[Closed] Multivitamins? Experiences?

If you have a decent diet they are totally unneeded

my mte pisses bright orange like fanta on multi vitamins. worth it for that alone surely?

yup, they turn my pee a funny colour too!

I'd take any claims Vitabiotics make for their products with a massive pinch of salt. The evidence they cherry pick so that they can add science buzzwords to their packs was revealed recently to be so inappropriate it actually had me laughing out loud.

If you're not sick, don't take pills.

I knew before opening this post that TJ would be in there saying you don't need them with a balanced diet. For what its worth, i've taken them and never noticed any difference but maybe they help out on the inside somewhere you don't really feel it.

I knew before opening this post that TJ would be in there saying you don't need them with a balanced diet.

Likewise here.

But that's probably because I've never heard anyone from the medical profession say any different.

.

But anyway, yeah .......... go for multivits. They can work wonders :

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When pressed nobody from the vitamin industry can say anything different either.

Never noticed any difference on or off them to be honest, certainly not sufficient that might be considered attributable to anything other than a placebo effect.

I think the legal obligation on television advertising says it all...

'[b]MAY[/b] be of benefit to the young, pregnant or elderly'.

As said above, anyone eating a balanced diet and of rude health needs no additional vitamin consumption. IMO of course.

There is belief by some that large quantities of antioxidant vitamins can be beneficial. Does Vitamin C help with protecting or recovering from colds? Some participating in demanding events, such as the TdF, take vitamin supplements.

For the majority of us I'm sure there's little benefit but I take a multi vitamin/mineral supplement sometimes.

The only thing that makes a noticable difference to me is iron.

what does iron do to you?

what does iron do to you

(Or for a man who regularly bleeds lots).... 😉

There is belief by some that large quantities of antioxidant vitamins can be beneficial.

Actually there is [i]some[/i] evidence that large doses of [i]some[/i] vitamins can be harmful. [url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6399773.stm ]Here you go.[/url]

Does Vitamin C help with protecting or recovering from colds?

Evidence for this is weak at best.

Some participating in demanding events, such as the TdF, take vitamin supplements.

Probably true but then that's not exactly a normal activity is it. You wouldnt recommend a TdF riders calorific intake as being healthy for a normal person would you?

Most people think they have a balanced diet, but tend to lack a few bits and pieces, but unless you are finding that deficiancies are causing you health problems, I shouldn't worry too much. I take a multi vitamin a day as I'm vegetarian, anaemic and often eat at weird times/ skip meals. Generic supermarket own brand ones will work just as well as fancy "sport specific" ones IMO. If you know you're down on something, try eating new foods.. loads more fun/ interesting thamn takng pills though!

is that exploding man above for real ?? YEK!

Interesting post.

Can I just ask if anyone here thinks any other types of supplements are beneficial and if so which ones?

What about Cod Liver Oil/Omega 3 supplements as an example?

I believe, on reading a particular post yesterday, that certain mushrooms can be beneficial for some...

what does iron do to you

It's a girl thang.

(Or for a man who regularly bleeds lots)....

Lol.

Yes, it's a girl thing. Apparently women who exercise regularly are much more prone to anaemia. Also I seem to have a predisposition to being anaemic, as did my mum. If I don't take iron supplements, my iron levels are continually only just above anaemic (ie I'm never allowed to give blood as they're too low). It has a huge effect on my fitness levels.

gonefishin - do you know anything about this? I'm unsure from your response. I think most know that fat soluble vitamins shouldn't be taken in excessive quantities?

Your response to my comment about athletes taking supplements is a bit odd - if they're eating more calories then hopefully they're doing it in a balanced diet sort of a way so are taking in increased vitamins through their diet. But maybe they still need to supplement as the demands placed on them require an over supply of vitamins - or at least some of them? Or maybe they're wasting their money? I did of course end by saying that IMO there's little benefit to most of us so your comparison between the calorific needs of sportsmen and average people is a rather pointless.

mrsflash - my other half is the same, usually in the cant-give-blood-but-not-a-problem region. When you say it affects your fitness levels, is that your actual fitness levels or your mood/energy levels to get out and do things? Of course tell me to go away if you like too, or email me (profile) if you prefer.

In reply to Ski - I find cod liver oil used to help my dodgy knee problems, but not enough for me to remember to buy new packs. I have fits and starts on it!

I took multivits for 2 seperate periods in my life, both only for I guess 2 or 3 weeks. They were different brands. With both I started to feel 'not right' somehow and then more off colour. Both times it stopped within a few days of not taking the pills. I never take them now as there is something in them I cannot tolerate, as it is the only time I have felt 'not well' in that sort of way.

gonefishin - do you know anything about this?

Only what I've read from various sources. The BBC link was the easiest way to illustrate the point about excessive vitmain doses doing actual harm rather than simply being excreted by the body. I do not claim to be any sort of authority on the matter, not that that stops anyone else on here. 😀

My comment on the athlete thing was an attempt to stop anyone from making the (il)logical assumption that if top athlete does something then it must be a good thing to do. I'll concede it wasn't worded very well and wasn't meant to cause offence.

Most of what I know comes from my gym rat days but maybe my assumption that most know taking fat soluble vitamins in excess could cause problems is wrong.

And simonfbarnes - no that man is not for real! I've met Dorian Yates though:

[img] [/img]

When you say it affects your fitness levels, is that your actual fitness levels or your mood/energy levels to get out and do things?

it seems to affect my actual fitness levels - or rather my ability to improve my fitness. About 6 years ago I started running. I ran regularly for about 8 or 9 months, and really wasn't improving at all, I wasn't able to do bigger distances and I wasn't getting any quicker at the distance I was doing. Same on the bike, I was riding once or twice a week, but didn't seem to get any fitter at all. I went to give blood, got referred to the doctor, started on the iron supplements and in 2 weeks I had taken 2 minutes off my 40 minute run, and my riding improved dramatically at the same time.

I notice the same now if I haven't taken them for a while, if I run out and haven't had a chance to get any more for example.

I don't find it effects my mood at all.

cheers!

No worries. Email me if you want to know any more info 🙂 I was amazed by what a difference it made to me!

I guess (from experience) that initially you need to know what vits you are deficient in and more importantly, which ones may have a detrimental effect on you. The only real way to establish this is via blood tests.
The other factor to acknowledge is the influence of any medication you may be on, eg; i have to take folic acid dailey as my current meds restrict the production of it.
In short, it is different for everybody so there is no single answer - it's an individual thing.

For most folk not doing particularly demanding riding, eating well etc there may be no benefit. But I have taken them when training hard.

Didn't make any difference to the way I felt, but I had the runs every time I drank beer.

Thanks for all of your expertise, opinions and experiences.
Mrsflash, I will recommend that MrsBH start taking iron so ta for that.
I'm training quite hard at the mo, 30 odd miles per week running and riding at the weekend (and some circuits). My body has had quite a battering over the years, what with the army (3 CDO) and rugby etc so I was hoping to be pro active as much as performance enhancement.
Thanks again.