We believe in a high quality supplement that needs to stay as clean as possible without the unnecessary fillers and binders. Having formulations in our vegan friendly vegetable cellulose capsules enables us to minimise oxidation and optimise absorption. Capsules are more often odourless and tasteless. They are gentler on the stomach as opposed to tablets, and present the option of separating the two halves and adding the content to water or juice to suit those that struggle with swallowing them whole.

As a manufacturer and supplier of vitamin and mineral supplements, all of our supplements are manufactured in the TURKIYE, in the heart of Istanbul, European Side

All of our ingredients are derived from non-GMO sources. As we manufacture all of our own products, we are able to monitor all the ingredients used within our supplements, which ensures that we can guarantee what is in each and every supplement formula.

Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients that the body needs in very small amounts to work properly.  Most of them cannot be manufactured by the body and need to come from the food we eat.

As well as vitamins and minerals, food supplements may also contain other ingredients such as herbs, amino acids, amino sugars, enzymes and essential fatty acids.

Particular nutrients perform one or more specific functions within the body.  For example, calcium and vitamin D work together to build strong bones and teeth; vitamin D also supports our immune functions and calcium is involved in the transmission of nerve impulses.  Vitamin C helps keep cells healthy and facilitates the absorption of iron whilst iron is involved in the production of red blood cells, along with riboflavin (vitamin B2) vitamins B6 and B12 and folic acid.

Further information on the role of different nutrients can be found in the A-Z of supplements section.

All food in the UK is subject to a large body of law which is intended to ensure consumer safety and good standards across all types of foods.

The laws cover a huge number of different subject areas including:

• General food law setting standards
• Law which sets out the types and amounts of additives which may be used
• Law which sets out acceptable levels of contaminants (for example mercury, lead and cadmium)
• Law which regulates labelling and the information which must be provided to the consumer at point of purchase
• Law which governs the kind of messages that can be used in the advertising of foodstuffs.

There is also specific legislation which regulates food supplements, setting out the vitamins and minerals which are permitted for use within these products; the labelling requirements for them and prohibiting any claim or implication that food supplements can treat, prevent or cure any disease.

The laws are managed by several different government departments; the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Find out more about the regulation of food supplements, here:
https://www.wytamin.com/food-supplements-regulations/
https://www.wytamin.com/did-you-know/can-wytamin-provide-advice-about-bringing-food-supplements-products-to-market/

Eating a healthy, balanced diet is the best way to get all the nutrients the body needs.  However, UK dietary surveys show that many people do not meet dietary recommendations such as eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day or oily fish twice a week.

Some groups of people in particular may find it difficult to achieve recommended nutrient intakes through diet alone.  These include young children and adolescents, pregnant and breastfeeding women, housebound or institutionalised elderly people, smokers, heavy drinkers, and anybody on a restrictive diet, such as vegans, vegetarians and people trying to lose weight.

Nutrients can also be lost from food as a result of poor methods of storage, preparation and cooking. In addition, busy lifestyles mean that people are more inclined to skip meals and grab individual snacks without giving thought to putting together properly balanced meals which would provide the right mix of nutrients.

Nutrition underpins good health and a considerable body of research has highlighted links between inadequate intakes of vitamins and minerals and poor health.

A 2011 study^[1] found that, at that time, poor diet cost the NHS an estimated £5.8 billion a year, an economic burden greater than that of smoking related diseases.  It is estimated that 70,000 premature deaths could be prevented each year if diets matched nutritional guidelines. This is more than 10 per cent of current mortality and the health benefits of meeting nutritional guidelines have been estimated to be as high as £20 billion each year.^[2]

There are now strong links between low intakes of particular nutrients and the risk of developing chronic disease including some cancers, heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and depression.^[3]

During pregnancy, insufficient nutrient intake can have long-term health implications for the health of the child.  Women who are trying to conceive, and pregnant women should take a folic acid supplement of 400 micrograms up to week 12 of the pregnancy to help prevent neural tube defects such as Spina Bifida in the unborn foetus^[4]. Recent years have also seen a re-emergence of cases of rickets in babies and children which is caused by vitamin D deficiency, often in the mother; government advice is for all pregnant and breastfeeding women to take a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D.

As well as vitamins and minerals, intakes of marine omega-3 fatty acids have an important role to play in maintaining health^[5].  There is evidence that omega-3s can decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease, help maintain cognitive function during ageing and may help to prevent some types of dementia and depression.

Given the ageing population in the UK, improving nutrition is increasingly important for enabling people to maintain quality of life in older age.

[1] The economic burden of ill health due to diet, physical inactivity, smoking, alcohol and obesity in the UK

[2] The Cabinet Office.Food Matters.Towards a Strategy for the 21st Century. 2008

[3] World Health Organization.Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases. Report of a Joint WHO/FAO Expert Consultation. WHO Technical Report Series 916. 2003.

[4] Vitamins, supplements and nutrition in pregnancy

[5] Role of fatty acids and micronutrients in healthy ageing

It’s not easy for people to tell if they’re getting all the nutrients they need from food, therefore many people choose to take a supplement, such as a multivitamin and mineral, to top up any nutrient shortfalls in their diet and ensure they still achieve recommended daily nutrient intakes.

Fish oil supplements can also help people who do not eat the recommended one portion of oily fish a week^[1] to achieve the recommended omega-3 intake.

For specific groups of people who are particularly at risk of deficiency or who need higher intakes of certain nutrients, the Department of Health recommends some supplements^[2]:

• Folic acid supplements for all women who are thinking of having a baby or trying to conceive, and pregnant women up to week 12 of the pregnancy to help prevent neural tube defects such as Spina Bifida in the unborn foetus^[3].
• Vitamin D supplements of 10µg (micrograms) for all adults and children through the autumn and winter months.
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women,  children aged six months to five years, people aged 65 and over, people with darker skin as well as people who may not get enough sun, for example those who cover up for cultural reasons or who are housebound should all take a vitamin D supplement of 10µg throughout the year.
• A supplement containing vitamins A, C and D for all children aged six months to five years as a precaution because growing children may not get enough, especially those not eating a varied diet, such as fussy eaters.

In addition, people with particular medical conditions may be recommended or prescribed supplements by their GP.

[1] Fish and shellfish

[2] Do I need vitamin supplements?

[3] Vitamins, supplements and nutrition in pregnancy

Provided that supplements are taken in the amounts recommended on the pack by the manufacturer or retailer, and the Safe Upper Levels (SUL) are not exceeded by combining too many different supplements, then it is highly unlikely that supplements will cause any harm.

Safe Upper Levels (SUL) were established for most vitamins and minerals in a 2003 report by the Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals^[1].  The report determined the maximum daily intake of nutrients from both supplements and diet that it is safe to consume on a long-term basis. These are based on consumption of a typical European diet and are generally far higher than the Nutrient Reference Value or amount that would be in a typical multivitamin.

View the Recommended Intake Guidelines for vitamins and minerals.

Water soluble vitamins – such as the B group vitamins and vitamin C – cannot be stored by the body to any great extent, so if someone takes more than their body needs, it will simply be excreted in their urine.

The fat soluble vitamins, vitamin A and vitamin D can accumulate in the body, but pose no danger to health if consumed within the SUL indicated for them. The exception is in pregnancy, when large amounts of vitamin A may pose a risk to the developing infant. Pregnant women should seek advice from a doctor before taking a supplement containing vitamin A and people with blood clotting disorders should seek a doctor’s advice before taking supplements containing vitamin E or vitamin K as these have an effect on blood clotting mechanisms.

Some minerals may also cause unwanted side effects if taken at doses above the SULs.  In 2006 the food supplements industry agreed, with the Food Standards Agency and the Department of Health to the use of warning statements for certain nutrients present in food supplements above agreed specified levels^[2].  For example, very high intake of zinc (25 mg and above) can interfere with iron absorption and if taken over a long period of time can lead to anaemia. Responsible manufacturers will ensure that a warning statement to this effect will be on the label of any food supplement containing 25mg or above of zinc.

It is important to note that quantities in excess of what we need or what is recommended may be harmful for a few individuals and that individual sensitivities and variations in response can occur, so people are advised to seek medical advice if any unexpected symptoms appear whilst taking a particular supplement.

[1] Safe Upper Levels for Vitamins and Minerals

[2] Label advisory statements and suggested reformulations

NRV is an abbreviation of ‘Nutrient Reference Value’. NRV’s are set for 13 vitamins and 14 minerals for the purposes of food labelling and are EU guidance levels on the daily amount of vitamin or mineral that the average healthy person needs to prevent deficiency.

Food supplement labels list the ingredients included in the product and give the proportion of the NRV value (% NRV) that is contained within the supplement e.g. vitamin C, 80mg, 100% NRV.

Entries in the A to Z of supplements refer to NRV where applicable.

View a table of Recommended Intake Guidelines setting out the NRV for all thirteen vitamins and a selection of minerals.

he Department of Health recommends that all children aged six months to five years are given a supplement containing vitamins A, C and D^[1].  This is because growing children may not get enough of these nutrients, especially those not eating a varied diet.

As children have different nutrient needs to adults, food supplements are available which have been specifically formulated for children. People should check carefully the age range that the product is suitable for.  Adult products have higher levels of certain nutrients which can be harmful to children, for example iron is dangerous to young children if taken in excess.

Often children’s supplements are in a chewable or liquid form to make it easier for them to swallow.

[1] Vitamins for children

Combining supplements will not normally interfere with the way they work and in some cases may be beneficial, for example vitamin C helps iron absorption. However, certain supplements may interact with each other. There is competition within the gut for the absorption of different minerals and a large dose of one might decrease the absorption of another. Therefore a multivitamin and/or mineral product is best for all-round supplementation because it has been designed to deliver nutrients in the right balance.

Before combining supplements, people should consult a health care practitioner or the product manufacturer.  It is also important to check that the daily amount taken of each particular nutrient does not exceed Safe Upper Levels. For more information about Safe Upper Levels see our Recommended Intake Guidelines.

Supplements will not generally stop medicines from working. However, there are interactions between nutritional status and the action of some medicines.

Certain medicines influence the absorption or metabolism of some nutrients.  For example, some anti-ulcer agents reduce the absorption of vitamin B12 and the anticonvulsant drug phenytoin increases the breakdown of folic acid.

Conversely, certain nutrients may influence the action of medicines; vitamin K reduces the clotting effect of the blood which means that the effects of anti-coagulant medications like warfarin will be increased leading to a greater risk of bleeding.

In addition, some herbal remedies may influence the efficacy or toxicity of some prescription medicines; for example St. John’s Wort (hypericum) reduces the efficacy of the contraceptive pill.

People should always read the product indications carefully before taking a supplement, and if still uncertain, consult a pharmacist or the doctor who has prescribed the medicine.

Herbal substances come from plants and many are used in both food supplements and medicinal products.  For example, sage, ginseng and garlic can all be found in both food supplements and herbal remedies.

A herbal product will be considered a medicinal product if medicinal claims are made about it i.e. that it can prevent, treat or cure disease.

Find out more about how herbal products are regulated in Regulation.

The quality of food supplements varies considerably. It is safest to buy from a reputable brand and retailer. Some food supplements purchased on the internet can contain substances which are not permitted for use within the EU, and in some cases have been found to be contaminated with pharmaceutical medicines or heavy metals.

When comparing products, people should check the ingredients and the percentage of the Nutrient Reference Value (NRV) of the vitamins and minerals in the product to ensure they are comparing like-for-like. For example, while one product may sell at a higher price, it may also include a greater range of different vitamins and minerals, or a higher percentage NRV.

No.  WYTAMIN is an information service for the media and health professionals.

We provide balanced, scientifically accurate information on the nutrition and health aspects of food supplements and, to a more limited extent, the regulation of food supplement from a journalistic requirement perspective. The more technical issues surrounding the import, manufacture and sale of food supplements is not something we can advise on.

The UK Department of Health (DH) is the national competent authority for the regulations covering food supplements. There are a number of guidance documents on the DH section of the .gov.uk website. These documents outline all relevant regulatory requirements for the import, sale and or manufacture of food supplements in the UK.

See also our regulatory page for general information about the regulation of food supplements.