Do vitamin supplements work?

November 8, 2010 8:17pm CST
My friend studying biology at a renowned university laughed at me when I bought vitamins... maybe she was just trying to flirt (it's a tough uni so social skills drop! =P) After a while she explained to me that they probably don't work because they are not in the ideal form for digestion like vitamins that you get from fruit, vege, nuts, etc. But surely companies wouldn't sell them (well, they probably would) if there were no benefits.. or atleast people would realize that they don't do anything and stop buying them. Either way, I think they MUST work! Does anyone feel that they get better when they use them..? Or that they notice the change? Can anyone point me to some reputable sources of clinical trials, or know that these trials exist and whether vitamin tablets work? Should I continue buying them or not..? thanks in advance!
1 person likes this
11 responses
@markleob (1902)
• Philippines
9 Nov 10
yeah. i was so thin but when i take this supplement i gained mass. so yeah. it does.
@markleob (1902)
• Philippines
10 Nov 10
it is not whey.. it is just amino. but amino is the building blocks of protein.. seems like they are almost the same.
9 Nov 10
Nice! I want to get some whey Protein to help me gym! Is that the kind of supplement you mean, or is there something even more magical I could use to bulk up..? =D
11 Nov 10
Just amino sounds better, as your body doesn't have to digest it as heavily. I would love to get some, but whey just seems cheaper right now. Maybe I'll treat myself for christmas!
@pogi253 (1586)
• Philippines
9 Nov 10
Vitamins are crucial amines required by the body in minute quantities. Concern must be taken when consuming them as excess of certain types of vitamins are toxic to the body. Exceptional care must be taken about the dosage when consuming vitamin pills or tablets. Vitamin side effects be likely to increase in severity with increasing dosage. Vitamin supplements may also full of levels of vitamins many times higher, and in different forms, than one may ingest through food. Too much of vitamin intake can lead to hypervitaminosis.
@pogi253 (1586)
• Philippines
9 Nov 10
Vitamin supplements cause hypervitaminosis and overload of minerals can cause excessive side effects.Normal diet naturally contains essential vitamins and minerals.So there is no need to consume too many pills. Too much vitamin A causes Fatigue,vomiting,irritability, loss of appetite,sensitivity to sun rays,hair loss,dry lips,birth defects in babies,excess blood calcium etc.Aside from this increase in pressure to brain and visual worries. Too much vitamin E can cause diarrhea, intestinal pain, lethargy and muscle weakness. Vitamin C, calcium and iron which are commonly taken can be harmful in huge doses for short periods. Too much Beta carotene can cause irreversible side effects especially among smokers. The above are several examples of problems caused with too much vitamin and mineral. So unless there has been a proven deficiency of vitamin and mineral,do not take supplements.
9 Nov 10
Okay, that's scary. I will check out more of my local markets for cheap fruits and vege. But I find that at the moment I'm living mostly on Pasta, which isn't that vitamin rich! And aren't these conditions very rare..? I mean, the mutlivitamin industry is massive, with many customers regularly consuming the products. Do you know much of the frequency of hypervitaminosis..? And to what doses above the RDA are safe? I'm alittle scared! Do you know if fish oil capsules or ginseng supplements are also dangerous in excess..? I always thought the body just weed it all out when it's had enough! Thanks for the correction!!
• Philippines
9 Nov 10
Yes they do work for me and the food supplement I was mentioning was from Tiens. A traditional Chinese Medicine that is 100% safe and herbal and our physician approved it. We don't take supplements without doctor's prescription. But only in Tiens we are confident that we improved our vital organs. I highly recommend Tiens Cordyceps, Vigorousing, Antilepemic tea and Spirulina. Before I used to get serious pimple problems but my system was cleansed when I took food supplements from Tiens. My appetite improved and my stamina also improved. I can attest that food supplements work but that is from Tiens, I won't suggest others which I haven't tried.
@Jacobus1919 (1683)
• Philippines
9 Nov 10
Well, in the first place there is a valid and concrete reason why these things are called supplements. It will work if you do the rest as well.
9 Nov 10
So a diet based on porridge and mulitvits would fail..? Damn! But yea, fair point. =)
11 Nov 10
Sorry but your friend is right. Take Calcium, the best form of Calcium for the body is Calcium Citrate. But alot of supplements use Calcium Carbonate. Magnesium Citrate is the best for the body but most us Magnesium Oxide. And really. The further away something is from it's natural state the crappier it becomes. Supplements tend to Isolate certain parts of the mineral. I think when food is in it's complete form it works better. If you must take a supplement make sure they are using the right stuff. It also good to know that certain vitamins and minerals hinder the absorption of others for example calcium hinders the absorption of Iron, an overdose of phosphorus hinders the abortion of calcium. Something to think about when shopping around. read labels. If you have to take supplements take them in separate from. B vitamins alone, Iron alone (but not after you drink milk or eat grill cheese), and so one. A one a day is not a good idea. It's cheap but... In terms of Brands I take Nutrilite but only the vit. C B and Iron. some of the others have stuff my body would not absorb. I eat alot of fruit and vegetables. I eat a salad with every meal. Try to get your nutrition from food first. the choice is yours. do some research.
13 Nov 10
well for one I have a Diploma in nutrition and dietetics, but here is some easy reading... http://www.livestrong.com/article/242626-do-some-vitamins-inhibit-absorption-of-other-vitamins/ http://www.faqs.org/nutrition/Met-Obe.Minerals.html You can borrow if you local or university library has Preventive Nutrition:The Comprehensive guide for health professionals by A. Bendich and R Beckelbaum The Nutrition Almanac by Kirschmann and Kirschmann Nature and Health October/November 2006 oh and do some research on phytic acid as well.
11 Nov 10
I think I will do the same as you, or atleast try. It seems like getting a vitamin supplement that is effective and well absorbed by the body will just be expensive, in which case I may as well eat some delicious fruits instead! Much healthier and reliable. And I didn't know that certain vitamins inhibit others... alittle ironic and lame considering how often I see cereal with fortified iron in it... should I eat those cerealswith water?!? Ewwww! Sounds kinda funny. Do you have sources for your research that I could browse through quickly..?
@saqi78 (1402)
• Malaysia
9 Nov 10
I dont think that Vitamin supplements are not effective or not working, I agree with one of the comments above that scientist and nutritionist are researching on it and if it was not effective then why would they have spent such a lot of money on research and why would different companies sold it. As she is biology student, so she would say like that, she ll have to defend her course I think but she should know the facts also, the vitamin supplements are prepared from different food sources and are rich in their nutritional value as compare to fruits and vegetables, and these are readily available for digestion and use in the body while from fruits and vegetables these need to be processed inside stomach and other body parts to be available for their role inside body. So I dont think that these are not effective...:) Have a nice day dear....:)
9 Nov 10
Thanks for the info! I read somewhere that fruits and vegetables have mechanisms for aiding the digestion of their vitamins, I think that makes sense. And I totally agree with the statement about how scientists are supporting and investing time and money into it, so there must be something worth studying about it!! Have a nicer day! =D
@_sketch_ (5742)
• United States
9 Nov 10
I take vitamins every day and they definitely work. lol I don't know about any clinical trials or anything like that, but they have worked for me. I'm sure that some are just bs, but some definitely do.
9 Nov 10
Anything specific that you find works..? Do you think Vitamin C works well? 'Cos I'm really ill with Autumn things at the moment! Want a cure from the common cold! =D
@junmae (1586)
• Philippines
9 Nov 10
I dont know if some of people would agree on this but for me, vitamins or food supplement is very useful. I worked 12 hours a day and have only 5 hours of sleep a day so I really have to take supplements do that i would still go on because I dont even eat healthy foods. I am so tired and stressed and vitamins makes me really feel well and revive. I never failed to take my vitamins every night because I believe it is a must for me.
@hushi22 (4928)
9 Nov 10
Wow, great to hear that they work for you! And keep up the hard work, that's an impressive shift! I love how vitamins help people even though others say they don't work, thanks for sharing your experience with them.
@ebuscat (5935)
• Philippines
9 Nov 10
For me vitamin's is good but it must Be fad approved so that it will not too fake.
• Philippines
9 Nov 10
Hi! It does work. Whenever I feel like having a cough or flu, I drink vit. C and after a day or so, I don't get sick at all.
@olgiana (241)
• Mexico
9 Nov 10
Hey, I love vitamins and different dietary supplements. I have been using them daily. I tried different companied, but for the last 6 years I have chosen Herbalife. I can feel the difference absolutely. And I know they have conducted many researches and they have lots of bright scientists, doctors , as well as Noble prize winner working for them. I trust them completely, as I have received my result.