What vitamin supplement does your doctor recommend?

[LXEX55]

I have found that doctors vary greatly in their opinion of the value of vitamin supplements. One doctor told me that unless my diet is absolutely horrible, there is no need for supplements. Others have told me that they recommend a multi vitamin such as Centrum Silver. My wife, who is a two times cancer survivor and heart attack survivor was advised by Sloan Kettering to take Magnesium, Calcium, Multi vitamin, Vit D, and a few others. But again, this is a specialized medical condition catered towards her personal medical history.

 

[Dash man]

I’ve been told to take Vitamins D, B12, and also fish oil. I take Magnesium because it reduces nighttime leg cramps.

 

[Jerry1]

I have a holistic doctor and take a number of supplements. All are taken while being monitored with blood work on a regular basis. That aside, in today’s world, with COVID, if nothing else, I would make sure I’m taking vitamin D. Personally, I’d add vitamin C and some zinc to that. Problem is that some vitamins and minerals can accumulate in the system so outside of maybe taking a daily multi vitamin you really should work with a dr who will test you. You really shouldn’t take a supplement if you don’t need it.

For example, I take a B12 supplement. I was deficient in B12 and started having nerve issues (numbness). My previous dr never thought to test me for deficiency but my holistic dr found out that I was significantly deficient in B12. Some damage has already been done, but after several years of B12 supplementation, the numbness has subsided to a very low level.

 

[RetiredHappy]

Our PCP wants us take 4000 IU Vit D3 and Vit C.

These are the supplements which I take:
Daily - 1000 IU Vit D3, Calcium Citrate, PreserVision Areds 2 for eyes, Vit K2.
Twice a week Super B Complex.

I take Cold-EEZE (Zinc) for the duration of the cold.

 

[Chuckanut]

Vitamin D, especially in Winter. And more so now since there is some evidence it helps limit Covid complications.

Vitamin C also at the recommendation of my PT guy who says it helps with muscle and connective tissues. My connective tissues need a lot of work.

 

[Luvtoride]

I take Centrum Silver multi vitamin daily, as recommended by my doctor.

In addition, I have been taking a liquid form of Vitamin C for about 18 months (since shortly after Covid pandemic).
I swear by this supplement (I don’t mean to advertise it here…I don’t get anything for recommending it). I have been feeling well and have seemingly avoided any illness (including avoiding Covid) during this Difficult time. Is it because we’ve been wearing masks and been avoiding crowds? Maybe, but I will keep taking my Vitamin C daily!

 

[daylatedollarshort]

Our regular insurance approved doctors are more into pills, expensive hospital tests and surgery. They've agreed to do a few nutrition tests but the rest we just pay for on our own. I plan to test for every nutrient there is a lab test for plus gut tests and some key biomarkers. Eventually I plan to cover everything in the Breseden protocol for Alzheimer's prevention.

We've been doing the on your own kind of lab tests, that the doctor won't order, like walkinlabs kind of tests and just supplement what we're low in. So far that has been Vitamin D and B12 for both of us, so we only supplement with those.

We had some health issues earlier in the year and it has been great doing the order your own lab and gut tests. I can look up on Pubmed what the studies say people with our issues are usually too low or high in, or what kind of microbiome issues they usually have, and then order the tests. We never would have guessed the results without the tests. Like DH likes his refined carbs but his A1C was low.

 

[aja8888]

About 10 years ago at age 67, my blood work showed I was slightly deficient in Vitamin D. So now I take that daily.

 

[badatmath]

Vitamin D, after blood tests showed I was low.

 

[chris2008]

C with a glass of orange juice every morning, D as daily pill.

 

[Aerides]

Mine advised a D based on my bloodwork.

PSA - anyone assuming their D is fine because they get lots of sun, nah, not always, doesn't work for me!

I also take a women's multi, turmeric, and creatine.

 

[RetiredHappy]

I golf 4 to 5 days a week all year round. I asked my doctor to test for my Vit D in January and it came back as 19. I was shocked. I started taking 1000 IU in addition to my existing Calcium pills and it went up to 30 in May when I had another test. My PCP wants me to take 4000 IU to get to 40. I am adding 1000 IU on non-golf days. I will wait for my next set of tests.

 

[cbo111]

I have never, ever, had a doctor recommend any vitamin.

 

[jollystomper]

Many years ago my doctor recommended Vitamin A and D. Though I golf a lot, dark skinned people have a harder time adsorbing Vitamin D from sunlight.

He is also fine with me taking a generic equivalent of Centrum Silver (high B6 ad B12 content) and Vitamin C to enhance iron absorption (on several past physicals I came out borderline anemic, I also take an iron pill).

 

[ocean view]

I’ve had dry eyes since lasik 15 years ago. My optometrist told me to take flaxseed oil twice daily. I can tell the difference in my eye comfort if I miss a dose.

 

[Aerides]

I golf 4 to 5 days a week all year round. I asked my doctor to test for my Vit D in January and it came back as 19. I was shocked. I started taking 1000 IU in addition to my existing Calcium pills and it went up to 30 in May when I had another test. My PCP wants me to take 4000 IU to get to 40. I am adding 1000 IU on non-golf days. I will wait for my next set of tests.

Yup! I'm outdoors at least an hour every day - S. Fla so sun is never in deficit. I am naturally very pale but maintain a base tan now enough to annoy my dermatologist, and yet I hover around 30 without taking extra D.

 

[latexman]

Kirkland Mature Multi, D3, Niacinamide, B12 (monthly self- injection) and my PA just put me on Vascepa, so I dropped Fish Oil.

 

[Dawg52]

I have never, ever, had a doctor recommend any vitamin.

Same here. I take a multivitamin tho.

 

[MC Rider]

I take a multi vitamin. Doc recommended Calcium + D.


The blood pressure pill I get days don't get too much sun exposure.
Come on, it's Los Angeles. 300 days of sun a year or something like that.

 

[RobbieB]

I do Centrum silver every day, 5000 units D every other day, CoQ10 and the magnesium really does help the leg cramps

 

[nap470]

Pretty much in line with others here. Daily Silver multivitamin and since the Covid epidemic, have stepped up vitamin C, D3 (4000 IU), zinc and melatonin at night.

 

[misanman]

My doctors have never recommended a vitamin supplement and so I've never taken one.

 

[garyt]

I golf 4 to 5 days a week all year round. I asked my doctor to test for my Vit D in January and it came back as 19. I was shocked. I started taking 1000 IU in addition to my existing Calcium pills and it went up to 30 in May when I had another test. My PCP wants me to take 4000 IU to get to 40. I am adding 1000 IU on non-golf days. I will wait for my next set of tests.

I've read that you would need to golf naked to absorb enough D from the sun. Just having face and arms exposed won't do it.

 

[6miths]

We've had this discussion before. Great to hear people have docs who do not suggest supplements. Also have never had a doc suggest supplements. Evidence suggests waste of money at best. Many studies say harm. In very specific, and relatively rare, deficiency conditions then vitamins become treatment. Eat a decent diet, exercise, get some sun.

 

[RetiredHappy]

I've read that you would need to golf naked to absorb enough D from the sun. Just having face and arms exposed won't do it.

We have strong direct sun 365 days a year - Las Vegas area.