To ask if you take any supplements and if so what difference have they made?

[Chocolatecoffeecup]

Several friends seem to have jumped on the supplements bandwagon recently (collagen, magnesium, creatine) and I'm wondering how worthwhile they are.

Have you notified any positive effects or side effects?

i belive they do, but cannot be sure,

multi vitamins and minerals
vitamin c
vitamin d
vitamin b complex
omega 3 fish oils
evening primrose oil
cod liver oils
ginkgo biloba
iron
there the main ones

I had Ivybears hair vitamins recommended by my hairdresser as I was losing so much hair. It took about 4 weeks, but yes I've noticed a considerable difference.

I take Spatone liquid iron every day. I know when I've not had it for a few day as exhaustion kicks in.

I take:
Vitamin D Difference - my GP doesn’t tell me to take vitamin D anymore!
Zinc Difference- improves my sense of taste.
Bontella Difference - Unsure. It may be helping with night sweats, but that may just have been colder nights over winter!

I’m on some medication that impacts my tastebuds and increases the chance of night sweats. Both the zinc and Bontella were at my health care team’s suggestion. The vitamin D is at my GP’s recommendation because blood tests show a deficiency (which my GP says is pretty ubiquitous nowadays). I’m sure it does more for me than get her off my case, but not in anyway that I can feel. The rest of my bloodwork is good so I don’t bother with a general vitamin supplement or anything.

edited to add - I have a pretty good diet though. Very varied with plenty of fruit and veg, whole grains, fish and healthy oils.

I tried collagen for as few months but didn't really notice any change.

I do take magnesium, ashwganda and lions mane. I do think it helps my overall sense of calm and focus.
I buy from nutrition geeks.

Vit D because I was deficient - now improved.
Magnesium because it seems to help restless leg syndrome, which otherwise would drive me scatty.
That's it.

Oil of evening primrose with starflower has helped my PMDD. I am less moody and just feel more chilled out overall. Took about 3 months for it to work and have been taking them for almost 11 years now.

I take a daily multivitamin & mineral, supermarket ones are fine. I get regular blood tests; all my nutrient levels are fine. I take extra vitamin C because I smoke.

I also take a glucosamine & chondroitin supplement since I started getting arthritis. That definitely helps - I notice when I've forgotten it for a week or so.

Most other things are nonsense, overhyped and/or overpriced.

Vitamin D definitely helps DDs seasonal moods.
Turmeric with black pepper seems to help my menopausal joints.
Vitamin C with zinc has possibly helped me fight off the various colds all my colleagues had but I avoided this winter.

I really doubt your iron level would change enough in a few days to make you feel different. Coming at it from the other end, if you are iron deficient I think advice is that it will take at least a week for you to start to feel benefit from iron tablets. So I just don’t think levels change that fast.

I take
perimenopause multi vitamin type from free soul
iron - nutrition geeks
magnesium - nutrition geeks
Echinacea when cold coming on

I took collagen for a few months and even after only a week I could see my skin improve. My face looked healthier and was glowing. It doesn’t take away wrinkles btw, but it does help fine lines. I took the highest recommended daily dosage (powdered or liquid) - which was a lot more than you get in the capsules. But after a while I found the taste and smell made me feel really sick. I was completely put off and never took it again, the thought of it still makes me feel queasy. I’d do it if it could be injected, just don’t want to smell or taste it. No idea how people stomach it in their coffee!

I take,
daily multivitamin
nutrition geeks iron+
high dose vitamin D (live in Scotland)
vitamin C
Biotin

the iron has done wonders for my hair

Vitamin D over the winter months - really sorted out the extreme tiredness.
Cod liver oil - to see if helps my meno joint pain. Early days, but glad I've found a nice tasting liquid version as I can't take the capsules.
Glucosamine MSM & Chondroitin with Vitamin C - as above in benefit and time taken.

Iron makes a huge difference to my energy levels.

Creatine: it's been about 7 weeks and I don't think I'm seeing a difference, but I will know better when I stop taking it.

Vit D : I'm not sure you see an immediate difference but over several months I think you willajve a happier winter than without it.

Spermidine: ( yes really!) I think I look younger

Magnesium: I get to sleep more easily

Chromium picolinate: reduces sugar and carb cravings.

Vitamin D, Gentle iron, turmeric, pumpkin seed oil.
They all seem to make a positive difference.

Lactoferrin, ferrex (150mg iron) & vit c
vitamin b2(100mg)
vitamin b1(300mg)
This combo is chef’s kiss!

I bought some women's health ones and didn't notice any difference at all.

Then as I was adding them to my doset box I realised they were for women's vaginal health. I hadn't noticed any change in my fanny so either they didnt work or my fanny was perfectly happy 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️

It's a massive industry and the vast majority are not needed. Most are a waste of money at best.

I'd only take something if I had been diagnosed deficient based on testing at the doctors.

Vitamin D, its a must! It makes a huge difference to how i feel.
Spa tone. When I slack off from taking it I can really tell.
And I started collagen about 2 weeks ago, I was really sceptical about it, but I swear that my skin already looks better. I will keep taking it because I really can't taste it in my tea.

Lions mane, vit d, collegen, turmeric and magnisium. Just started creatine so waiting to see about that 1. Don't think I could fit any more in 😂

Am 55. Fairly active. The magnisium definitely helps me sleep. Vit d levels are middle of normal range from last blood tests just before Xmas. Had a reasonably ok menopause (can't have hrt and think it could have been worse) so figured the rest must be doing something

Vit D on drs recommendation.
Iron with multivitamin - helps with postural hypotension
Glucosamine - helps with arthritic pain and inflammation.
Joined the collagen brigade a few months ago, not sure if it’s helping but as everything seems to be wearing out thought it couldn’t hurt!

They do with Spatone as it's very easy to absorb as already dissolved in water.

I was on the verge of having a blood transfusion after a bad caesarian due to v low iron, they had me on iron tablets for 5 days with no result then a friend brought me spatone and after 3 sachets my levels shot up overnight.

Blood transfusion called off.

I've sworm by spatone ever since especially during and after a heavy period.

Multivitamin and extra vitamin D and B12 on GP's recommendation. Has stopped extreme tiredness and my hair has started to regrow after partially falling out.

Fish oil omega 3 to help with dry eyes. Jury still out on this one.

Considering creatinine.

I think a lot of it is (over-priced) snake oil especially the menopausal supplements (have tried quite a few). HRT made the real difference for me.

However, I do believe the following are useful for me.

Vit D ( within a cod liver oil tablet) - low daylight levels where I live
Iron (I'm a poor absorber)
Creatine - I feel it definitely helps with brain fog.

I know a few folk who swear by magnesium for sleep but it does nothing for me. Again, HRT/mini pill had the biggest impact on this for me.

i do think the big corporate brands over charge for the vitamins etc