That's a lot to get from a multivitamin. The body is constantly rebuilding and renewing itself, and these three vitamins are critical parts of a cycle that constantly produces new building blocks. If the cycle isn't operating efficiently, a byproduct called homocysteine can build up, and people with higher levels of homocysteine have a higher risk of heart disease and strokes. Taking a multivitamin with these B vitamins reduces homocysteine levels and may reduce your risk of heart disease. As we get older, the immune function becomes less efficient.
People get sick more often, and sickness lasts longer.
Experts in nutrition and immune function say that several vitamins and minerals can help older people resist disease the way they did when they were younger. That's a lot of calcium. Milk has about 300 milligrams of calcium per cup, but most people don't drink 3 or 4 cups of milk a day. A calcium supplement provides a quick and easy way to get about 500 mg per tablet or capsule. Many calcium supplements also include vitamin D, which improves calcium absorption.