Vitamin Supplements - Are they worth it?

iCraig

iCraig

iCraig

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I was in a well known drugs store on Saturday and I noticed the almost scary amount of vitamin, mineral and other variety of supplements available.

Such huge amounts of varieties of tablets and capsules, containing an all manner of things we apparently need.

So, are they worth it? Do people need to take them? Are we perfectly fine with a balanced diet? Is the health industry rubbing their hands in glee from our naivety or are they truly a god-send for our health and well-being?

My doctor has never once recommended them to me. When my iron-count was low. He said simply eat liver, not swallow some iron tablets.

My Mum pops them like a maniac. Vitamin C, B, Evening Primose Oil, Omega 3 and 6 every morning. She used to say they helped her. but after leaving them at home for 3 weeks when she went on holiday and feeling absolutely no different, she conceded that they didn't seem to make any difference. She still takes them at the moment, to simply finish off the bottles for than anything, but like me, now wonders exactly how beneficial they actually are?
 
The body finds it difficult to utilise vitamin supplements hence why your doctor recomended eating red meat for an iron boost.

As far as I know there is no scientific proof of the benefits of taking such supplements. There have been a good few studies, mostly on pregnant woman and some actually found a negative effect of taking supplements.

You should get everything you need and more from a well balanced diet.
 
iCraig said:
My doctor has never once recommended them to me. When my iron-count was low. He said simply eat liver, not swallow some iron tablets.
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That seems a good answer to your question. Within reason, I wont take anything that my doctor hasn't recommended.

The only 'vitamin' tables I've taken are glucosamine and chondrium which I took to boost the healing of my knee ligament on the advice of my doctor.

I do sometimes take mega doses of Vitamin C when I feel like I may be getting a cold though.
 
There is absolutrly nothing wrong with taking Vit Supplements, or Omega 3 and 6 supps....


the danger in them is that people may think that is all they have to take.

They supplement your food, nothing more.
 
Can I just add but its a general misconception that Vit C is linked to the immdiate effect of your immune system.

Vit C will do nothing for a Cold Flu or sore throat, there is no cell or biological connection between them.


Bug One said:
I do sometimes take mega doses of Vitamin C when I feel like I may be getting a cold though.
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the only reason to take vitamin supplements is if your diet is lacking some vitamins or minerals that your body need. If your body also has the required about of vitamins and minerals from your diet, then any vitamin supplements are just going to waste. If you arnt sure if your diet is good, then a multi-vitaman/mineral tablet could be good as it will 'top up' anything your lacking.

Chances are though you wont see any noticible difference from taking vitam tablets, as all that will happen is your body will be able to create new cells and such as it has the materials required, where as if you LACK vitamins/minerals, then you could notice the difference after a long period of time, where your body hasnt been able to work properly without the required materials needed.

So basicaly, vitamins arnt realy bad, but they arnt realy needed either (unless your diet is lacking).

cu3ed said:
Can I just add but its a general misconception that Vit C is linked to the immdiate effect of your immune system.

Vit C will do nothing for a Cold Flu or sore throat, there is no cell or biological connection between them.
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The whole vit c thing helping colds and such could just be a placebo effect, where your mind thinks its taking lots of vitamins that will help fight the cold, and that mental state of mind could cause your body to fight the cold better. Or it could just be the state of mind that makes you FEEL like your fighting the cold better.
 
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Another reason why most supplements are not readily taken up by the body is that most vitamins and minerals require co-factors such as dietry fat to be readilly taken up by the intestinal lining (Vitamin A is particularly bad for this).

hence why the vast majority of the supplement you are taking is not taken up and wasted.
 
Drinking Vitamin C drinks just makes me feel a bit fresher.

I dont think I'm short of vitamin C when I have a cold.
 
Bug One said:
Drinking Vitamin C drinks just makes me feel a bit fresher.

I dont think I'm short of vitamin C when I have a cold.
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I understand that as i used to do this myself then talking to a lot of Phd Dieticians will tell you a whole other story.

Its really came from the fact the body cannot store Vit C in any real way, you can take about 7000mg a day spread evenly throughout they day but you will be most of that away.

The ONLY thing that can get rid of a |virus is to let your body just get on with it, Vit tabs and othe tablets will just help control the symptoms, nothing more.
 
I started taking them about a month ago and can definately notice an increase in my energy levels from when I didn't take them. I'm also less prone to mood swings. With that, I'd recommend them. It's worth investing in a decent one though, with RDA above 100%. i.e. mine has a B6 @ 2500% the RDA
 
cu3ed said:
I understand that as i used to do this myself then talking to a lot of Phd Dieticians will tell you a whole other story.

Its really came from the fact the body cannot store Vit C in any real way, you can take about 7000mg a day spread evenly throughout they day but you will be most of that away.

The ONLY thing that can get rid of a virus is to let your body just get on with it, Vit tabs and othe tablets will just help control the symptoms, nothing more.
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That's pretty much spot on. Having a healthy diet will bring about effects that can't be replicated by a vitamin tablet.

Vitamin C has been proven to help with flu symptoms but as you quite correctly state people will feel better when their own body fights the virus, which will take a variable amount of time depending on the individual.

Vitamins can be prescribed for other medical disorders proving that the body does need them, but as said above it's best to get them from e.g. fresh fruit and vegtables rather than a tablet.

I often think that a lot of the high dose vitamins e.g. the fat solube ones ( AEK) are dangerous because the body accumulates them. I won't say any more without turning this into a medical thread.
 
trojan698 said:
I started taking them about a month ago and can definately notice an increase in my energy levels from when I didn't take them. I'm also less prone to mood swings. With that, I'd recommend them. It's worth investing in a decent one though, with RDA above 100%. i.e. mine has a B6 @ 2500% the RDA
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This can be a problem, excess of RDA have been linked to cancer (so has eveything, like).
 
The problem is that most of you do not eat balanced diets, so supplements are necessary IMHO to promote good health.

Have a look at the Adam's Superior Men's range, it's used by myself and the other weight training guys in the Sports Forums.
 
trojan698 said:
I started taking them about a month ago and can definately notice an increase in my energy levels from when I didn't take them. I'm also less prone to mood swings. With that, I'd recommend them. It's worth investing in a decent one though, with RDA above 100%. i.e. mine has a B6 @ 2500% the RDA
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What were your eating habits like before you took them?
 
In fairness though the kinda amount you need to take for these kind of effect to happin to you have to be either.

A: at a staedy rate for a VERY long period of time

B: You taking so much of the stuff you have mental problems never mind vitamin supplments.
 
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