Recommend a SMALL sized multivitamin?

vegankris

I get plenty of sunlight anyway, although tests may be worthwhile for someone who doesn't get much sunlight exposure.

Ted_Hutchinson

vegankris wrote: »

I get plenty of sunlight anyway, although tests may be worthwhile for someone who doesn't get much sunlight exposure.

Well unless you live (or spend a reasonable amount of time ie 6 weeks or so) somewhere south of latitude 35N you won't be getting any Vitamin D from sunlight in the UK until next April so your vitamin D status depends on how much you stored in the summer and that relies on raising status during the summer above the threshold detailed here Circulating Vitamin D3 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D in Humans:

The average UK adult gets to about 70nmol/l at the end of summer and therefore has virtually no stores and consequently we see symptoms of SAD virtually 3 weeks into October with increasing numbers through to the end of March depending on how sensitive people are to Vit d deficiency. So really it depends on how much time you spent naked or nearly naked during the summer. Hands and face exposure in Omaha through working outdoors all day every day produces on average 2800iu/d over the year and those guys are insufficient in the winter. If that happens at latitude 40ish, in a country where milk is fortified as are cereals to outdoor workmen what makes you so certain your vitamin D status is better than theirs. I certainly didn't get much outdoor sun exposure in August in the UK but maybe you live in a sunnier/warmer part of the UK. The half life of stored D3=3-4 weeks. Imagine if your capital/savings depleted at 50% every 3-4 weeks, How much capital would you require to last from October to April given you also need to use approx 4000iu/daily on daily living needs.

Can you really explain where you get your 3000-5000iu/daily needs from?

ailuro2

The tablets arrived last week, I was impressed by the speedy delivery, normally things form the U.S take an age to arrive (thinking last year's Christmas pressies from the discovery store)

I also got some Bach's rescue remedy cream, which I've never seen before.:D

vegankris

@ ailuro2
If you like the Bach rescue remedy cream(I've never tried it myself but my friend swears by the stuff!), you can buy it in holland and barret and larger branches of boots over here btw.

@Ted_Hutchinson
Because winter's a great time to take a cheap sunshine holiday rather than paying for high season prices in summer, folks!:cool:;)
I've never personally suffered from SAD so I've never had cause to do any research on the subject.
My partner's nutritionist (he visits a nutritionist on a regular basis because of his type 1 diabetes which he has suffered with since childhood) reckons his vegan diet as long as he is using this supplement is perfectly adequate. (And he eats pretty much the same as I do.) My own GP also approves of my diet and use of this supplement, so as I've said, I've never had cause to look into vitamin D supplements any further.
I will be back to post with more info on vitamin D once I've done a little research.

Ted_Hutchinson

Because winter's a great time to take a cheap sunshine holiday rather than paying for high season prices in summer, folks!:cool:;)

So long as you use this calculator to ensure you spend sufficient time BUT never get burnt

My partner's nutritionist (he visits a nutritionist on a regular basis because of his type 1 diabetes which he has suffered with since childhood) reckons his vegan diet as long as he is using this supplement is perfectly adequate.

Well IMO your partner's nutritionist is plain wrong. Anyone who thinks a vegan diet can supply Vitamin D simply doesn't understand the amounts of Vitamin D the body naturally uses daily.

(And he eats pretty much the same as I do.) My own GP also approves of my diet and use of this supplement,

I prefer to rely on peer reviewed medical science to form my opinions. GP's and nutritionist's have a vested interest in keeping you dependent on them for custom. I prefer not to have to see my doctor from one year to the next.

So as I've said, I've never had cause to look into vitamin D supplements any further.
I will be back to post with more info on vitamin D once I've done a little research.

Well start with The vitamin D council

Then The Vitamin D Institute The documents section has the slides from several presentations that form a useful summary of recent research.

Then The Conference video's here Contemporary Diagnosis and Treatment of Vitamin D-Related Disorders With these videos do start with Vieth, Heaney and Hollis. leave session one till later or you may get lost. I think I now know what Haussler was on about but it really is throwing people in at the deep end.

There is an awful lot of out of date Vitamin D3 information online, particularly from organisations one might take to be reputable and reliable. I prefer to see the actual scientific evidence that supports the medical understandings expressed. If there is no peer reviewed evidence available to support an opinion then it probably doesn't stand up.

Are humans meant to be omnivores? Interesting post from someone who used to be a vegetarian.

jeannieblue

Ted,

I'm looking at the Bio Tech site - are they reliable and quick in delivering?

I'm looking to get the D3 - not tried them before and am a miserable cow in the winter and skin flares up either with spots or ezcema or something.

Thanks in advance

vegankris

I'll give them a read.

Human beings, as hairless(well mostly!) mammals probably aren't "meant to" live in a climate where we need to wear clothes or use central heating to keep us warm or use another mammals' breast milk in adulthood either. But we've done it for generations. I've heard countless arguments over whether we're designed to eat meat or not from both sides, and to be honest, I don't really care what we're "meant to" do- the bottom line for me is, so long as I can survive healthily on a vegan diet, albeit with man-made help in the form of supplements- I shall continue to do so. And that's all I have to say on this tangent, as I didn't come in this thread to justify my dietary choices, I just came in to suggest a chewable vitamin to the OP! I will come back to post anything relevant I find on the subject of vitamin D supplements.

Ted_Hutchinson

jeannieblue wrote: »

I'm looking at the Bio Tech site - are they reliable and quick in delivering?

I've never had any problems with them. If you don't like ordering online they also have a freephone number than you can access via 1899 OR 18185 and you get to speak to a really nice helpful person. But that was before they improved their website.

jeannieblue

I'll give them a go - just to re cap(sule:o ), they are one a day? I guess so after you said about recommend dose being 5000 etc!

That means that 250 days worth will last for approximately 250 days - good value!! Even with the postage/handling.

Ted_Hutchinson

vegankris wrote: »

Human beings, as hairless(well mostly!) mammals probably aren't "meant to" live in a climate where we need to wear clothes or use central heating to keep us warm or use another mammals' breast milk in adulthood either. But we've done it for generations.

Indeed but the recent advice to stay out of the sun and use sunblock all the time is relatively recent and certainly doesn't help.

And that's all I have to say on this tangent, as I didn't come in this thread to justify my dietary choices, I just came in to suggest a chewable vitamin to the OP! I will come back to post anything relevant I find on the subject of vitamin D supplements.

I certainly wasn't having a go at you for your choices, but I'm certainly not interested in listening to your justifications either. I go by peer reviewed evidence and nothing else. I do not believe either your nutritionist or your GP can provide peer reviewed published medical scientific evidence to support their advice and consequently until I see that evidence I will remain convinced you and they are wrong. It follows that it would be dangerously misguided for others to rely on your recommendation when it is most likely not only does the supplement you suggest contain the form of vitamin D2 least well absorbed by most people but also it is probable (and I'm sure you could confirm this) it contains an amount so trivial it is hardly worth bothering with when we understand just how much vitamin D the body needs daily.