Vitamins - do they work?

[tulips77]

Some say that vitamins are pointless and are simply expelled by the body. But it's a huge market all the same.
Has anyone taken a specific vitamin and noticed a positive difference in their wellbeing? I'm trying to sort out my health a bit.
(Obvs I'm eating lots of fruit and veg as a starting point!)
I'm 42, a bit overweight and have recently had patches of eczema flare up on my face.

I've had to have vitamin D prescribed as my level was too low. I've had iron prescribed too & need vit b12 & folic acid. Supplementing with these definitely does make a difference. Some vitamin deficiencies have big consequences. I think when ppl say they're unnecessary it's if the person isn't deficient. With vitamin A I know you have to be careful not to have too much - at higher levels it's dangerous (sorry can't remember specifics).

Dunno if that helps.

We all take them, I've no idea if they work, but we're all very healthy, lots of energy, very rarely ill, good skin and hair etc so I'm not about to stop just in case they're the magic ingredient ha! Quite important for vitamin D this time of year too, and I like to top up omega 3 for the kids. Although I think the vitamin b6 reeks havoc with my cycles, makes them longer.

Thanks! Just the kind of info I'm looking for.
Which brands do you buy, please?

if you are deficient they work.
you are probably deficient in vit d3 (most people in uk are) and if you are vegan possibly in b12.
heavy periods and iron deficiency can be likely.

I take vit d3 all year round (25yg) and iron when on my period. often magnesium as well as I tend to get leg cramps at night.

if you have issues with skin have a look at zinc.

Magnesium made a huge difference to me. I wasn't ill as such but as I got older I started to get aching joints, some days it was actually painful rather than just aching.
Since taking magnesium I don't ache at all, plus my sleep has improved.

They work if you've got good gut health. Vitamin deficiency isn't a lack of availability of vitamins issue it's a malabsorption issue (gut expert here).

You're eating something that's causing the inflammation and I'd bet my two front teeth it's either wheat or dairy. Fix the gut first before buying expensive vitamins that you simply pee out.

Magnesium ( not a vitamin, I know) stops my ankles swelling in hot weather. I take vitamin D all year round, I’ve been deficient in the past. I also take a menopause multivitamin which has improved my sleep and general aches and pains, I think.

I tend to buy whatever I see, tbh. I'm not sure how different they are. If you're getting a multivitamin, I'd just check amounts of each vitamin that I'd actually be focussing on. If you need / take an iron supplement, you should take it with vitamin c (so a lot are sold together) and you shouldn't drink coffee/tea within 2 hours of taking them. I would maybe do a google into this to get lots info - there will be other things relevant to each vitamin you should be aware of. Some might be best with / without food, for example. And iron can be constipating, etc, so best to know.

It seems that there is more research suggested that concentrating on gut health is better and that having a healthy gut microbiome can be beneficial in a whole host of ways, including mental health. It's fascinating really. I take prebiotics (don't bother with prebiotics) and I take vitamin D all year round but that's it.

I recommend BetterYou spray vitamins (especially for vit D) but if you're really low on something you might need a high dose you might need a prescription first

(gut expert here)

Sorry to derail but can I ask what you recommend for good gut health?
And how are you a gut expert? Are you a dr?

@DeborahAnnabelToo @NonUrinatInVentum
What do you think are the best make of probiotics?

I take prebiotics (don't bother with prebiotics)

I don't understand this bit

I take probiotics, B12 and Vitamin D daily. I was deficient in B12 and iron and they definitely worked to get my levels back up. I've recently stopped the iron because I don't bleed much these days (perimenopause)

I was getting a lot of colds/coughs. My doctor advised me to take Vit D but only in the winter. She specifically said not to take it in the summer or if abroad on a sunshine holiday. Even minimal exposure to the summer sun produces sufficient. It has helped a lot (I'm in my 60s with a healthy diet).

NonUrinatInVentum how do we get good gut health, I suspect for me it increases involves eating fewer biscuits.

I've found the Better You sprays for iron, D and b12 to be great for me as I dont seem to absorb enough from tablet form. I've had bloods checked a few times recently and all my levels have improved quite a lot from using them.

@MoiraRose sorry I meant I don't bother with PRObiotics not PREbiotics. Autocorrect! I take Bimuno prebiotic sachets which you can just put in your morning coffee or whatever. My understanding is that PRObiotics have a hard time surviving the harsh conditions in the human gut to even reach where they might do any good. But PREbiotics can survive those conditions, are not affected by extreme heat etc. Prebiotics help fertilise the existing microbiome in the gut. I try to also eat food which helps to biome like lentils pulses etc. That part sometimes is sabotaged by multiple biscuits admittedly!

It really depends on whether your body needs them or not. If you eat a healthy well balanced diet etc, then you'd likely be just seeing it out.

That said there are some health problems & genetic mutations that can mean you need more of certain vitamins such as thiamine or Folate, or you can need B12 injections due to an inability to
Process it properly & if your in the UK you will need a natural D3 supplement taken with vitamin K & fat to metabolise it as we don't get enough sun in the UK

I'm not a dr no but I am in healthcare, don't want to give any more detail than that.

The gut is literally the center of everything for us, including our immune system, hormone manufacturing, nutrient absorption etc. The best way to improve gut health is by cutting foods out that are proven to be damaging - grains and cereals. They're damaging to the gut, they're endocrine disruptions (most of us don't have thyroid problems for example, we have autoimmune thyroid damage that is caused by gut issues) they're also damaging to our brain.

If you've had antibiotics then I recommend at least 6 months of probiotics. Probiotics are fine if you have a good balance of bacteria. It feeds the bacteria in the gut but if you've got an imbalance of bad over good then you're continuing to feed the bad bacteria.

Personally I use and recommend Bio-Kult. I'm not affiliated with them but I've found them to be most effective. Some brands don't protect the bacteria from stomach acid so they're killed off. I also eat fermented food like kimchi and drink kefir to keep things balanced.

Protect your gut by avoiding antibacterial household products including hand wash, shower gel (we have and need a skin microbiome), household cleaners. You will absorb it either through the skin or by inhalation.

I've worked with thousands of people with everything from ADHD, depression, anxiety, Crohn's, colitis, diverticular disease, eczema, psoriasis, asthma and more and fixing the gut has breathtaking results on these ailments!

That’s interesting. Are oats considered damaging? What about sugar? I looked up those probiotics but unfortunately they contain milk and soya which I can’t have at the moment.

cutting foods out that are proven to be damaging - grains and cereals.

proven by whom? can you link to peer reviewed studies?

tbh anyone who tells you to remove a whole food group without good reason (allergy test?) should be taken with a pinch of salt.

It’s the type of mineral that matters, oxides aren’t very bio available but are cheap, you’re better off with citrates or glycinates.
And yes, most research is on gut health now, google gut brain axis for more info

I take a probiotic as I have SIBO and although it tastes offensive to drink a small glass it does help my gastro symptoms.

If you suspect ypure deficient in vitamin D, B12, or iron then i would just request a blood test from your GP, they can easily advise whether or not you are. I have pernicious anaemia so there is absolutely zero point me consuming b12 tablets even though I am deficient, i cannot absorb the b12 and so have to have injections every few months at the doctors. I think that is why it is worth seeing the GP , I took a b12 supplement for years fo nothing and got very very unwell the deficiency was so severe I was hospitalised after a collapse!

I'm 51. Vit d3 has worked wonders with my aches and pains.

This is all very interesting.
I'm going to have a good browse in Boots.