Q: I am 44 years old and a strict vegetarian. Which are the best multi-vitamin tablets available in India? Also, can these be taken with spirulina?

A:The fact that you are a strict vegetarian does not automatically mean that you are deficient in vitamins and minerals. Green vegetables, fruits and nuts, milk and dairy products all contain adequate amounts of these. Unless there is proven deficiency, unnecessary intake of vitamin supplements can lead to problems. It is not clear as to why you should take spirulina in the first place. Medically, it was promoted as an agent which reduces appetite! In any case spirulina itself is a herb that contains some vitamins. It is also known that under certain conditions, blue-green algae including spirulina are capable of producing a neurotoxin called beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine, which can cause a degenerative nerve disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis / parkinsonism-dementia complex. It is always better and safer to rely on normally consumed food items.