Vitamins & Supplements
Staying healthy and supporting your body from the inside out is vital, and a daily vitamin or supplement could help you do just that.
Popular Vitamins & Supplements
Do vitamin supplements work?
Vitamin supplements can work to support your diet in giving your body the nutrients it needs every day.
Although they should never be seen as a replacement for a balanced diet that’s rich in vitamins, minerals, and all that other good stuff, they can be a good backup if you find that your diet falls a bit short.
Your body needs all these nutrients to work at its best, so making sure that you’re getting them every single day with a multivitamin could be an ideal choice for you.
Different types of supplements can be more beneficial to different people, so you’ll need to think about your own specific needs and maybe even consult your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Featured Vitamins
Frequently Asked Questions
What vitamin supplements should I take?
The vitamin supplements that you will need to take will depend on your circumstances.
Although supplements should never be used in place of a healthy, balanced diet, they can support you if you’ve realised you’re lacking in certain nutrients and you’re working on making positive changes to your diet.
There are also some vitamins that the NHS recommend for certain people — for example, the NHS recommends that you take a vitamin D supplement during the winter months when the weather is less sunny.
Another recommendation is folic acid for women who are trying to get pregnant or are in the first months of pregnancy.
How much vitamin D should I take?
The NHS recommends that everyone over the age of 4 should take 10 microgram vitamin D supplements during autumn and winter.
This is because we usually get vitamin D from sunlight hitting our skin and when the lovely British weather kicks in in the colder months it can be harder for us to catch those rays.
Although you can get vitamin D from your diet, it’s not the easiest vitamin to get enough of, which is why daily supplements step in to help.
If you’re someone who isn’t exposed to a lot of sunlight in general, you can take a vitamin D supplement all year round to help keep your levels up.
Can vitamin supplements cause acne?
Vitamin supplements don’t cause acne.
Acne is a skin condition caused by hormonal changes in your body, like those during your period or when you’re pregnant.
Although some vitamins can help to support healthy skin, they don’t affect your hormones, so they shouldn’t affect your acne.
If you have acne and have found that normal skincare routines haven’t helped, we recommend speaking to your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
They could recommend a treatment like benzoyl peroxide that can help to ease moderate to severe breakouts.
Can you overdose on vitamins and supplements?
Yes, you can overdose on vitamins and supplements, so it’s important to take care with the supplements you’re taking.
You should not take more than one multivitamin a day.
These products will often contain the same vitamins and this can lead to you accidentally taking too much.
If you’re taking a multivitamin, you should also be very careful if you’re taking any separate singular supplements, such as a vitamin d supplement — you could end up taking too much if these overlap.
You can find out which vitamins and minerals are in your supplements by checking the nutritional values table on the packaging, so make sure you’re never doubling up on any nutrients.
If you have any concerns, make sure to speak to your doctor or pharmacist, just in case.
Can vitamin supplements cause stomach pain or diarrhoea?
Vitamin supplements usually won’t cause stomach problems like pain, nausea, or diarrhoea.
However, it’s important to note that supplements can have side effects sometimes, and stomach issues can be some of these.
This can happen if you’re sensitive or allergic to any of the ingredients in your supplement or simply because the supplement isn't right for you.
If you experience any side effects after taking a vitamin or supplement, you should speak to your doctor or pharmacist right away and ask for their advice.
Do babies need vitamin supplements?
Yes, the NHS recommends that all breastfed babies should take a vitamin D supplement every day from the day they’re born.
Formula-fed babies may need to take these too, but some formulas are already fortified with vitamin D, so make sure to consult with your healthcare team about this if your baby is taking formula.
After six months old, your baby should start taking supplements of vitamins A, C, and D, this will continue until they turn five.
Again, remember to consult your healthcare team if your baby is formula-fed.
Prescription Strength Vitamins
Vitamin D deficiencies can be common in the UK, especially during the colder months.
This is because our bodies create vitamin D when sunlight hits our skin, and our gloomy British weather can leave us struggling to get enough sun.
Usually, taking a daily vitamin D supplement will give you as much of the nutrient as you need, but in some cases, a deficiency can need a stronger solution.
This is why high-strength vitamin D supplements are prescribed, as they can help bring your vitamin levels back up to where they need to be, tackling your deficiency directly.
Our prescribers can provide high dose vitamin D to those who need it after a short online consultation.
Today’s Responsible Prescriber
