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The value of a carefully formulated multivitamin can hardly be emphasised enough. In the medical world we often hear: "If you eat healthily, you do not need supplements!" That assumption, however, is not always correct and can have considerable consequences for public health. In January 2018, for example, RIVM published that more than 9.9 million Dutch people had one or more chronic conditions.

At Vitarium we specialise in analysing complaints and symptoms in relation to nutrients. A shortage of macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins and fats) is relatively rare (in the Netherlands), because the volume of food we eat is usually sufficient. What does fall short is the quality of what we eat! And the choice of what we eat...

It is also important to know that there are many multivitamins on the market, but that unfortunately they are not all equally effective. Many products contain low-quality synthetic ingredients (with the wrong stereoisomers), unnatural fillers, or incorrect ratios of vitamins and minerals. This can mean that the body cannot absorb these substances properly, so that you experience no health benefits. In the long term such multivitamins may even be harmful to health. As the Netherlands Nutrition Centre also points out. It makes no distinction, however, between the various qualities.
There are, however, also a few high-quality multivitamins that do contain the right bioactive forms and amounts of essential nutrients, so that your body can make optimal use of them. As a general rule here: buying cheap works out expensive.

Insufficient amounts of micronutrients (such as vitamins, minerals and other essential molecules) are more common and partly explain the high number of Dutch people with chronic disturbances of normal organ function. You could even describe this phenomenon as ‘modern malnutrition’. Also described as filling but not nourishing. A good multivitamin can make a difference here, provided it is of high quality.

The metabolic processes in our cells are complex and require a combination of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and many other active nutrients. A good-quality multivitamin supplies these biomolecules, also known as micronutrients, in bio-identical forms and in the right amounts. That way all our body cells can function optimally and a noticeable result is achieved. Only high-quality multivitamins offer this optimal combination and dosage.

A good multivitamin supports numerous processes in the body, such as energy metabolism, brain function, neurotransmitter production, the metabolism, bowel function, the liver, the thyroid, the immune system, hormones, the circulation, and the locomotor system, including bones and muscles.

More than 20 years of experience with conventional (blood) testing for micronutrients in people with widely varying health complaints shows that there is great scope for gaining health with a high-quality multivitamin. That is why it is essential to look critically at the composition and quality of the multivitamin you choose. Only then can you be sure that your body gets the support it requires.

Perhaps needless to say, I want to point out here that a multivitamin should at all times be seen as an addition to a healthy diet and is never a replacement for a varied diet.