If you're working out and your diet is not quite up to standards, you may consider adding a multivitamin and protein supplement to your daily routine. It's OK to take the supplements at the same time. However, you might not need both. Consult your doctor before adding any dietary supplements to your diet.
Who Needs Supplements
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The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics says most people don't need to take supplements and that they should be able to get all the nutrients their body needs from the food they eat. However, if you're following a low-calorie diet, are over the age of 50 or following a vegetarian or vegan diet, you might need a vitamin and mineral supplement.
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If you're working hard, you might need more protein than someone who doesn't exercise, but like your vitamins, you should be able to meet your protein needs from the food you eat. However, protein powders are convenient and may serve as a good protein option for your after-workout snack.
Together or Separate
For best results, you should take your multivitamin supplement with food. Taking your supplement with your protein powder may help in that respect. Creating a routine with your multivitamin by always taking it with your protein powder may also help you remember to take it. However, while it's important to take your vitamins with food, it's not essential to take it specifically with protein powder. Finding the routine that works for you may be the best way to go.
Picking a Multi
A good multivitamin should contain many of the essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins A, C, D, E, K, all eight B vitamins, zinc, copper and chromium. Look for ones that contain 100 percent of the daily value for most of the nutrients. Many multivitamin supplements contain ultra-high doses of nutrients -- more than 100 percent of the daily value -- or additional nutrients such as phytonutrients or herbs. These extra ingredients aren't required and might not offer any benefits because it's not known how they may affect your health.
Fortified Protein Powders
Some protein powders are fortified with vitamins and minerals, so you may be able to skip the multivitamin supplement and get what you need from your protein powder. However, protein powders with added nutrients may not contain 100 percent of the daily value per serving or all of the essential vitamins and minerals. What's most important when getting nutrients from supplements is to not overdo it. If you're taking a multivitamin supplement and a fortified protein powder, you may get more nutrients than your body needs.