have much effect on your overall health, but you should know that every vitamin has its own recommended dosage, and if you want to see optimal results, you will need to follow the guidance on each supplement.

This is particularly true when it comes to hair, skin, and nail supplements, as these are all responsible for fuelling fast-growing cells within your body, which need a constant and consistent supply of nutrients to be able to thrive.

Furthermore, taking a random assortment of vitamins and minerals or relying on brands recommended by family or friends is not the most beneficial way to improve your overall physical health and mental wellbeing. Instead, it’s important to focus on finding out what you are deficient in personally, and then picking your supplements accordingly.

How can I remember to take vitamins every day?

Daily life is hectic, and although it may seem like a small task, forgetting your daily tablet or multivitamin is a problem for many. Fortunately, there are several products which can help you remember to take your vitamins, as well as to manage them more effectively.

One of these products is our highly popular bamboo pill box, an environmentally-friendly medication organiser which can help you remember to take your vitamins every day, as well as contribute to the overall wellbeing of the planet. Super simple to use and highly attractive in its design, it’s not hard to see why this FSC-certified eco-friendly pill box is one of our best-selling products.

For those who need a bit more of a purposeful and persistent reminder to take their vitamins, a medication alarm such as the TabTime Pill Alarm Reminder is the ideal solution. Providing up to 8 alarms per day, this is a great choice if you have multiple medications or supplements to manage.

If you need further help with managing your vitamin supplements, or have a question about any of our products, please do not hesitate to get in touch with one of our knowledgeable and friendly team today.