Vitamins

Most people get the vitamins they need from a varied diet, so a supplement isn't automatically necessary. The big exception is vitamin D: the NHS advises everyone in the UK to consider a daily vitamin D supplement through autumn and winter, when there isn't enough sunlight for our skin to make its own. Some groups — young children, pregnant women, people who get little sun — may need one year-round. Ask our pharmacist if you're unsure.

They all do the same job, so choose the format you'll actually take every day — standard tablets, capsules, or a chewable if you don't like swallowing pills. Vitamin D3 (colecalciferol) is the form used in most supplements, including our Vitamin D3 tablets and capsules. If you'd like to know whether you're low before you start, a home vitamin D self-test can give a first indication.

The NHS advises a daily folic acid supplement while you're trying to conceive and for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy — it helps the baby's spine develop normally. We stock folic acid tablets on their own and conception ranges such as Vitabiotics Pregnacare. Avoid supplements containing vitamin A (retinol) in pregnancy, and check anything else you take with our pharmacist first.

Yes — more isn't better. Fat-soluble vitamins such as A and D are stored in the body, and very high doses of some nutrients can cause harm over time. Stick to the amount on the label, check whether your multivitamin already contains a nutrient before adding it separately, and tell our pharmacist about any medicines you take, as some supplements can interact with them.

Only if you're actually low in them — tiredness has many causes, and taking iron "just in case" isn't wise because too much can be harmful. A blood test through your GP, or a home iron self-test as a first indication, is the sensible starting point. If low B12 is confirmed, a vitamin B12 injection is something our pharmacist can discuss with you after a consultation.