How much vitamin supplements do I need?

Maybe the question should really be, "Do I need to be taking multivitamins?" What did people do before they discovered how to manufacture them and tell us our food is famished?

I don't know, but I read about iron overload in middle-aged women. Aren't we better off using all-natural vitamin sources?

Also, in a June 2004 article (a Scandinavian publication), it was pointed out that only groups of people who have nutritional risks need to take vitamin and minerals supplements.

Who are these "at risk" people?

Women of child-bearing age and those who eat "very little or have an unbalanced diet." So that includes (maybe) all of us on a Western-type diet. Of course, we re-define "balanced." Just look what is common on the American breakfast table. For many, it is either coffee, lots of sugary stuff (like donuts, muffins, pancakes, and pretty artistic cereal).

And the calorie intake! Wheeew! That's why we've become more than 65% overweight. Doesn't sount like the result of a balanced diet to me.

So you might be in the "at risk" group. You might need to take vitamin supplements. But what the scientists are saying is this...

Except you eat poorly or you are a woman of fertile age, you just need to eat right. "The largest health potential lies in a healthy diet."

References:
Meltzer H. M., Haugen M., Alexander J., Pedersen J. I. (2004). Vitamin and minerals supplements--required for good health? Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2004 Jun 17;124(12):1646-9.