Vitamins Supplements: cure or con?

[FactualFrank]

I watched a programme earlier that I'd recorded the other week, which was on about how only 1% of the public needs to take a vitamin supplement and it's basically a waste of money for the majority.

I'm sure a lot of people who do take a vitamin or some other supplement have no idea whether it's helping them or not, so just wondered who of you do take one and do you think it helps?

[gtclaret]

With the exception of Vitamin D they are a complete waste of time for the vast majority of the population

[levraiclaret]

I take a zinc and vitamin C tab each day to help my resistance to the common cold, have done for a couple of decades. I works for me as I have far fewer than I used to.

[Vegas Claret]

most people are deficient in iron so maybe that's worth taking

[TsarBomba]

I take iron supplements.

I have 2 kids under 2 years, and I’ve done shift work including nights, for 13 years. I probably average 4-5 hours sleep per night.

When my second arrived, I was pretty much dead on my feet, so decided to take supplements to see if it would help.

Probably took the best part of a month for the iron to kick in, but 3-4 months on, I do feel as if I have a little more energy towards the end of the day.

[FactualFrank]

There are 3 supplements that I know help. One of them even has blood tests to show it.

1. Milk Thistle
2. Fish Oil
3. Vitamin B Complex

I have blood tests every few weeks due to the medication I'm on (to test the liver, mainly) and a few years ago I read that Milk Thistle helps. Several times now I've started taking Milk Thistle again and the bloods have normalised. The GP admitted that Milk Thistle helps, but he couldn't recommend anything that hadn't passed medical trials. All he said was, "Whatever you're doing - keep doing it".

Fish Oil definitely helped with stiffness at the back of my knees and Vitamin B Complex definitely helps with mood and alertness, although it needs to be taken with food.

There's so many others that I've tried and never noticed any difference, but the above 3 definitely helped me.

[JohnMac]

I have been suffering terribly with Restless Leg Syndrome this year and recently on advice started taking a Magnesium supplement.

After about a week it definitely helped reduce the frequency of twitching (and occasionly kicking out) and thus my sleep pattern has improved dramatically.

[Spiral]

Vitamin D is helpful if you never/barely eat meat and dairy, and especially in the autumn, winter, and early spring where in England the sun's UV rays aren't strong enough or out long enough to allow your body to synthesise it, but most other supplements are practically pointless if you eat a fairly balanced diet.

[gtclaret]

Vitamin D is helpful if you never/barely eat meat and dairy, and especially in the autumn, winter, and early spring where in England the sun's UV rays aren't strong enough or out long enough to allow your body to synthesise it, but most other supplements are practically pointless if you eat a fairly balanced diet.

Exactly, eat your vitamins don't take them in tablets. Vitamin D is the one exception

[FactualFrank]

Exactly, eat your vitamins don't take them in tablets. Vitamin D is the one exception

In an ideal world, yes. People on medication can benefit from supplements.

[gtclaret]

Of course, I'm talking generally, but if your Doctor says different, then take them, my wife takes Vitamin B complex as advised by her GP

[Inchy]

I have been suffering terribly with Restless Leg Syndrome this year and recently on advice started taking a Magnesium supplement.

After about a week it definitely helped reduce the frequency of twitching (and occasionly kicking out) and thus my sleep pattern has improved dramatically.

The treatment for restless legs is quinine. Gin and tonic has quinine in it. Well the tonic does so might as well add the gin

[FactualFrank]

The treatment for restless legs is quinine. Gin and tonic has quinine in it. Well the tonic does so might as well add the gin

I always thought that was for malaria!

[CrosspoolClarets]

I don’t think there is any such thing as a balanced diet - there are hundreds of different vitamins and minerals, all at different levels in each food and changing based on how we cook it. It’s an impossible task.

I take a powerful multivitamin from Biocare and a fish oil containing only pure EPA. Both things you cannot get on the high street. I base it on advice from the author Patrick Holford and others.

I know that I don’t get as many bugs these days. The rest is just a judgement call. Hopefully I’ll live 10 years longer in which case it will be worth the dosh.

[FactualFrank]

I take a powerful multivitamin from Biocare and a fish oil containing only pure EPA. Both things you cannot get on the high street. I base it on advice from the author Patrick Holford and others.

No DHA?

[FactualFrank]

Another thing Fish Oil helps with and that's Dry Eye Syndrome. But the DHA is good for the brain and eyes, so that's probably why.

[Local cricketer]

Milkthistle is very good for someone that sinks a gallon a day I've heard

[FactualFrank]

Milkthistle is very good for someone that sinks a gallon a day I've heard

It also improves spelling. You should try some.

[dougcollins]

I take Glucosamine for Osteo Arthritis.

If I don't take it, I don't move.

I'm not recommending anything, just saying.

[FactualFrank]

I take Glucosamine for Osteo Arthritis.

How long did it take to kick in? I thought it took weeks/months to take effect.

[tarkys_ears]

Nonsense.

Eat properly and you won't need to.

File under "Qunioa allergy" and that SAD disease...I ain't posh enough to have either!

[FactualFrank]

Nonsense.

Eat properly and you won't need to.

File under "Qunioa allergy" and that SAD disease...I ain't posh enough to have either!

You missed the smiley.

[mdd2]

The fat soluble vitamins ADEK can harm you if taken to excess as they cannot be easily removed. Vitamin D is not a vitamin as per definition of a vitamin as we make it in the skin from u/v irradiation but in temperate climates we only make it from around April to September. Vitamins B and C are water soluble and so any excess is passed out in urine but you can produce vitamin C stones if you take grams of the stuff. Taking grams of vitamin D and A would eventually kill you.Most animals can make vitamin C but primates bats and guinea pigs are a few species where it is a vitamin.
There is very little D in foodstuffs naturally-oily fish the main source but who eats cod liver where there is oodles.
Some vitamin D supplementation in winter months may be beneficial but little need in summer as casual solar exposure should produce enough but blacks and brown skin need more of the suns energy to make D compared with white skin and most D production in skin is achieved without burning-only need 50% of maximal erythemal dose to make loads of D. Glass sunblock creams stop skin production.
So as other posters have put it, most of us do not need to take supps. When I remember in winter I take vitamin D but as a single large dose

[dougcollins]

How long did it take to kick in? I thought it took weeks/months to take effect.

Every day for twenty plus years now. But if I miss it for a couple of weeks holiday it hits me hard.

[FactualFrank]

The fat soluble vitamins ADEK can harm you if taken to excess as they cannot be easily removed. Vitamin D is not a vitamin as per definition of a vitamin as we make it in the skin from u/v irradiation but in temperate climates we only make it from around April to September. Vitamins B and C are water soluble and so any excess is passed out in urine but you can produce vitamin C stones if you take grams of the stuff. Taking grams of vitamin D and A would eventually kill you.Most animals can make vitamin C but primates bats and guinea pigs are a few species where it is a vitamin.
There is very little D in foodstuffs naturally-oily fish the main source but who eats cod liver where there is oodles.
Some vitamin D supplementation in winter months may be beneficial but little need in summer as casual solar exposure should produce enough but blacks and brown skin need more of the suns energy to make D compared with white skin and most D production in skin is achieved without burning-only need 50% of maximal erythemal dose to make loads of D. Glass sunblock creams stop skin production.
So as other posters have put it, most of us do not need to take supps. When I remember in winter I take vitamin D but as a single large dose

What are your thoughts on Braincell who suggests "Eat properly and you won't need to." - that nobody, regardless of illnesses, medication, etc, needs to take anything.

[mdd2]

Really hard to get sufficient vitamin D in the diet but of course it isn't needed if you get out in the sun in April to September.
There is a band wagon on Vitamin D and because if you measure Vit d levels now in mid winter and through to March you will find low levels in many folk feel a need to give the vitamin.
Braincell has a point if he says eat to maintain an ideal body weight, 5-7 a day of fruit and veg, plenty of fibre, exercise and sunshine (no need to burn) and probably no alcohol, certainly no tobacco or recreational drugs. Do all this and you may not live for ever but it could feel like it especially if you go vegan.

[FactualFrank]

Really hard to get sufficient vitamin D in the diet but of course it isn't needed if you get out in the sun in April to September.
There is a band wagon on Vitamin D and because if you measure Vit d levels now in mid winter and through to March you will find low levels in many folk feel a need to give the vitamin.
Braincell has a point if he says eat to maintain an ideal body weight, 5-7 a day of fruit and veg, plenty of fibre, exercise and sunshine (no need to burn) and probably no alcohol, certainly no tobacco or recreational drugs. Do all this and you may not live for ever but it could feel like it especially if you go vegan.

Love how you carry on with 'Braincell' ha. I know that certain medications can deplete the body, so know he's talking poppycock. Methotrexate is a prime example. Folic acid and other B vitamins should be taken. Prednisone can deplete the body of several nutrients. He'll have never heard of either, yet comes out with that.

[bfcjg]

I take turmeric tablets for an arthritic knee have done for three years now and it certainly seems to have helped it so much so that more often then not I don't notice my knee. Doctor prescribed neproxin but after a few months it didn't seem to help so I went the supplements route and haven't had a neproxin since.

[FactualFrank]

I take turmeric tablets for an arthritic knee have done for three years now and it certainly seems to have helped it so much so that more often then not I don't notice my knee. Doctor prescribed neproxin but after a few months it didn't seem to help so I went the supplements route and haven't had a neproxin since.

I tried that and never noticed any improvement.

If you ever get stiffness behind the knees, try Fish Oil.

[bfcjg]

I tried that and never noticed any improvement.

If you ever get stiffness behind the knees, try Fish Oil.

Alas it's one of the few places I get stiffness these days
Seriously it shows people react in different ways. A contractor I use swears by rosehip tablets for his arthritic knees told me his GP suggested he try them.

[FactualFrank]

Alas it's one of the few places I get stiffness these days
Seriously it shows people react in different ways. A contractor I use swears by rosehip tablets for his arthritic knees told me his GP suggested he try them.

I just knew you were going to fire back with that.

There is, of course, the placebo effect but when you have no expectations I think you can rule that out.

[deanothedino]

Do all this and you may not live for ever but it could feel like it especially if you go vegan.

Then if you go vegan you probably will need supplements to replace what you should be getting from the meat in a properly balanced human diet.

[SammyBoy]

I take a cod liver oil capsule every day, not even sure why, I just heard it was good for you. I keep the bottle of them on my desk at work, it's just a habit now to take them.