Do Vitamin Supplements Really Work? - Warren's Experience

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the efficacy of vitamin supplements, particularly focusing on daily multivitamins and specific vitamins like B-12, E, and A. Participants share personal experiences, anecdotal evidence, and insights from studies related to vitamin intake and health outcomes.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Warren questions the usefulness of once-a-day vitamin supplements and shares personal observations about skin clarity while taking them.
  • Nautica advocates for injectable B-12, claiming it is superior to oral B-12 due to absorption issues in the stomach.
  • A later reply clarifies that while oral B-12 is not absorbed in the stomach, it can be absorbed in the ileum with the help of intrinsic factor.
  • Participants discuss a study suggesting high doses of vitamins E and C may lower the incidence of Alzheimer's in the elderly, with some sharing their own vitamin regimens.
  • Concerns are raised about the potential toxicity of fat-soluble vitamins, particularly vitamin A, with warnings about overdosing.
  • Nautica mentions using alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) for diabetic neuropathy and discusses its antioxidant properties compared to vitamins C and E.
  • There is a mention of the importance of resistance training and dietary sources of calcium in preventing osteoporosis.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the effectiveness and safety of various vitamin supplements, with no clear consensus on the overall efficacy of vitamin supplementation. Some participants support specific vitamins while others raise concerns about potential overdoses and absorption issues.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various studies and personal experiences, but the discussion does not resolve the complexities surrounding vitamin absorption, efficacy, and safety. There are also differing opinions on the necessity and benefits of specific supplements.

chroot
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What do you biology people think about the once-a-day vitamin supplements like the ones here:

http://www.bayercare.com/oad/oadmen.html

I have recently started taking them, more or less on a whim. I'm wondering if vitamin tablets are actually useful, or whether they are just a gimmick.

I have stopped taking them for up to a week, doing a pseudoscientific test to see if I notice any differences. I can say with considerable gravity that my skin is clearer when I take the vitamins. Perhaps the vitamin A? I don't really feel any different, at least not that I can tell.

What do you guys think? Do you take them? Do you laugh at people who do?

- Warren
 
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Injectable B-12
Multi-vitamin
ALA
Vitamin C
Prescription Fish Oil
And of course fruits and veggies

These should fill everyones cabinet.

Nautica
 
...Injectable B-12?

- Warren
 
Yes, It is script, but you can purchase it online. Oral B-12 is degraged by the time it makes it through the stomach, so it is worthless. B-12 is by far the greatest vit one can take. Increased energy, complextion, and overall feeling of well being. Some weight loss clinics will give you a shoot for $15, but you can usually buy and entire bottle for that price.

Nautica
 
That's uh... sort of scary, nautica.

- Warren
 
Originally posted by nautica
. Oral B-12 is degraged by the time it makes it through the stomach, so it is worthless. B-12 is by far the greatest vit one can take. Nautica

It is true in part. It's true the Vit B12 is not absorbed from the stomach, but it is absorbed in the ileum. However, in the stomach, intrinsic factor (IF) is secreted that binds with VitTB12 so it can be absorbed distally. People lacking the capability of intrinsic factor cannot absorb any oral Vit B12. (pernicious anemia) a lot of people have very high serum levels of VItB12 who are not taking vit B12 shots (it is a general panel drawn when working up people for anemia) so I can personally verify this.
 
A few days ago I saw this news report about a study that showed elderly people who take high doses of E and C have a 64% lower incidence of Altzheimer's compared to those who take nothing or a multivitamin.

It also commented that if you take E, you should take it with oil or at least cereal, otherwise it flushes right out of your system.

I have been taking 400 units of E a day for years, so I added 500 units of C and started taking my morning pills with a half teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil.
 
Originally posted by selfAdjoint
A few days ago I saw this news report about a study that showed elderly people who take high doses of E and C have a 64% lower incidence of Altzheimer's compared to those who take nothing or a multivitamin.

It also commented that if you take E, you should take it with oil or at least cereal, otherwise it flushes right out of your system.

I have been taking 400 units of E a day for years, so I added 500 units of C and started taking my morning pills with a half teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil.

1000 iu of vitE is now the mainstay for a lot of neurolgists. (I don't think the studies showed a protective effect with 400 so I would go up on the dose.) Just remember, at 1000 iu it has anticlotting properties and if you are having elective surgery you need to decrease the dose back below 1000 or hold it altogether.

i take, 1500mg of calcium (I am a thin, eurasian female with a family history of osteoperosis), a multivitamin, 2000mg of fish oil, 1000U of vit E, and during racing season, I supplement with creatine.
 
E is a great supplement, but for the antioxidant purposes ALA, beats both C and E, as it is both fat and water soluble, whereas E is only fat and C only water soluble.

Creatine is also, a great supplement for only needed for those who are training intensely.

For your calcium, I assume you are eating lots of Green leafy veggies, they are a great source and also, fish bones. Reistance training will, also help prevent osteporosis.
 
  • #10
Just becareful with fat-soluble vitamins, it is possible to overdose on those. Water-solube vitamins are not such a problem, since they will be extreted in the urine.

Aren't the B-vitamins fat soluble? I've heard it is easy to take more than you require.. but I am not a vitamin expert :) Today I'll be attending a small vitamin A talk (whether it is the cure of the future), I heard it can have nasty by-effects.
 
  • #11
I believe A, D, E and K are fat-soluble, while all the others are water-soluble.

And yes, Vitamin A in large doses has some rather toxic effects.

- Warren
 
  • #12
Originally posted by chroot
I believe A, D, E and K are fat-soluble, while all the others are water-soluble.

And yes, Vitamin A in large doses has some rather toxic effects.

- Warren

I follow patients in the liver transplant ICU and every year there is one or two who developed fulminant liver failure from inadertant overdoses of vit A and needed a liver transplant. Scary.
 
  • #13
Originally posted by nautica
E is a great supplement, but for the antioxidant purposes ALA, beats both C and E, as it is both fat and water soluble, whereas E is only fat and C only water soluble.

Creatine is also, a great supplement for only needed for those who are training intensely.

For your calcium, I assume you are eating lots of Green leafy veggies, they are a great source and also, fish bones. Reistance training will, also help prevent osteporosis.

I use ALA for a lot of diabetics who have painful neuropathy, it is used a lot in Europe for this. There is great data coming out on this stuff, but the Alzheimer's data still isn't as good as the Vit E, but the Parkinson's disease prevention is coming down the pipeline. My husband is a body builder during the off season and takes ALA and it helps his muscle recovery. Since mountain biking requires a lot of upper body strength I supplement with bench pressing, tricep workouts etc. throughout the year ( we converted our dining rooom into a weight room so I can do it in the middle of the night if I have to.) and work on hamstrings and quads in the winter. As for green leafy vegetables...I don't cook ever and I am never home for dinner, so unless the hospital cafeteria offers such a fare, I sometimes go without but I do try to eat healthy, in fact, I can attest to eating quite healthy on the run.
 
  • #14
Mt Biker/body builder. Cool, me too.

Nautica
 
  • #15
Originally posted by nautica
Mt Biker/body builder. Cool, me too.

Nautica

Yeah, way cool..that's why I married him
 

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