Vitamins and supplements

I take just an ordinary multivitamin, with occasional C supplements when sick/achy/hurting (C is important for cell repair and division), or extra D during Winter to make up for lack of sunlight. I make sure to take a multi that's not 5000% of every nutrient! all over the label, because I only want to make up for what I'm missing, I'm not trying to sell my urine for cash.
Many people swear by B12 for energy, and that one in particular is crucial for metabolism, but what would probably make the most sense would be to make sure you are eating all day long rather than trying to pack the entire day's needs into one meal. Supper* should never be your largest meal, since you will probably have the shortest amount of day afterwards to make use of it. Taking extra B12 only really makes sense if you are avoiding animal products (most common sources in diet are animal-based), or have had gastric bypass (shortened digestive tract means reduced B12 absorption).

--Patrick
If I understand it correctly, "Supper" means the evening meal, while "Dinner" means the largest meal of the day.

Fun fact: you piss Vitamin C out almost as soon as you take it!

Yes. Stupid water-soluble vitamins! Gotta stay right on top of 'em to make sure you are achieving your desired result.
(another fun fact: Excessive Vitamin C will make it sting when you pee. I have not actually tried this, but please tell us how it goes if you try it)

--Patrick

I take daily calcium and vitamin D supplements to combat a genetic bone disease, ankylosing spondylitis. The disease itself is mostly inert these days, but I have no way of being certain if the vitamins have any effect on that. Doesn't hurt, I suppose.

WasabiPoptart said:

Do you take any vitamins or supplements? If so, what and do you feel it makes a difference in your overall well-being?

I've been feeling worn out all the time, but nothing comes up through my physical exam or in my blood work other than my cholesterol is high and I need to lose weight (which is the result of every physical I've had since I was 28). I started taking a B-complex last week and I already feel the difference. Usually by 2pm I'm falling asleep while drinking a cup of coffee, but since I started taking the B vitamins I've been getting through the day feeling on a more even keel as far as my energy level.

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I hate to be that guy (no, really I do), but how is your exercise lifestyle? Ironic enough, the more active you are, the more active you stay.

I take a multivitamin supplement every day but still found myself getting more and more run down. My doctor sent me for a thyroid level test, since most basic blood tests miss it. My levels were really low but since I've been on a thyroid supplement, I've felt fantastic and have stepped up my world domination plans.
Ask your doctor for a T3 and T4 blood test and see what comes back.

I'm part of the multivitamin club, too, plus some additional calcium from time-to-time. And a little vitamin C when I feel like a cold is coming on.

I take some multivitamins, calcium, vitamin D, super B complex, and iron to help make sure I get all my vitamins with my vegetarian diet.

Yeah, I can attest that too much Vit C will burn something fierce. Actually went to the doctor once, concerned it might be....other reasons for it burning down there. Told me to drink less orange juice

Anyway, I'm usually low on iron etc. I'm always tired and such, but that has more to do with a horrible biorythm and not enough sleep. Used to take some OTC vitamin supplements, but not anymore...Didn't really notice a big difference.

If/when I'm feeling sickly or I'm in the beginning stages of a cold/infection, I tend to go for some variation of propolis based stuff. It really helps - I'm sick for 7 days instead of a week (it really does seem to help keep the symptoms much less irritating - since I've been doing this, I've usually been "just slightly uncomfortable" with a sinus infection instead of "ready to shoot my head off oh god").

Really though, there's so much "enriched" food already (practically all morning cereal, a lot of yoghurts, a lot of snacks, etc) that we generally don't actually missa ny of the "big" vitamins or minerals, and too much is usually useless or possibly damaging. Eating healthy tends to be enough.

GNC's Mega Men Sport - I definitely noticed it when I wasn't taking any vitamins for several months.

Ravenpoe said:

I take daily calcium and vitamin D supplements to combat a genetic bone disease, ankylosing spondylitis. The disease itself is mostly inert these days, but I have no way of being certain if the vitamins have any effect on that. Doesn't hurt, I suppose.

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I'm not about to announce that I know anything about vitamins, supplements, in any kind of expert category, and far be it for me to tell you guys that the benefits you experience (and the lack of benefit when stopping) aren't real. It may, however, be worth some investigation, particularly as regards vitamins D and E - but others as well. Look into Dr. John Ioannidis' research in particular; here are few articles about various studies he's reviewed. Almost across the board he's discovered results are inconsistent at best, and useless at worst. Vitamins may be placebo, or they may help some and hurt others, they may be less effective than taking them in from food (but, why? Studies offer answers but no definitive conclusions, which is neat, there's more to know).

Anyways, I find this guy's work fascinating, so just enjoy. I'm not saying don't take your vitamins - in fact, in response to contradicting studies that vitamins can lengthen your life vs shorten it, Dr. Ioannidis said, "Ignore them all." I assume he was being a bit pithy, but really, when it comes to your health, do what works.

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/11/lies-damned-lies-and-medical-science/308269/

The Atlantic said:

...these studies often sharply conflict with one another. Studies have gone back and forth on the cancer-preventing powers of vitamins A, D, and E; on the heart-health benefits of eating fat and carbs; and even on the question of whether being overweight is more likely to extend or shorten your life. How should we choose among these dueling, high-profile nutritional findings? Ioannidis suggests a simple approach: ignore them all.

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(Emphasis mine)
http://www.skepticalob.com/2010/10/best-nutrition-advice-ever.html

The Skeptical OB said:

Vitamin supplements are generally useless except when treating documented vitamin deficiencies (like scurvy and pellagra), specific foods do not prevent cancer and will not help you to live longer, and just because something is harmful in large amounts does not mean that moderate amounts are moderately harmful (obesity is bad, mild to moderate overweight may actually be good).

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http://www.csicop.org/si/show/science_and_pseudoscience_in_adult_nutrition_research_and_practice/

Committee for Skeptical Inquiry said:

In fact, there is some evidence in controlled trials that megavitamins (e.g., E, C, and A) may actually increase mortality. Clear exceptions to the general lack of utility of megavitamins are extremely rare patients with genetic abnormalities, e.g., those with vitamin B6-responsive seizures. Yet, notwithstanding the lack of evidence of benefit and potential harm, megavitamins and supplements are still recommended by some nutrition “experts.” It is worth noting that the nutraceutical (supplement) industry is a multibillion-dollar enterprise. Dan Hurley summarizes the pseudoscience in this area in his excellent book Natural Causes.

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http://now.tufts.edu/articles/man-who-did-math

Tufts University News said:

Take vitamin D. Early and enthusiastic small studies touting its many health benefits, from preventing cancer to protecting children from allergies, are now being tempered by larger and better-designed studies that haven’t found nearly the results the earlier investigations claimed. In late November, the Institute of Medicine issued a report urging caution before loading up on vitamin D.

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Chad Sexington said:

I'm not about to announce that I know anything about vitamins, supplements, in any kind of expert category, and far be it for me to tell you guys that the benefits you experience (and the lack of benefit when stopping) aren't real. It may, however, be worth some investigation, particularly as regards vitamins D and E - but others as well. Look into Dr. John Ioannidis' research in particular; here are few articles about various studies he's reviewed. Almost across the board he's discovered results are inconsistent at best, and useless at worst. Vitamins may be placebo, or they may help some and hurt others, they may be less effective than taking them in from food (but, why? Studies offer answers but no definitive conclusions, which is neat, there's more to know).

Anyways, I find this guy's work fascinating, so just enjoy. I'm not saying don't take your vitamins - in fact, in response to contradicting studies that vitamins can lengthen your life vs shorten it, Dr. Ioannidis said, "Ignore them all." I assume he was being a bit pithy, but really, when it comes to your health, do what works.

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/11/lies-damned-lies-and-medical-science/308269/
(Emphasis mine)
http://www.skepticalob.com/2010/10/best-nutrition-advice-ever.html

http://www.csicop.org/si/show/science_and_pseudoscience_in_adult_nutrition_research_and_practice/

http://now.tufts.edu/articles/man-who-did-math

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As I said, I have no way of knowing if they're helping at all. But they were recommended by my doctor, so I take 'em.

Oh, right, the reason I quoted @Ravenpoe specifically, when he talked about taking vitamin for bone density:

New findings published in The Lancet say vitamin D supplements don’t seem to improve your bone density after all – or anything else. “Most healthy adults do not need vitamin D supplements,” said Ian Reid, the study’s leader. “Our data suggest that the targeting of low-dose vitamin D supplements only to individuals who are likely to be deficient could free up substantial resources that could be better used elsewhere in health care.”

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The study referred to: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(13)61647-5/abstract[DOUBLEPOST=1396552930,1396552857][/DOUBLEPOST]

Ravenpoe said:

As I said, I have no way of knowing if they're helping at all. But they were recommended by my doctor, so I take 'em.

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For sure. As I said, I am not out to tell people what's up. I just really enjoyed reading this research recently, so this seemed like a good thread to share, and maybe people would have some take-away, or more studies/different info.

WasabiPoptart said:

I also believe vitamins (anything really) in large doses can cause harm.

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Well, yeah. That's why people work to find the LD50 of substances. Vitamin A especially is outright toxic in high doses.
And then on the other end of things, you have hormesis at work. Who's to say that one day, medical folks will call us all idiots for not getting enough cyanide in our diets?

--Patrick

I used to take allergy meds, but my body started naturally rejecting them years ago.

Around winter I take the occasional zinc or vitamin C to strengthen the fortress that is my physiology created from the pushyness of my health-nut dad and my nurse-practitioner mom.

Yoshimickster said:

the pushyness of my health-nut dad and my nurse-practitioner mom.

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"Vaccinations are underrated. We're just going to give you a hundred paper cuts and then roll you around in the garden a little."

--Patrick