What vitamins and supplements do you take, and do they help?

[NeededANameChangeAnyway]

I'm interested in what vitamins and supplements people are taking as I am keen to medicalise myself to better health.....

I currently take a multi vit with iron daily, and an extra iron tablet 2x a week for chronic low iron with an extra vitamin c tablet. A daily menopause vitamin which is probably the same as the multivitamin... Turmeric capsule daily for anti-inflammatory benefits, vegan collagen (am vegetarian) to hold back the ravages of time and glucosamine for my ancient bones.

I used to drink apple cider vinegar with the mother for unknown reasons but keep forgetting and now can't find the bottle.

I've a friend who takes beetroot tablets for weight loss.

I have a pharmacist friend who scoffs at all this as well but even if it's all a placebo it's working??!

What do you take and why. And is it working?? Or all in our heads......

Vitamin D in the cold months after a runner friend broke hip needed replacement at age of 59. She was diagnosed with osteopenia. I'll never know if it "helps".

Supplements can be useful where there’s a genuine deficiency, but they’re not always necessary. It’s worth checking the overlap between multivitamins, menopause formulas and iron tablets to avoid taking too much. The best approach is probably blood tests, pharmacist advice, and keeping what actually makes a measurable difference.

Evening primrose has really helped me in my 40s and the way I feel, particularly around the time of my period.

Glucosamine has helped my knees stop feeling weird.

Then I throw in multi vit and some collagen/ biotin for luck!

Mid 50 here:

Vit D after a GP recommended it due to muscle pain. It's actually quite common to have a deficit with a more indoors lifestyle nowadays. I stopped for a while and re-started last winter as the symptoms came again and I do see a result.

Magnesium since perimenopause to help with sleep.

Calcium because I am recovering from a fracture to help with bone healing, Vit D and Magnesium also helps here with muscle repair

Most multivitamin ones are only providing a small amount of what is actually required if you have a deficit so I would get a check up first and then see what and how much is needed.

I take a female multivitamin and mineral
has magnesium which I find really helpful for sleep
i definitely notice a difference in energy levels if I don’t take it.

Creatine
collagen
b12
vit D with K
zinc
omefa 3
coenzyme q10

the vitamin D deficiency showed up on a blood test.
for the rest I researched and included my prescriptions and worked out what I may be missing as a result.

I take b12 after a blood test.

I also chew a multivitamin (just from Aldi), a fibre supplement, and magnesium gummies and tablets.

My best friend takes a vitamin unsure of which one but she sprays it on her tongue as doesn’t like tablets. She swears by good quality vitamins, is a stroke recoverer and has high blood pressure, but a good diet. Her close friend is a nutritionist so gives her a heads up on what to take.

Multivitamin, iron, collagen.

I used to take sage and a menopause supplement (menopace max) which had lots of vitamins and minerals in it. Long term though only HRT worked for me.

Oh I forgot I also take collagen in my coffee.

Absolutely nothing, never occurred to me that I should. I am 49, rarely ill

I wouldn’t really take anything unless you need it.

I take 8000iu of vitamin D daily as previously deficient and it is recommended to support my cancer treatment.

I take magnesium at night to help with sleep.

Otherwise, everything else I get through eating a healthy diet.

Prescribed Vitamin D and calcium due to chemical menopause.

Magnesium and glucosamine - no idea if this helps.

Vitamin B complex/Brewer's Yeast.

Collagen - definitely improved 'crepey old lady skin' on my arms.

Had full blood tests three months ago and all my levels were perfect so well chuffed.

Vit D with K. Had severe deficiency a few years ago.

Omega 3 for arthritis

Boswelia for arthritis

Vit B complex sometimes - can't remember exactly why I take this

Magnesium for sleep

Apigenin for sleep

I don't notice any difference to be honest. I take HRT and to be honest I don't notice any difference with that either. I am trying to deal with a lot of joint problems and improve my sleep.

Vitamin D in winter

Vitamin D is a good shout as I'm in the north of Scotland!

I'd never considered Evening Primrose but Ill look into it I think.

All good ideas!

Multi vitamin
omega 3
vitamin d and k2 (4000IU vitamin D)
ferrous fumerate

Everyone should take vitamin D from October - March ish, with k2
my levels were dire, I put my shin pain down to ageing and only clicked when my level came back as 9

My friend is a food scientist. She told me vitamin c supplements are pointless as your body can’t absorb excess vitamin c and just excretes it.

Turmeric every day in supplement concentration can really stress your liver. I had to stop after a blood test showed this.

Vit D needs Vit K and magnesium with it or it is not great for the heart.

ETA medical details.

Yes I understand turmeric if taken in large quantities can be toxic. That's the risk with supplements - you don't know if what you are taking is safe or sensible. And even if it is a good idea is the supplier safely producing the product. I had a meeting with the pharmacy at my GP and she did advice on what supplements might help based on anecdotal information.

I was anemic until gp prescribed Sodifer, so that def works.

Take vit d and have never been low in a blood test even in February.

Magnesium supplements definitely help my nighttime leg and foot cramps, 2 days without and they return.

I take omega 3, I'm convinced by the research but it's a long term thing so who knows if it works.

I take a peri/meno supplements (which is mostly lions mane)
Vitamin D 4,000 IU
magnesium malate

mine work so well, I sleep so much better. I don’t have night sweats anymore. I feel calmer.

I take creatine, not for exercise, but for energy and brain fog. I think it’s working. I certainly feel a bit less spaced out.