Do you take vitamins?

[HeatherC]

The thread about the flu shot got me thinking of flu season and staying healthy. I do take vitamins and so does my adult kids and dh. We also eat pretty well with lots of fruits and veggies, but I think of the vitamins as an extra insurance policy.

I take multivites, vitamin D, magnesium, fish oil and a B Complex. My doctor recommended these and they seem to help keep me feeling good so I will continue taking them. When I have run out of them or gotten lazy about taking them I just don’t feel as good.

Anyone else notice a difference in how you feel if you take them?

 

[Southernmiss]

The thread about the flu shot got me thinking of flu season and staying healthy. I do take vitamins and so does my adult kids and dh. We also eat pretty well with lots of fruits and veggies, but I think of the vitamins as an extra insurance policy.

I take multivites, vitamin D, magnesium, fish oil and a B Complex. My doctor recommended these and they seem to help keep me feeling good so I will continue taking them. When I have run out of them or gotten lazy about taking them I just don’t feel as good.

Anyone else notice a difference in how you feel if you take them?

In addition to diet and exercise, we take pharmaceutical grade supplements specific to our deficiencies based on bloodwork done by our functional medicine doctors.

It truly does help our chronic autoimmune diseases and overall wellbeing.

 

[kimblebee]

I take Vitamin D on my neuros advice. I also take cranberry pills. Everything else is pharmacological.

 

[mombrontrent]

I take B12 once in awhile only because I’m vegan so that’s really the only one I might need to supplement. Other then that I don’t take any other vitamins, I do eat a lot of fruits and veggies though.

 

[Julie's Haircut]

Vitamin D and magnesium. The magnesium is for when I complained about involuntary muscle twitches in my lower leg. It seems to help, they occur less frequently now.

 

[ronandannette]

Yes. I'm on a prescription-strength potassium supplement due to a deficiency caused by IBS and high doses of Omega 3's for cholesterol levels as I refuse to take statins. I also take a multi and a separate B12 sublingual when I can remember. I'm actually pretty terrible at taking pills on schedule. I do think the vitamins, especially the B12, helps with some tingling and numbness in my hands and feet. I have all sorts of weird symptoms as well as intermittent low iron due to nutritional malabsorption from the stupid IBS.

 

[disneychrista]

Yes I take iron due to anemia. And a woman's multi.

I've also taken Turmeric for help with depression, though I can't say it has actually helped. And Cinnamon for inflammation also not sure it actually helps.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Calcium, Vitamin D (helps with calcium absorption), cranberry, and a multivitamin for me.

I used to also take glucosamine for arthritis, and it seemed to help. But I had to stop as it also raises blood pressure.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I take 200mg of Niacin daily in addition to my cholesterol medicine; my cardiologist put me on it because it helps to lower bad cholesterol. It does seem to work well, although whether or not that's just a placebo effect, I don't know.

 

[violina]

Yes. I'm currently pregnant so I take a prenatal.

Prior to that I took a women's multi-vitamin, calcium, iron, Vitamin D3, fish oil, and biotin. The combination seemed to work for me; I took it for years. I will admit I could have probably taken less vitamins had I not insisted on having gummy/chewable versions where I could, but I dislike pills.

 

[AustinTink]

Vitamin D and a packet of Emergen-C daily.

 

[lisaviolet]

Good place to highlight vitamin b12 deficiency ----

This can be a very serious - and underdiagnosed/misdiagnosed - deficiency. And note that normal ranges in North America are lower than many other countries (Japan gives b12 injections at 500 pg/mL- some Canadian provinces start their normal ranges
at 138. One could have issues in the low normal range)

You might have it due to diet - vegetarian/vegan (although brown rice/seaweed/legumes contain b12 ). Easily remedied with b12 supplements.

But some, ie. anyone - including those with a diet full of b12, could have an inability to absorb vitamin b12 properly due to age, genes, stomach issues, type one diabetes etc.

This issue can occur at any age, including babies that show a failure to thrive.

The elderly often have a decreased ability to absorb b12.

Pernicious anemia, one cause for b12 deficiency/absorption issues, used to be deadly up until the 1920s. If found one will need b12 injections, in order to bypass the stomach. And note most b complex vitamins have insufficient amounts of b12 to alleviate any deficiency.

Signs of b12 deficiency include -

*dizziness
*balance issues - unexplained falls
*change in gait
*numbness - pins and needles in extremities (not the normal my foot's asleep)
*cognitive changes/issues including memory, concentration and word finding
*headaches/migraines
*double vision
*sensitivity to light
*fatigue
*loss of muscle strength/muscle recovery - easy find for active people
*mood changes
*tongue glossy/feeling enlarged - possible mouth ulcers
*nerve issues - can include facial pain and feeling a sudden electrical type surge/zap in body

Obviously some of these symptoms are common for other health issues - the exact reason why a vitamin b12 deficiency is often misdiagnosed.

This is a long video but very informative. Besides case studies, it also highlights how a lot of doctors are unfortunately ill-informed on the issue -

And an article about the possible causes of b12 deficiency -

https://pernicious-anaemia-society.org/b12deficiencyandperniciousanaemia/

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

I'm vegetarian, have issues with dairy, and have several vitamin deficiencies, so vitamins are pretty important for my overall health. I take D3, calcium, iron, and get B12 injections. I've had serious issues in the past from being low with each of these vitamins (teeth breaking from low calcium and vit D, hospitalized from low iron, dizziness and nerve pain from low B12), and there's a massive difference in how I feel taking them vs when I don't, especially the B12.

A couple years ago, I was given the B12 injections for the first time to quickly get my levels up to normal, and it was incredible the difference it made. I was switched back over to pills and quickly noticed a decline in my energy/felt more dizzy, etc. Turns out my body doesn't metabolize the pills as well so it's injections for me for the conceivable future.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I take D3, Omega fish pills, turmeric, and collagen. I have magnesium, but forget to take it. I noticed that my knuckles stopped 'popping/cracking' when I started taking turmeric.

 

[elphaba91]

I take lots of vitamins; my mother works in pharmacy and after I was diagnosed with cancer the staff put me on anything and everything that might help.
- Vitamin D (my bloodwork actually showed I was very low)
- Curcumin (it’s shown to be very effective at fighting head and neck cancers)
- Vitamin C
- Magnesium (for stress)
- CoQ10
- Lutein (to keep my eyes healthy in case I end up needing treatment)

I also add collagen to my protein shake to help tighten up the loose skin after weight loss.

 

[RamblingMad]

In addition to diet and exercise, we take pharmaceutical grade supplements specific to our deficiencies based on bloodwork done by our functional medicine doctors.

It truly does help our chronic autoimmune diseases and overall wellbeing.

This is great. In the US supplements are poorly regulated, so you can’t be sure what you’re getting. But medical grade supplements from the pharmacy makes a whole lot more sense.

 

[MrsDuck]

I take:
-a multi
-fish oil
-turmeric
-magnesium

Not sure if they help but figure it can't hurt!

 

[nkereina]

I take a daily probiotic. It helps both my digestive and immune system.

 

[wenrob]

A women’s multi and Vitamin C most of the year and during cold/flu season I replace the Vitamin C with an Immune Support vitamin that has Zinc, Echinacea and Elderberry in addition to the C. Seems to work, I manage to avoid most of the crud (*knock wood*) the kids bring home. Or I’m just better at washing my hands and avoiding touching things like doorknobs, handrails and shopping cart handles. Gummies because they’re easier on my tummy and I’m a big ‘ol kid.

 

[wgeo]

Nope, not a single one. To be fair though, I have never had a doctor recommend any to me, so I've never started.