Vitamins

[jennyjoan]

If you decide to buy vitamins like what ones would you buy, Boots, Hollands &Barrets - you know to get good strong valid ones. Thanks

[barry1010]

Supermarket own brand. They are all only as strong as the amount of active ingredient - for example, Holland and Barrat 1000mg Vitamin C tablets will be the same strength as Tesco 1000mg Vitamin C tablets.
(90 chewables £10 H&B; £5 Tesco)

[Redhelen72]

Are you deficient in vitamins? My GP has stated in the past that you should only take them if you are deficient in them - and that is diagnosed by blood tests

[jennyjoan]

ok - thanks for that Barry - that's good to know.

[jennyjoan]

I have to make an appointment with doctor - for blood tests - so will mention the vitamin - along with - shingles shot etc.

[barry1010]

The NHS recommends that everyone takes Vit D 10mg throughout the winter, and all year if they are housebound or get very little sunlight on their skin.

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

Everyone in my family takes this supplement.

[gingejbee]

If you do decide to buy vitamin supplements, it's important to know how much you need/want to take - then compare with the amount stated (per pill) on the label.
You'll find that the cheaper ones contain less of the vitamin per pill, so you need to take 2 (or 3 or 4) per day...so they're not cheaper at all!
Best to see if you really need any specific vitamin before you buy any.

[gingejbee]

...and, barry @ 15.10, you're way out! Recommended amount of vitamin D per day is 10 MICROgrams, not 10 MILLIgrams.

[barry1010]

That's what I meant - micrograms. We take 4000iu whatever that is. The practice nurse recommended the ones we buy from Amazon.
Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation Dirt cheap

The Tesco Vit C I mentioned are exactly the same strength as the H&B ones, so they really are half the price :) It pays to shop around

[jennyjoan]

right Barry - looked at your link and noticed on the bottom of the label - food supplement - would that put weight on you.

[Buenchico]

Like Barry, I take Vitamin D supplements in the winter (and, indeed, for much of the rest of the year too, do to my semi-nocturnal lifestyle). I do so because of the NHS recommendation in that respect.

However I agree with Helen (and her GP) that other vitamin supplements are a waste of money (and, in some circumstances, actually harmful) for most people.

To return to the original question, I buy supermarket own-brand Vitamin D tablets. They're just as good as any others.

[Redhelen72]

I take Vit D but again I was diagnosed as deficient in it

[cashier]

Just about everyone is this country would fail a vitamin D test. We don't have the chance, because of the weather, to get enough from the sun.

[pastafreak]

If you get vitamin D measure its D3. Also, 4,000iu is a maintenance dosage. Fine if you have been in the sun every day for the last 6 months. Best to double that in winter. D is the best supplement to take in winter...better than vit c.

[pastafreak]

Did that ^^^on the bus. Should be 'make sure', not measure.