Multivitamins

[jondavies]

does anyone have much experience with supplements please?
i have recntly bought some and wanted to see if other people use them?

[Jdsk]

Could you say a bit more about what you're considering... ?

I'll join in on nutritional requirements and... evidence.

Jonathan

[mjr]

I've never found they do much good but I sometimes try them as a last resort when the drugs don't work. I wouldn't take garlic again because I bleed easily enough anyway.

https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/1224 ... t-happened is a review of testing some cycling-targetted supplements which may interest you.

[ANTONISH]

does anyone have much experience with supplements please?
i have recntly bought some and wanted to see if other people use them?

I suppose the question is why do you feel you need them, given you are going to get most of your sustenance from your diet ?
There may be a case if you are lacking something or are a competitive athlete.
I think it's possible to get sucked into the latest thing which is going to do wonders for your performance.

I get a free copy of "Men's health" magazine, I pass it on to my son but I glance through it. There is always some new diet supplement etc - and advice on building bigger " abs, biceps ,quads etc" - together with pictures of improbably muscular people.
Alongside some other sportsmen, Chris Froome featured in the last issue - didn't really fit with the rest of the magazine.

[mikeymo]

My top tip is Viagra. Lots of it.

[tim-b]

Hi

I'll join in on nutritional requirements and... evidence

I'd be interested in your thoughts on 1000mg Omega 3 (330mg EPA (not EPO!) and 220mg DHA) and 4000IU D3 (100ug D3)
Late-50s male, no particular health issues, and I've been taking that dose daily for a couple of years
Thanks
tim-b

[Jdsk]

Vitamin D

Putting aside any possible connection to coronavirus infection... I strongly advise people in the UK to follow the NHS guidance on supplementation. And I'd go slightly further and suggest that they consider that supplementation all year round.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/

Jonathan (fully expecting the traditional arguments)

[Jdsk]

Essential Fatty Acids

Much harder to advise because we simply don't know as much. I suggest reading:

NHS
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/different-fats-nutrition/

American Heart Association
https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/fats/fish-and-omega-3-fatty-acids

Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_fatty_acid

(I don't take supplements but I do eat a lot of oily fish.)

Jonathan

[tim-b]

Thanks, I'm running low on both so this is an opportune moment to rethink
Regards
tim-b

[Newbie2020]

My brother is an ultra marathon runner in Canada but prior to this did lots of cycling endurance races on mountain trails and cyclo-cross stuff., He began using stuff from Hammer Nutrition. They now have a distributor in the UK but even if you don't use anything, their usa/canada website has some fascinating reads on when and how to use gels, electrolytes, recovery drinks etc.

I use their gels as they don't contain all the additives that SIS or Hi 5 do (and the chocolate one tastes like Nutella!) and their rep will contact you if you need nutritional advice. As I'm doing longer rides ie 40-50 miles I'm starting to look at their endurance stuff. Might be worth a look if you're interested.

[RH20]

A good balanced diet should provide all the vitamins, minerals etc that our bodies need without having to resort to supplements. Supplements quite possibly are of most benefit to the manufacturers. Having said that, there are recommendations that we would benefit from vitamin D supplements between October and March. This being due to our latitude, and the lack of sunshine at this time. Vitamin D is mainly derived from sunlight. There are food stuffs that are rich in vitamin D, eggs, brown mushroom, liver
This should hold good for most of us, for most of the time.
Have a good diet, get plenty of excercise and fresh air, don’t worry, be happy.

[Jdsk]

A good balanced diet should provide all the vitamins, minerals etc that our bodies need without having to resort to supplements. Supplements quite possibly are of most benefit to the manufacturers. Having said that, there are recommendations that we would benefit from vitamin D supplements between October and March. This being due to our latitude, and the lack of sunshine at this time. Vitamin D is mainly derived from sunlight. There are food stuffs that are rich in vitamin D, eggs, brown mushroom, liver
This should hold good for most of us, for most of the time.

What does that should mean? Many healthy adults on typical diets don't get enough. For the reason that you've given.

Reluctance to supplement is understandable when there's so much dietary pseudoscience, commercial interest and ripping off around. But it's wiser to supplement vitamin D than not.

Jonathan

PS: The list of things that are worth supplementing in the UK at the moment is quite small, but it includes vitamin D for all adults, iron for some menstruating women, and folate before conception and in early pregnancy.

[simonineaston]

Individuals with fully functional digestion who eat a normal diet, consisting of the recomemended variety of ingredients are unlikely to benefit from 'suppliments'. Penty of studies to back that up.

[Jdsk]

Could you provide the evidence supporting that for vitamin D, please?

Or iron for some menstruating women?

Or folate before conception or in early pregnancy?

Thanks

Jonathan

[NUKe]

A good balanced diet should provide all the vitamins, minerals etc that our bodies need without having to resort to supplements. Supplements quite possibly are of most benefit to the manufacturers. Having said that, there are recommendations that we would benefit from vitamin D supplements between October and March. This being due to our latitude, and the lack of sunshine at this time. Vitamin D is mainly derived from sunlight. There are food stuffs that are rich in vitamin D, eggs, brown mushroom, liver
This should hold good for most of us, for most of the time.

What does that should mean? Many healthy adults on typical diets don't get enough. For the reason that you've given.

Reluctance to supplement is understandable when there's so much dietary pseudoscience, commercial interest and ripping off around. But it's wiser to supplement vitamin D than not.

Jonathan

PS: The list of things that are worth supplementing in the UK at the moment is quite small, but it includes vitamin D for all adults, iron for some menstruating women, and folate before conception and in early pregnancy.

So quote some real science then that says we should take these. if I don’t suffer from Vitamin D deficiency why should I take it as a supplement ?There is very little evidence that supplements have an affect. The other 2 you mentioned, iron is only needed for some, and Folic acid I will give you that one