Multi's and Bodybuilding

Vitamins and Minerals are found in many of the foods you regularly eat. But, it can be hard to make sure you are getting all the necessary vitamins in the right amounts. This can be a particular challenge for bodybuilders trying to build muscle. A deficiency of these nutrients can impede the growth of new muscle.

Multivitamin Content

Multivitamins contain both vitamins and minerals in varying combinations. Most of the vitamins found in a multivitamin are present in quantities that meet or come close to the daily recommended intake for these nutrients. A wide variety of vitamins and minerals are mixed into these individual pills to provide your body with as many of its necessary nutrients as possible.

Vitamins and Minerals Function

Vitamins and minerals are used by the body to perform thousands of metabolic reactions and processes that occur every day, according to Bodybuilding.com. Developing a deficiency in any of these creates a breakdown of the metabolic pathway that converts nutrients into useful compounds for the body. This makes it harder for your body to efficiently take in proteins and carbohydrates and put them toward new muscle synthesis. Taking a multivitamin helps to ensure that these nutrients are present in the body.

Variance

Many multivitamins are put together to cater to a specific type of person. For example, prenatal vitamins use different combinations of vitamins and minerals to meet the specific needs of expecting mothers. Children's vitamins, men's and women's vitamins, and vitamins for the elderly are also available, as well as vitamins catering to the nutritional needs of athletes. Depending on your circumstances, you may find one of these vitamins more suitable to improving your body's ability to gain muscle mass.

Use

When taking a multivitamin, always follow the dosing guidelines on the product's packaging. Most multivitamins recommend you take one or two pills per day. Exceeding this dosing recommendation can lead to overconsumption of certain vitamins or minerals, which may cause unwanted side effects and discomfort. Additionally, some multivitamins may use recipes that can upset the stomach. If you experience this with a given multivitamin, try a different brand until you find one that works well for your stomach.