vitamins and supplements do you partake and do they make a difference?

The Adcal-D3 tablets I take contain 600mg of calcium and 10mc Vit D3 so if I took 2 of them daily I'd be ingesting 1,200 mg of calcium, which is the rda for women aged 50-70.

Trouble is, I can't remember why my GP said they advise taking only one daily - but I'm sure it was something to do with heart disease...

You're probably already getting calcium from your diet. I expect you can Google 'too much calcium' but I know too much isn't very good for you.

I know they're not specialists Anya, but I don't have obvious symptoms of any vitamin or mineral deficiency, so I guess she would actually be negligent to prescribe them. Excessive Vitamin D intake can cause a high level of blood calcium, which is harmful. My kidney and liver function are tested regularly as part of my diabetes treatment.

I'm not unduly worried about lack of vitamins or minerals. I guess if I were, I'd find out how much a private test would cost.

I agree if you don't need something then don't take it DD and excessive anything (even water) is harmful. There is always a danger that calcium may not be directed to build new bone and can, obviously via the blood, end up in soft tissue such as arteries, breast, etc..I do take another supplement which helps direct calcium to the bones.

Ana I suspect your GP is concerned about the D3 content of your Adcal tablet if you took two. That's exactly why I only take 50% of my recommended dose (4) of my tablets. Two tablets give me 33% of my daily Ca requirement but 80% of my D3. That's more than enough Vit D and why I gradually ease off as Spring approaches and take none in summer.

And yet two is the standard dose - locally it's only my GP's practice which recommends only one tablet.

(by which I meant that I have friends who are taking two and are surprised and concerned that I'm only on one!)

I'm not arguing with you Anya. I'm just interested. I tend to ignore most advice to take supplements, because I think most of them are a con. I asked my GP and dietician (the one I see for diabetes) about Vitamin D, because I read that supplements are recommended. I even bought a bottle of them, which is now languishing in my bathroom cabinet. Both said that it wasn't necessary. They know what I eat (LCHF) and said I was almost certainly getting enough from my diet and I'm not in a high risk group. It was the dietician who warned me about VitD toxicity and told me about blood calcium. I'll have rethink if I ever start having problems with bones and muscles.

Do your calcium tablets contain magnesium too?

I'm interested because I know that magnesium lowers blood pressure and prevents cramps but I haven't found any magnesium tablets in this country without them being in a combination with calcium (a higher amount than magnesium) and vit D.

You are right about GPs, they are not nutritionists and often know less than a well-informed patient about diet.

DD I didn't think this was an 'arguement' either, more of a discussion . Ana's GP has told her to do exactly what I've decided to do.

It's true that most calcium supplements contain, pro rata, too much Vit D. I think the current thinking, from informed GPs, is to supplement part of your Ca but get the rest from diet, especially cheese, yoghurt and non-dairy sources.

Jalima my tablets do not contain any Mg.

Jalima High magnesium foods include dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, fish, beans, whole grains, avocados, yogurt, bananas, dried fruit, dark chocolate, and more. The current daily value (DV) for magnesium is 400mg.

Ana just had another thunk!

If you took 2 Ca tablets, that's giving you 100% of your daily needs. So if you were also eating cheese, or yoghurt, milk, etc as well then you'd possibly be having too much Ca. Sound like your GP's well informed.

Too much of anything is not good for you.
That's what too much means.

Thanks Anya
I eat quite a lot from that list apart from whole grains and trying to keep off the chocolate at the moment.

Of course, the recommended daily amounts vary from country to country anyway.
www.preventive-health-guide.com/rda.html

That's very interesting, Jalima. So in fact we are possibly not taking whatever supplements we take in high enough doses!

I hadn't realised that the RDA was actually the minimum amount deemed necessary.

Some vitamins are excreted if taken in excess, others build up to what could be dangerous levels if taken in excess, eg vitamin A

Which is why you should never eat polar bear liver. (Useless fact of the day.)

An interesting link Jalima - many of the points in it have already been raised in this thread, such as poor soil quality degrading the nutrient level of our foods, but it's better to have all the issues there in one short, succinct piece.

It's the far soluble vitamins that can build up in the body (and especially in the liver of polar bears DD!!) these include Vits A, E & D.

Fat-soluble.

I don't take anything except turmeric after watching my favourite programme- trust me I'm a doctor- sorry Anya!
I have a very varied diet, don't seem to have any food intolerances or medical conditions but every so often go on a strict diet that cuts out sugar to a ridiculous degree and also includes taking caprillic acid to kill off any bad bacteria in my gut. I did that to help with my psoriasis and it did to a huge degree. I last did it 2 years ago. A much better option than steroid creams.

I too enjoy watching Trust Me I'm a Doctor Pamela - and I am looking forward to watching it tomorrow night

Do you mean Caprylic Acid Pamela?
Not at all meaning to question your spelling, but I was interested in what you posted. So I googled it and if I put in caprillic it comes up Caprylic, which I wasnt sure was the same thing at all.

I dont want to suggest something to someone, which is the wrong acid!

What bad bacteria would those be Pamela

But he's not a 'doctor' is he? He qualified but never practised I think.

Yes Anya, sorry a spelling mistake.
I am not an expert but I think that it's fairly well known and proved that bad bacteria can live in the gut and compromise your immune system. Two books to read are-, The Diet Myth by Tim Spector, and Arthritis, Allergy, nutrition and the environment by Dr. John Mansfield.
Did you mean that Michael Mosley isn't a 'real' Dr?