Researcher/s

Research Subject

Research Parameters
InvestigatoryProject

Backgr
ound of
the
Study

Frances Leyson
Roen Macula
Roman Hilario
Glenn Butuyan
Fertilizers, Plant Growth, Pharmaceutical
Multivitamins, Expiration of Pharmaceutical
Drugs
Plant Growth,
Testing the Potential of Expired Multivitamins
as Plant Growth Enhancers

There are many things required for a plant to grow such as soil, water, light, carbon
dioxide etc. Farmers use different fertilizers and insecticides to assist the plants
growth, but some fertilizers and insecticides pollutes the land and the air. In addition
to the side effects of these materials, the cost of these insecticides and fertilizers are
high. The question in everyones mind is What could be a resourceful and nonpollutant fertilizer?

Multivitamins are a combination of many different vitamins that are normally found in
foods and other natural sources. Multivitamins are used to provide vitamins that are
not taken in through the diet. Multivitamins are also used to treat vitamin deficiencies
(lack of vitamins) caused by illness, pregnancy, poor nutrition, digestive disorders, and
many other conditions. Many multivitamins are formulated or labeled to differentiate
consumer sectors, such as prenatal, children, mature or 50+, men's, women's, diabetic,
or stress. Consumer multivitamin formulas are available as tablets, capsules, bulk
powder, or liquid. Basic commercial multivitamin supplement products often contain
the following ingredients: vitamin C, B1, B2, B3, B6, folic
acid(B9), B12, B5 (pantothenate), H (biotin), A, E, D3, K1, potassium
iodide, cupric (sulfate anhydrous, picolinate, sulfate monohydrate,
trioxide), selenomethionine, borate(s), zinc, calcium, magnesium, chromium, mangane
se, molybdenum,betacarotene, and iron. With so many minerals and multivitamins on
the market, ranging from pills to powders to liquids, it is no wonder most people are
confused about what nutrients they are receiving from their multivitamins. You will
find that there are many meanings of multi when you begin to explore the
multivitamin selection available. Some contain multivitamins, some contain
multiminerals and some are a combination of both Additionally, many vitamins can be
toxic in large doses, so be sure to check the totals of any additional supplements you
are taking to ensure that you are not consuming more than the recommended daily
dose of any vitamins or minerals.

Multivitamin Mineral #1: Calcium

Calcium helps to build strong bones and teeth. It is important to get enough calcium to
fight against bone loss and related diseases such as osteoporosis by getting adequate
calcium now. Calcium is a particularly bulky mineral so depending on your diet, it
may be necessary to supplement your multivitamin with an additional calcium tablet.
Multivitamin Mineral #2: Iron
Iron helps your red blood cells carry oxygen throughout your body. Without adequate
iron, you can develop anemia with symptoms including fatigue, weakness, shortness
of breath and lightheadedness. You can often opt to get multivitamins with or without
iron. You can make this choice depending on your diet and how much iron you get
from other sources.
Multivitamin Mineral #3: Magnesium
Magnesium is vital in helping muscles and nerves function, steady your heart rhythms,
and keep your bones strong. Magnesium also plays a role in creating energy and
making proteins, and it should be included in any multivitamin.
Multivitamin Mineral #4: Phosphorus
Phosphorus also helps to promote healthy bones and teeth, as well as make energy. It
is included in every cell membrane and is necessary in every cell for the body to
function normally.
Multivitamin Mineral #5: Potassium
Potassium is a key element in helping with muscle and nervous system functionality. It
also plays a role in maintaining the balance of water in the body tissues and blood,
making it necessary in any multivitamin.
Multivitamin Mineral #6: Zinc
Zinc is a necessary component for strong immunity, wound healing and normal
growth.
.

Ingredients
Vitamin A (20% as beta
carotene)
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Vitamin K
Thiamin
Riboflavin
Niacin
Vitamin B6
Folic Acid
Vitamin B12
Biotin
Pantothenic Acid
Calcium
Iron
Phosphorous
Iodine
Magnesium
Zinc
Selenium
Copper
Manganese
Chromium
Molybdenum
NUTRILITE Concentrate

Amt Per Serving Units %Daily Value

5,000

IU

100%

90
400
30
80
2.3
2.6
20
2
400
9
300
10
200
6
45
150
100
15
70
2
2
120
75
518

mg
IU
IU
mcg
mg
mg
mg
mg
mcg
mcg
mcg
mg
mg
mg
mg
mcg
mg
mg
mcg
mg
mg
mcg
mcg
mg

150%
100%
100%
100%
150%
150%
100%
100%
100%
150%
100%
100%
20%
33%
4%
100%
25%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
*

*Daily Value not established

Other Ingredients
Nutrilite Concentrate [Tricalcium Phosphate, Magnesium Oxide, Alfalfa Concentrate
(Leaf And Stem), Alfalfa/Watercress/Parsley Concentrate, Kelp, Acerola Concentrate
(Malpighia Glabra) (Fruit), Spinach Dehydrate (Spinacia Oleracea) (Leaf And
Stem), Electrolytic Iron,
Carrot Pulp Powder (Daucus Carota) (Root), Vitamin B-12], Calcium Carbonate,
Ascorbic Acid, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Dicalcium Phosphate, D-AlphaTocopheryl Acid Succinate, Niacinamide, Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Fumarate, Copper
Gluconate, Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose, Calcium Pantothenate, Sucrose,

Acacia, Magnesium Stearate, Corn Starch, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose,

Maltodextrin, Manganese Sulfate, Starch, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride,
Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Acetate, Gelatin, Dextrose, Beta Carotene,
Glycerin Resin, Folic Acid, Chromium Chloride, Biotin, Sodium Molybdate,
Potassium Iodide, D-Alpha-Tocopherol, Sodium Selenite, Carnauba Wax,
Phytonadione, Vitamin D3.
When vitamins expire, they no longer meet the manufacturers intended purpose since
they break down and lose their strength and ability to work well in your body's various
systems. To determine a vitamin's expiration date, the manufacturer will test the
product over time to determine at what point the chemical constitution and strength of
the vitamins alters. If properly stored in an appropriate environment, vitamins should
stay potent for five years or longer.
According to The New York Times, vitamins do not become toxic as they age, so if
you are in a hurry and expired vitamins are the only ones available, then go ahead and
use them; they won't hurt you. The only way an expired vitamin could be hazardous is
if your daily nutritional needs are not met due to the vitamin's lost potency.
Additionally, if you must take expired vitamins, use your common sense; if they don't
smell or look right, discard them and get new ones as soon as possible.
However, vitamins whose best-by-date has expired do not become toxic or
contaminated. However, even though there is no health risks involved, taking these
kinds of vitamins will still not offer the benefits intended in the first place. The
expiration date (which is most likely conservative and aimed to endure full strength,
usually about one year) only guarantees that the ingredients will be effective up to the
date listed on the label. After this date, they will slowly but surely undergo the process
of oxidation, and thus become less useful. On the other hand, if the storage is
inadequate (if, for example, they are kept in a humid environment, like the bathroom
or the kitchen) this process will be accelerated.

Researc
h
Questio
ns/
Objecti

But would an expired multivitamin have the same effect?

When the multivitamin passed their expiration date, we are not sure if its already
unsafe since the expiration date written is not accurate, it might just lose its
effectiveness.
So the main question is Is an expired multivitamin effective as a fertilizer?
Main Problem:
Can expired multivitamins can be a fertilizer for plant growth?
Sub-Questions:
What are the potentialities of multivitamins as plant growth enhancer?

ves
Signific
ance of
the
Study

Millions of people use multivitamins as supplements to their daily diets.

Expired multivitamins are rendered useless. This research study aimed to
determine whether expired multivitamins can serve as plant growth boosters.
There are a lot of multivitamins that are getting expired because there are people who
dont use it so that we think of using it to plants that are not healthy. With the success
of this study, expired multivitamins can have additional use in the society. Surplus and
wastage of resources will not be possible if only these abundance in expired
multivitamins be controlled as effective fertilizers.

Researc
h
Paradig
m

Referen
ces

http://www.livestrong.com/article/491718-is-it-okay-to-take-expired-vitamins/
http://www.thevitaminmag.com/what-happens-to-expired-vitamins/

http://voices.yahoo.com/safety-using-expired-vitamins-6000820.html
http://dietarysupplements.nlm.nih.gov/dietary/detail.jsp?
contain=01002019&name=Nutrilite+Daily+Multivitamin+and+Multimineral&pageD
=brand
http://www.drugs.com/mtm/multivitamin.html#pfIa6w2JSETqrv7e.99