Am I the only middle aged woman NOT using supplements?

I’m 35 and started taking cod liver oil, vitamin d and glucosamine and it has actually made me feel better. I seem to sleep better which is probably why it’s mad such a difference?

I take a few things to try and help manage my endometriosis symptoms. I'm also trying to reduce and come off HRT. Not looking for the elixir of eternal youth though just trying to seek marginal gains where I can to feel less shit!

I'm 63 and don't take anything. I tried various things but they all seemed to upset my stomach so I gave up.

I can't believe the money some people spend on stuff that doesn't seem to make any difference.

I’ve tried -for my bones, collagen once or twice, various forms but they all make me fart so have given up!
But do take a B complex which i had for many yrs as a young mum then couldn’t be bothered for a few yrs but now i’m old i’ve started again & feel loads better. Occasionally take vit D but it’s basically a hormone & I don’t like the thought of fiddling with hormones really….dont believe scientists know enough about them? ( never dared take hrt!)

I'm 56 and don't take anything but I'm on the other side of meno now and feeling fine. If supplements had done anything for my peri anxiety I'd have taken the lot.

A lot of people in the UK don’t get enough vitamin D, especially in winter, so this should definitely be on the list.

Iron deficiency is probably quite common too, and there may be other deficiencies which don’t cause any symptoms, so regular blood panels are a good idea.

From the beginning of the pre-menopause, taking calcium is probably a good idea.

My GP said that most people in this country are quite deficient in Vitamin D especially during the winter months. So I take vit D supplements all year round as well as turmeric. People say supplants are a waste of money but if my body can absorb vit D from a tablet, and can absorb others too.

I would say to at least take vitamin D in the winter.

Other than vit D in winter months. I avoid supplements. I’m in my 60s.

I'm 59 and don't take any. Blood tests never reveal any issues. I'm sceptical about supplements.

Everyone in the UK should take vit D in the winter.

Many women have low iron especially if you have heavy periods. Always worth a test especially if you have any symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, thinning hair - lots of overlap with peri symptoms so get an iron test before going on HRT. And Vit C is necessary to absorb iron.

B12 is likely to be low in anyone who doesn’t eat much meat.

Magnesium, selenium, zinc, copper and other trace minerals may be low even with a good diet as our soil is quite depleted in these.

I take quite a few, but if I could only afford to take one thing, I would keep the probiotics. I havent had a cold in nearly 2 years & neither has my school aged daughter.

I also take magnesium (not sure if it helps or not) lions mane (going to drop this one) biotin, a multi vitamin & cod liver oil. Im 42.

47 and don’t take anything except progesterone to help with peri symptoms/manage heavy periods. If I was more proactive I might take vitamin D. I have taken iron in the past when I’ve been deficient. I’m not currently. I also used protein powders years ago when I was doing a lot of weights - mainly as I am veggie and struggled to get enough protein to meet my needs at that time. I don’t do weights currently so don’t bother now.

unless you have any specific concerns about your health I’d ignore it all and just keep on as you are.

I take iron and a b vit complex, I tend towards anaemia so am on prescribed 210mg iron, a couple of summers ago I became very exhausted my hair was falling out in handfuls etc and it transpired my low iron and transferrin was impacting my body's ability to store b12. I was on OTC iron then. I had a few b12 injections to get me back up to normal levels and take the B complex to maintain and the GP out me on 210mg of iron. I buy my iron now albeit supervised by GP with 6 monthly blood tests, because it's cheaper than paying for my prescription. I have PCOS and very heavy periods so even taking high dose for nearly a year my iron levels are still the low end of normal.
I don't see that as a waste or expensive urine as some have said, it's essential for my health.

I don't take any, but have recently been wondering if I should. I don't have any health issues, other than feeling a bit stiff sometimes.

My dog, on the other hand, is on a shed load and she's not middle aged yet.

I’m late fifties and use HRT plus Vitamin D in winter, an iron supplement three times a week following an iron infusion and suggested by my haematologist, biotin to try and improve my hair and nails after being severely iron deficient, turmeric for my joints although I’ve yet to see any benefit from that, and B12 as my levels are always on the low side.

Just a D3 tablet when I remember because we just don't get enough sunshine in this country 🌞. Everything else comes from a decent diet.

Must be doing something right as I can't remember the last time I got ill.

I'm 62, don't take any supplements and never have.

I ran out of joint supplements, went a couple of weeks without and really noticed the difference. I won’t be running out again! Also I have collagen supplements but don’t really notice a difference with them tbh.

I’m 59 and I don’t take any supplements. I’m on HRT and, when I remember, I have six prunes a day, which is good for maintaining bone density, and 20ml ultra high polyphenol olive oil, which is good for a number of things including brain function, cardio health and blood sugar levels. I’m not terribly consistent but try to have both of those most days.
Not all supplements are good, and they’re not all created equal. The more research I did the less inclined I was to bother, although I know lots of people who recommend creatine - but you have to be careful to get the good quality stuff.
I do Pilates twice a week and a half an hour of low impact cardio twice a week, and that is probably more important and beneficial than the prunes and olive oil

I’m 54 and until recently was taking collagen , special woman’s vitamin and nmn. Have finally admitttd to myself that the collagen was not doing anything and the nmn probably not so have stopped those. I still take the pricy woman’s vitamin. The challenge is that when I was taking the others I attributed feeling well to taking them but now I’m not I would imagine the slightest twinge I’ll start telling myself ok it’s because you arent taking the x. Our brains are not helpful they tell us stories! I’m eating more protein though, eggs are a lot cheaper than collagen powder.

I think for me it was a combination of seeing no difference, listening to the bbc investigation on collagen and then seeing a recent advert for a new collagen company where the woman has loads of lines in her cheeks then four weeks later they were all gone that made me think this is just not true.

well I did know it wasn’t true but that was the push I needed!

I don’t - and I’m in my mid 60’s. No regular medication either - that makes me stand out from all the colleagues in my Department at work, too, and I’m the oldest!

I don’t take anything at the moment, but manly because I keep forgetting (and got thoroughly bored of washing up the smoothie maker). I must get back to it as I did notice a difference

I have Creatine (strength training at the gym) and Collagen (I noticed a big difference to my hair and skin), I do have some vitamin D which I take in the winter

Also, HRT

I take vitamin B and D daily, and an apple cider vinegar supplement as I find it helps control my blood sugars (type 2 diabetic). I did try berberine recently but my digestive system was not a fan!