I'd like everybodys opinions on them ( preferably a health care professional - but failing that groomyd will do )

Basically I've never thought of taking them but I've seen some on offer ( half price in Asda )

Are they any good? Is anyone on them or are they just a waste of time and no substitute for fresh fruit and veg?

Cheers Mad Dog

I’ve tried them on and off. The wife swears by them.

Balanced diet, plenty fruit and veg and the magic ingredient – water – will see you alright.

If you don't eat a really balanced diet then odds on you are missing out on one or more vitamins. I'm not really a rabbit food mucher so have taken A-Z vitamins for years and haven't died yet.

I think it is possible to have too much of some vitamins but that would involve large quantities and so 1 tablet with just 100% RDA would only be a small part of that (a proper medical person, not just a pen-pusher , may wish to advise otherwise / more accurately)

Possibly worth it if you've been ill and not eating properly, or if you just have a crap diet, but my view's always been that they're not necessary - a pill shouldn't replace proper diet. If you're a veggie and drink lots of coffee then you may need a bit more Iron though (caffeine can hinder iron absorption).

Should probably take them if you're on a mega diet as well (although you shouldn't be on a fad diet that doesn't involve normal healthy eating anyway).

IMO, in the vast majority of cases, vitamin pills are just part of the big money making fad diet / cod health bandwagon.

ps - I have no medical background so feel free to ignore anything I write on this thread

If it's good health your looking for theres only one vitamin that you need to be looking at really, and the vitamin is D3. And in fact it isn't actually a vitamin, more of a hormone.

The bottom line is that virtually every disease and adverse health condition is associated with low vitamin D3 levels. Consequently, many of these problems may be fixed with adequate vitamin D3 supplementation, or can be avoided by keeping vitamin D3 levels in the high normal range.

Now it is more properly recognized as a prohormone that is essential to life. Even if it were only good for bone health, vitamin D3 still would be an important supplement, but the benefits go way beyond just bone health. It does its bit in preventing Cancer, Mutliple-Scolerisis (sp), Flu/cold symptons, also aids muscle regeneration and mass, and aids weight loss a tad. hard to believe eh

http://www.charlespoliquin.com/Articles ... spx?ID=230


Google charles poliquin if you want any reassurance.

P.s. if it's help with your gym life your looking at Magnesium and Zinc are two you should look at, help with muscle regrowth and several other things.

But trust me, Vitamin D3 and you'll never feel better once you've got natural to high levels.

p.p.s. Mad Dog

http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/goodfood/pages/vitamins.aspx

Eat well and there is no need for vitamins

During pregnancy you may need iron/folic acid, the elderly can benefit from vitamin d for bones but generally they are a total con! And there is a chance they could even be bad for you.

All well and good saying eat healthily - but what % of people actually know what eating healthily is - A diet coke and a cheese sandwich is a horrific choice at work but the majority would choose it as the best option.

Wife is just about to give in being a lawyer to do personal training - I am just entering the world of everything being bad for me.......Luckily - I do the cooking ;0)

Cheers Groomyd....was waiting for your opinion. cheers for the link to that site. Might just get some vitamin D at some point as I work indoors and don't get much/if any sunlight

Where can I get this vitamin D? Groomyd? TCF? will it be down my local Asda's?

Holland & Barrett as most of them are doing Buy one get one half price on everything, so can get a nice tub of Vitamin D3 and whatever else for nice and cheap.

Noticed no difference from using multi vitamins for a while, but a lot of water, D3, Magnesium and Zinc tablets and a healthy lifestyle and you'll go far.

juice gives me the impression it goes straight to my system better than freeze dried vitamins that loose some of their goodness in that process so ive read. there isnt much proof that vitamins actually do work i dont think. groomy is right, eating better is the best way, but that juice is good for anti oxidents.

. Rickets, bone density, osteoporosis, osteopenia, osteomalacia: Low levels of vitamin D contribute to osteopenia and fractures. JAMA. 2002;287:3127-3129.

2. Fetal brain development and maternal health: Med Hypotheses. 2010 Jan;74(1):71-5. Epub 2009 Aug 18.

3. Psoriasis: “Hyperproliferative skin disorders such as psoriasis might be responsive to treatment with vitamin D....” “[Treatment with vitamin D] …showed great improvement in reducing the severity and area of psoriatic lesions.” Holick, MF. High prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy and implications for health. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2006 Mar;81(3):353-73.

4. Cancer: “Both prospective and retrospective epidemiologic studies indicate that levels of 25-OH D below 20 ng [nanograms] per milliliter are associated with a 30 to 50% increased risk of incident colon, prostate, and breast cancer, along with higher mortality from these cancers....” “Vitamin D either directly or indirectly controls more than 200 genes, including genes responsible for the regulation of cellular proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis.” Holick MF. Vitamin D deficiency. N Engl J Med. 2007;357(3):266-81.

5. Blood sugar regulation and insulin resistance: “Vitamin D deficiency increased insulin resistance, decreased insulin production, and was associated with the metabolic syndrome.” Holick MF. Vitamin D deficiency. N Engl J Med. 2007;357(3):266-81.

6. Depression and other neurological concerns: “Several studies suggest an association between hypovitaminosis D and basic and executive cognitive functions, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.” Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2009 Feb;11(1):12-9.

7. Multiple Sclerosis: “High circulating levels of vitamin D are associated with a lower risk of multiple sclerosis.” JAMA. 2006;296:2832.

8. Immune function: “When serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D fall below 20 ng per milliliter, the monocyte or macrophage is prevented from initiating this innate immune response” Holick MF. Vitamin D deficiency. N Engl J Med. 2007;357(3):266-81.

9. Cold, flu, and respiratory tract infection: shortened duration of symptoms in study of African women.

10. Symptoms associated with autoimmune conditions: Vitamin D deficiency affects the immune system’s capacity to self-regulate and can therefore lead to tissue damage via overproduction of potentially pathogenic cytokines.

11. Hypertension and congestive heart failure: “In a study of patients with hypertension who were exposed to ultraviolet B radiation three times a week for 3 months, 25-OH D levels increased by approximately 180% and blood pressure became normal.” “Vitamin D deficiency is associated with congestive heart failure.” Holick MF. Vitamin D deficiency. N Engl J Med. 2007;357(3):266-81.

12. Muscle mass and strength: “Vitamin D deficiency causes muscle weakness.” “Performance speed and proximal muscle strength were markedly improved when 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels increase from 4 to 16 ng per milliliter (10 to 40 nmol [nanomole] per liter) and continued to improve as the levels increase to more than 40ng per milliliter (100 nmol per liter). Holick MF. Vitamin D deficiency. N Engl J Med. 2007;357(3):266-81.

13. Weight Loss: “For every increase of 1 ng/mL in level of 25-OH D3, subjects ended up losing almost 0.2 kg more on their calorie-restricted diet.” Shalamar Sibley, prepublication report for the Endocrine Society’s 91st Annual Meeting.

14. And even longevity, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, thyroid conditions…

...and this just scratches the surface of the research!

Proofs there for me for D3, but each to their own, no point overloading on tablets and whatnot.

Do I want some of these bad boys then?

http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/ ... rodid=1453

yes, the vitamin creams and juices and whatnot. im wandering about the freeze dried vits.

Eat 5 portions of fruit and veg a day, some carbs and some dairy, plenty fo fish and chicken, some meat

Jobs a good'un

and not even some vitamin D pills? Just that...........

I dont use them, the missus does.

Basically, if you've got a good diet, you shouldn't be deficient. But its amazing how many people don't have a good diet. Can you really say that most people you know get their 5 portions of fruit / veg a day, oily fish twice a week etc?

We run our own blood transfusion service here, and it's surprising the number of supposedly healthy donors, who show up with iron deficiency on testing. Iron deficiency is reasonably common in kids (fussy eaters), veggies, alcoholics, people with absorbtion problems. A routine screen will pick this up along with B12 / folate deficiencies.

However, what about the things we dont test for routinely? All the other vitamins and trace elements? Vit D deficiency is VERY common in northern hemisphere countries, (lack of sunlight). There are reports (google it) of studies linking some deficiencies with ADHD syndromes and underachievement at school.

I'd say if you want to take them, go for it. It won't do you any harm, (I'm not talking about megadoses here), and saves you worrying about getting enough of anything. Even if they are not needed physiologically for most people, psychologically they can be useful.

Seems a very expensive way of doing it.

I'm sure multivitamins at your local supermarket will be cheaper (check the Vitamin D content for 100% RDA) and you get the bonus of all the extras (I usually get the ones with added Iron in)

http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthydiet/n ... /vitamind/

Food Standards Agency website (eatwell) is useful

Vit d can be got from eggs and oily fish plus of course sunshine

Sunny D!


(They really should have added Vitamin D and rebranded it as a health drink )

Considering the money they save you from medicines and whatnot if you keep your levels at a normal-high level.

Up to you DC, i've got the exact same and am in process of upping my levels - don't eat enough eggs and whatnot myself, my diet is not too balanced - more eat when I can and what I can, never really too healthy. Long history of health conditions in family too, so I do what I can.

Don't need them but look at the research done to make your mind up..

Just get a lot of protein naturally (no McChicken burgers) and you'll see improvements after a short while.