Do vitamins actually work?

[morbidd]

Hello all,

I'm currently ill with some sort of flu (have been testing for covid but negative), and it's got me thinking I need to look after myself more.

I certainly will look at a better diet and exercise but wondered if vitamin supplements actually worked for people?

If so, what people took and what effect they had on them?

Thank you

So the cheap basic one is better than nothing, but in this case not the best option – it is worth doing the research and being selective.

Yes, but I was looking for vitamin B3. DD has a very rare metabolic disease and there is no specialist in the UK (or the English speaking world, as far as I can find), who knows anything about except what is in the literature, and there isn’t much of that. There is certainly nothing on what is the best form of vitamin B3, in relation to her condition - except a non flushing form would save her from the major side effect of flushing.

The RDA is 16 mg and she’s prescribed 1,000 mg a day - I have no idea if that’s safe, as it is!

@Quisquam B vitamins are water soluble

I was just talking generally really

But hope you find something that works for your daughter x

I'm very prone to colds and often have back to back colds. I do find that taking high dose vitamin C and vitamin D really helps.

@Reugny

I am already confused about what she is excreting. I know she is excreting high levels of neutral amino acids in her urine, and probably faeces due to a genetic variant, causing secondary pellagra. The literature talks about a diet high in tryptophan and vitamin B3 supplements as the only treatment for this; but the consultant says the levels of protein in her blood are normal. The only deficiency is in the vitamin B3. Trytophan is used to make vitamin B3; which in turn is used with tryptophan to make the neurotransmitters, like serotonin, dopamine, etc. This is what causes the major cluster of neuro-psychiatric symptoms. Its also implicated in the transport of sodium, which in her case, exacerbates her epilepsy.

She and her sister do seem to have the neuro-psychiatric symptoms. I don't how her protein levels in her blood can be normal; but she has a deficiency in vitamin B3 - but she has been a lot better since she was on 1,000 mg a day!

I don't know how

I think something that hasn't been mentioned is malabsorption. This is often due to medication -omeprazole and all the other similar ones inhibit absorption. Each annual blood test I am deficient in at least one of folate, vitamin D and vitaminC. If you have IBS or Crohns you may also have problems absorbing enough from your food.
I have started taking the Better You sublingual sprays as a way of bypassing having the reliant on my gut health.

The Better You sprays are very good - they got my levels up to a nice, high level.

Not all academics advocate vitamin supplements, Tim Spector certainly does not and even thinks they can be harmful
https://theconversation.com/the-sun-goes-down-on-vitamin-d-why-i-changed-my-mind-about-this-celebrated-supplement-52725

'While several studies in normal people failed to find any protective effects from vitamin D, others have been more worrying. One 2015 randomised study of 409 elderly people in Finland suggested that vitamin D failed to offer any benefits compared to placebo or exercise – and that fracture rates were, in fact, slightly higher.
The usual prescribed dose in most countries is 800 to 1,000 units per day (so 24,000-30,000 units per month). However, two randomised trials found that at around 40,000 to 60,000 units per month Vitamin D effectively became a dangerous substance.
Until now we have believed that taking vitamin supplements is “natural” and my patients would often take these while refusing conventional “non-natural” drugs. Our body may not view supplements in the same misguided way. Vitamin D mainly comes from UV sunlight converted slowly in our skin to increase blood levels or is slowly metabolised from our food. In contrast, taking a large amount of the chemical by mouth or as an injection could cause a very different and unpredictable metabolic reaction. For example, our gut microbes are responsible for producing around a quarter of our vitamins and a third of our blood metabolites and also respond to changes in vitamin levels picked up by receptors in our gut lining. Any artificial addition of large amounts of chemicals will upset some sensitive immune processes.
The news that even my favourite vitamin can be dangerous is a wake-up call. We should be taking our worldwide abuse of these chemicals much more seriously rather than routinely adding them to foods. The billions we waste on these products, assisted by the poorly regulated but rich and powerful vitamin industry should be spent on proper healthcare – and people should be educated to go in the sunshine and eat a diverse range of real food instead. For 99% of people, this will provide all the healthy vitamins they will ever need.

If you think you are deficient, you should ask your GP for a blood test. Excessive vitamin consumption can be harmful, although the body will excrete excess.

@Delatron same with me. After being seriously deficient in Vit D the year after I'd had a major course of high dose Vit D from the Dr and the next year I needed it again, I moved to taking the Better You spray. The dr's response the next year was keep doing what I'm doing because my tests were finally good.

https://joinzoe.com/learn/podcast-truth-about-vitamin-supplements

The issue with GP's saying supplements don't work is that iron, magnesium, vitamin d, b vitamin complex, single b vitamins and calcium are all available on prescription.

So they must be suitable for patients with a deficiency of they wouldn't be available.

All he seems to have said here is that one study showed if you take excessive amounts (over RRD) this could have adverse effects (OK). And a small study with a particular cohort points to an area for further research. I think it’s more useful to look at the body of research in this area as a whole.

Not saying any of this is wrong, just that the research evidence presented here is not particularly compelling.

Do agree entirely tho that adding seemingly small ‘artificial’ variables into diet and lifestyle can have all sorts of unintended effects and disrupt the delicate balance of the body’s feedback and regulation systems as a whole. Makes total sense.

My son was given a prescription for folic acid but I've bought otc folate from a reputable brand for him because of this.

I'm also always tired- could you share what you've been taking that's helped you?

@Bubbles254 I flip flop on vitamin D. I tend to take it with K2 in short bursts if I'm ill. Otherwise I always take a magnesium supplement.
Adequate vitamin D means magnesium is used more efficiently and can lead to deficiencies. Anecdotally, I used to always find my teeth becoming sensitive on sunny holidays abroad until I started supplementing magnesium.
In addition, I came across a study that showed just supplementing magnesium improved vitamin D levels from sun exposure.

If you eat healthily and have no underlying health conditions , Vitamin D in winter is the only one you need, every thing else is a waste of money. It’s all a big con and any ‘benefits’ are purely in the mind.

@CoQ10 if you look back to 9.05 am i added what I have been taking because someone else asked.

Thanks- sorry I didn't see that 🙏

Does everyone here give their kids vitamins? I’m wondering if those mouth sprays would be good for all ages – easier to remember to squirt everyone at once!

I give kids vitamin D and yes the Better You spray comes in a kids version. Then I give them an omega 3 oil capsule. I spoke to a nutritionist and unless they have a bad diet those are the 2 to supplement.

I do vitamin D throughout Oct-April. Mine are outside a lot though.

Only if you have an identified deficiency. If you're not deficient, you're wasting your money.

Unless they’re eating oily fish 2/3 times a week. We manage it once.