Some groups of people may require vitamin supplements, for example:
- Vegetarians and vegans who do not eat animal products, are at a higher risk for vitamin B12 deficiency.
- Smokers requires up to twice as much Vitamin C as non-smokers.
- Women of childbearing age may need a daily intake of 400mg of folate for a month before conception and for the first three months of pregnancy. Folate deficient pregnant women are at a higher risk for having babies with neural tube defects.
- Individuals on very low fat diets are at risk of fat soluble vitamin deficiencies (vitamins A, D, E, K).
- People with malabsorption problems, on restrictive diets or recovering from serious illness may benefit from supplement intake.
