Do multivitamins work, or they a scam?

[CatteryCatss]

Just wondering as I’ve just started to take multivitamins. I take gummies as I hate swallowing tablets!

Do they work for what? If you mean are you getting the vitamins, then yes, although some are not as easily absorbed as if you were eating them in whole foods.

@PlantDoctor I mean, do they work at all. I thought they might be a good as a top-up, but I’ve read mixed opinions

Gives you expensive pee!

I've taken them as a 'supplement' for years. I think if supporting a good diet they top up some things you may gave missed. I don't feel different taking them, but I don't feel as good if I don't!

Every time I'm low on vitamins, the Dr gives me some, so it must work.

If you have enough, then they're not needed, but I imagine most of us lack something

There are quite a few studies now suggesting that they do more harm than good. I would avoid only only treat known deficiencies.

I understand that most vitamin tablets are completely unnecessary for most people on an adequate diet. It's only vitamin D that we are apparently all supposed to take in this country because we don't get enough through diet and sunlight.

How's your diet? Do you eat more than 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day? Seeds and nuts too? Do you eat a wide range of fruits and vegetables over the course of the week, not just the same few on repeat?

How many portions of oily fish do you eat a week?

How much are you outside? Do you live in the UK? Do you have dark skin?

I decided that I eat lots of fruit and veg, nuts etc so don't bother with a multi vitamin. I do take a high dose vitamin c (chewable because I hate swallowing tablets too) because there's some decent evidence it helps the immune system a bit to avoid unpleasant symptoms from coughs and colds and it seems to work for me

I also take omega 3 and 6 because I don't eat enough salmon and it's got good evidence for heart benefits

And I take vitamin d because I live in the UK and don't see the sun enough! This has massively helped my mood and energy levels

Basically what @LillyPJ said.

Unless a health professional says take it, don't. I take D and Ca for osteopenia, and B3 for my optic nerve - all on medical advice.

Can't find the article, but with multivitamins and taking individual ones, you can end up with in a bad way with neuropathies.

This is useful: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/vitamin-and-mineral-supplements-what-to-know

That's what a GP told my boss!

If you are deficient in any of the vitamins, minerals or trace elements they contain, then yes, they work.

Well yes if I'm deficient but not on the odd chance no. I'd want to have blood tests to be sure. I'm very iron deficient so that's all I take along with Vit C to help absorb it better

For me, they are brilliant.

I take a basic Tesco multivitamin, £4 for 90 capsules. The vitamin D element makes all the difference in winter, the difference between me dragging myself to and from work, and bouncing around, bright eyed and bushy tailed.

I was thinking that too.

I haven’t noticed a difference since taking them, mind

That’s fair! The multi vitamin supplements I take includes Vitamin D3

Unless you have been diagnosed with a deficiency, or you have a very poor diet, they are completely unnecessary. The only vitamin supplement you should take is vitamin D.

I find them very useful. Im vegan and have ended up with deficiencies of various things, even with a good diet, so its nice to have something to fill in any gaps.

Although they shouldnt ever take the place of a healthy diet.

Can you provide references to research showing they cause more harm than good?
If that’s true, they shouldn’t be on general sale.

I take lots of different vitamins. Recently had blood tests to check for deficiencies after some health issues. All levels came back as they should, so I’m going to assume mine work.

They do work - I take 14-16 supplements a day as have a different schedule for each day (TTC) and I’ve had bloods for some of those and my levels have definitely improved

I take menopace. DH doesn't take anything. He's got a horrible cold, but I don't. Last year he had the 100 day cough, I didn't. So I'll stick with them.

That's interesting as I was taking menopace but ran out. I need to get some more. Dh and ds1 got a terrible cold I didn't. I have taken omega 3,vitamin D some multi bs and magnesium whilst I wait to get menopace again. I'll probably still take D.

The nhs prescribes some vitamins and minerals so their must be evidence they work for if your deficient.

With modern farming methods and the age of food by the time it hits the shops and peoples shit diets I wouldn’t be surprised if people did have random deficiencies.

When I first moved to dhs home town I told him a lot of them looked like they’d never eaten a fresh vegetable in their lives. Dh said they probably hadn’t.

Do you mind me asking what your issue with the optic nerve is? I found out I had bilateral optic neuropathy a while ago. No real answer as to what caused it but my suspicious is a long standing folate deficiency.

I have symptomless glaucoma, managed without intervention for about 10 years, but last year the situation changed and I had both eyes lasered on separate occasions. This was instead of the drops which are often used.
The optic nerve was thinning due to pressure in the eye and the surgery - laser trabeculoplasty - lowers this.

The eye specialist recommended 500mg B3 daily, i.e. he wrote it onto my notes and sent it to my GP.

Thinking of folate, my rheumatologist detected lower white cell production on a regular blood test and I now take 5mg folate daily, though this might not be relevant to your issue.