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Mercy's Jenepher Piper, MSN, CRNP, Discusses Best Vitamins For Women's On WBAL-TV11's "Woman's Doctor"

Vitamins have become a multibillion-dollar industry in the U.S., and there are certain vitamins and supplements that women should be taking.

Mercy Medical Center nurse practitioner Jenepher Piper said she is a believer in vitamins, especially certain ones for women, starting with vitamin D.

“You need it for calcium absorption, particularly as you get older. We have found that in the past five years, most people that I test for vitamin D are actually deficient," she said.

Piper added that folic acid is also crucial for women of child-bearing age to prevent certain birth defects.

"Unless you take it with a big glass of water, it probably won't get absorbed very well. I usually recommend either getting vitamins in an easily dissolvable pill or chewable like the Viactiv chews or Jelly Belly vitamins," she said.

Piper also recommends fish oil for everyone.

"It has rheumatologic benefits in terms of affecting or helping with joint pain, mood and depression. Your skin, hair and nails are improved, too. So, I think it's a terrific supplement to take," Piper said.

Biotin is excellent for hair and nail growth. Something called coenzyme Q10 is also good.

"I find, probably nine out of 10 times, that if they take Q10 in the evenings in a dosage of about 100 mg or 100 mg, muscle aches and Charlie horses disappear," she said.

Angela Snider, 38, said she started taking vitamins years ago and never looked back. She started with fish oil to help with her mood and energy.

"Then I started with women's multivitamins. I guess I am at that age where I should make sure I have all my vitamins," she said.

Snider said she takes many of those and thinks they make her feel better.

"I can't say I've eaten healthy all my life or all the time, though I do feel that I get from my vitamins what I am lacking in other areas, as far as health food," she said.

To view Ms. Piper’s interview on “The Woman’s Doctor,” click this link: http://www.wbaltv.com/womansdoctor/27993570/detail.html

To see a more indepth interview only available online, click this link: http://www.wbaltv.com/video/27996220/detail.html