Women Travelers - multi-vitamin & calcium plus vitamin D?

I'm switching primary care doctors, and the new one wouldn't accept me into the practice as a new patient without a new patient visit, which included a physical.

I like the new doctor, based on the first visit, which is probably a good sign. She listened to me, asked questions, and discussed topics that my old doctor never suggested. One of those things was that I should take a multi-vitamin, and also a calcium plus vitamin D supplement.

Any suggestions for either or both?

Yup, that's the regimen I do—both Calcium with Vitamin D along with a multivitamin. I am not brand loyal. I'm glad you like your new physician. That's important. :)

According to this article (http://articles.cnn.com/2007-08-22/health/healthmag.multivitamins_1_multivitamin-usp-centrum-silver/2?_s=PM:HEALTH) (and others I've read):

"Avoid the vitamins singled out by ConsumerLab.com, and stick with mainstream names such as Centrum Silver and One-A-Day Women's, which were found to be free of impurities and accurately labeled. Also, check vitamin bottles for the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP), NSF International (NSF), or ConsumerLab.com (CL) seals. The USP and NSF are nonprofit groups that verify whether companies offer contamination-free products and use good manufacturing practices. Not every brand has the seals -- some don't want to submit to testing--but those that do (Kirkland and Nature Made carry the USP seal, for instance) are reliable."

Yup, that's the regimen I do—both Calcium with Vitamin D along with a multivitamin. I am not brand loyal. I'm glad you like your new physician. That's important. :)
Can I take them both at the same time? She suggested taking the calcium twice a day, but am I ok to take one dose and the multivitamin with breakfast?
According to this article (http://articles.cnn.com/2007-08-22/health/healthmag.multivitamins_1_multivitamin-usp-centrum-silver/2?_s=PM:HEALTH) (and others I've read):

"Avoid the vitamins singled out by ConsumerLab.com, and stick with mainstream names such as Centrum Silver and One-A-Day Women's, which were found to be free of impurities and accurately labeled. Also, check vitamin bottles for the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP), NSF International (NSF), or ConsumerLab.com (CL) seals. The USP and NSF are nonprofit groups that verify whether companies offer contamination-free products and use good manufacturing practices. Not every brand has the seals -- some don't want to submit to testing--but those that do (Kirkland and Nature Made carry the USP seal, for instance) are reliable."

Thanks! Kirkland is from Costco, right? Since I have to head up that way to pick up Mr. Kipper tomorrow, perhaps I'll stop by our local Costco and check out their vitamins.

Can I take them both at the same time? She suggested taking the calcium twice a day, but am I ok to take one dose and the multivitamin with breakfast?


Look at the directions on the back on the bottle. Some brands are meant to be taken on an empty stomach. According to my prenatal vitamin info an empty stomach means two to three hours after a meal or one hour before one. But it's OK to take one with a small amount of food (a few crackers or a slice of bread) if it keeps you from feeling queasy.

You actually might ask if a prenatal vitamin would be comparable to a multi+2*Calcium+vitamin D. It might work out cheaper with the $4 generic deals that Walmart, Target, and some grocery stores have. Of course, you'd be getting a huge dose of folic acid for a person not actively trying to conceive. Somehow I suspect that a pre-natal vitamin it as good or better since my Dr told me to stop your regime when I told her we wanted to have a baby.

Also don't forget to get 2 tsp of oil per day since many vitamins aren't water soluable. You will need the oil to properly absorb them.

Can I take them both at the same time? She suggested taking the calcium twice a day, but am I ok to take one dose and the multivitamin with breakfast?I take the multivitamins and one Calcium with Vitamin D tablet with breakfast. I take a second Calcium with Vitamin D tablet with dinner. Each tablet is 600 mg. The two tablets together each day provide me with 120% of my RDA for calcium and 63% of my RDA for Vitamin D. My doctor recommended taking them with meals and like your doctor, recommended taking the calcium/D tablet twice a day.

Look at the directions on the back on the bottle. Some brands are meant to be taken on an empty stomach. According to my prenatal vitamin info an empty stomach means two to three hours after a meal or one hour before one. But it's OK to take one with a small amount of food (a few crackers or a slice of bread) if it keeps you from feeling queasy.

You actually might ask if a prenatal vitamin would be comparable to a multi+2*Calcium+vitamin D. It might work out cheaper with the $4 generic deals that Walmart, Target, and some grocery stores have. Of course, you'd be getting a huge dose of folic acid for a person not actively trying to conceive. Somehow I suspect that a pre-natal vitamin it as good or better since my Dr told me to stop your regime when I told her we wanted to have a baby.

Also don't forget to get 2 tsp of oil per day since many vitamins aren't water soluable. You will need the oil to properly absorb them.
LOL, I might ask about that when I go back for my follow-up in a month. I'm all for less expensive options.

Define getting 2 tsp of oil, please?
I take the multivitamins and one Calcium with Vitamin D tablet with breakfast. I take a second Calcium with Vitamin D tablet with dinner. Each tablet is 600 mg. The two tablets together each day provide me with 120% of my RDA for calcium and 63% of my RDA for Vitamin D. My doctor recommended taking them with meals and like your doctor, recommended taking the calcium/D tablet twice a day.
Thanks! I'll probably try that and see how it goes. I'm guessing the multivitamin will probably have some Vitamin D in it too?

I've read some interesting articles about taking supplements. The one I'm most closely following is that if you have an adequate diet, there is no need for a multivitamin.

I take individual supplements that most closely resemble food and there is almost universal agreement on their need

Calicum with some D - high dosage slow release
Fish Oil (enteric coated) - 1000mg
Vitamin D - 1000mg
Cinammon - shown to effect sugar metabolism. Diabetes runs in my family, so I figured it can't hurt :)

All are taken once a day with dinner. Since I'm lazy, I try to buy those that will allow me to take only once a day and at night. I would never take them in the morning, I'm not lucid enough :)

Thanks! Kirkland is from Costco, right? Since I have to head up that way to pick up Mr. Kipper tomorrow, perhaps I'll stop by our local Costco and check out their vitamins.

Yes, Kirkland is Costco's in-house brand.

LOL, I might ask about that when I go back for my follow-up in a month. I'm all for less expensive options.

Define getting 2 tsp of oil, please?


Each day you should comsumer two servings of healthy oil (think canola, olive, walnut etc). These can be mixed into somthing like a salad dressing, a baked good, or pasta/rice. Fat solutable vitamins (like A, D, and K) need the fats in these oils to be absorbed into your body. Most people don't get these oils each day (instead they consume fats with no nutritional value). So it's important to get these healthy fats to get the most out of their multivitamin.

I'm glad another poster spoke up about the elephant in the room -- the fact that there is no purpose to taking vitamin D and calcium without oil. They will not be absorbed. Actually, after a certain age the calcium mostly won't be absorbed anyway but at least you have a chance if you take it with D and oil. You have no chance if you take it with say a nice "healthy" fat-free breakfast.

Some doctors give useless advice that costs us money even though it does no good because they think it does no harm to cost us money. I prefer to avoid such doctors. The "new" doctor who does not know that vitamin D is useless unless taken with oil is not a doctor I want as my general physician because she is missing very basic information about the human body. I don't want a doctor who is a good saleswoman and who makes a pretense of "listening" while handing out bogus information. That's a recipe for disaster. I want a doctor who may not have the best personality but who actually knows at least the basics of human physiology.

A doctor who finds you such a noob to vitamins that you have to be told to make a multi-vitamin, yet she doesn't mention that vit D/calcium need to be taken with oil to be absorbed...that bothers me. This is a doctor who is going to appear to be a great communicator until, too late, you find out there was something very crucial she forgot to tell you.



Each day you should comsumer two servings of healthy oil (think canola, olive, walnut etc). These can be mixed into somthing like a salad dressing, a baked good, or pasta/rice. Fat solutable vitamins (like A, D, and K) need the fats in these oils to be absorbed into your body. Most people don't get these oils each day (instead they consume fats with no nutritional value). So it's important to get these healthy fats to get the most out of their multivitamin.

Thanks! I'll probably try that and see how it goes. I'm guessing the multivitamin will probably have some Vitamin D in it too?Yes, the multivitamin certainly does. Just read the label. Remember to do what you can to get nutrients naturally through the foods that you eat.

Every vitamin D supplement I've taken has been an oil-based capsule.

Vitamin D taken without supplemental oil does get absorbed-- we see predictable increases in plasma Vitamin D levels in patients that take supplements without additional oil. There are lots of reasons for this- the first two that come to mind are that the vast majority of people consume plenty (some may say excessive) quantities of dietary fats to maintain body functions. The second is that the absorption and transport of Vitamin D in the body is mediated by a Vitamin D binding protein. The majority (probably more than 90%) of Vitamin D in the body is bound to this carrier protein that enables the fat-soluble vitamin to be transported/stored/absorbed in aqueous environments.

That being said, replacing unhealthy fats with the healthier options mentioned above is probably a good thing for everyone.

I'm glad another poster spoke up about the elephant in the room -- the fact that there is no purpose to taking vitamin D and calcium without oil. They will not be absorbed. Actually, after a certain age the calcium mostly won't be absorbed anyway but at least you have a chance if you take it with D and oil. You have no chance if you take it with say a nice "healthy" fat-free breakfast.

Some doctors give useless advice that costs us money even though it does no good because they think it does no harm to cost us money. I prefer to avoid such doctors. The "new" doctor who does not know that vitamin D is useless unless taken with oil is not a doctor I want as my general physician because she is missing very basic information about the human body. I don't want a doctor who is a good saleswoman and who makes a pretense of "listening" while handing out bogus information. That's a recipe for disaster. I want a doctor who may not have the best personality but who actually knows at least the basics of human physiology.

A doctor who finds you such a noob to vitamins that you have to be told to make a multi-vitamin, yet she doesn't mention that vit D/calcium need to be taken with oil to be absorbed...that bothers me. This is a doctor who is going to appear to be a great communicator until, too late, you find out there was something very crucial she forgot to tell you.
Yikes! My guess is that the doctor probably figured that I get enough oil without having to be concerned about it. This is probably true--I probably, between salad dressings and such, eat more than enough oil.

As far as a multi-vitamin, I haven't been taking one in quite a while, which is part of my reason for asking for suggestions on which one to select.
Vitamin D taken without supplemental oil does get absorbed-- we see predictable increases in plasma Vitamin D levels in patients that take supplements without additional oil. There are lots of reasons for this- the first two that come to mind are that the vast majority of people consume plenty (some may say excessive) quantities of dietary fats to maintain body functions. The second is that the absorption and transport of Vitamin D in the body is mediated by a Vitamin D binding protein. The majority (probably more than 90%) of Vitamin D in the body is bound to this carrier protein that enables the fat-soluble vitamin to be transported/stored/absorbed in aqueous environments.

That being said, replacing unhealthy fats with the healthier options mentioned above is probably a good thing for everyone.
So, assuming that I'm eating what's probably a fairly normal diet, I shouldn't need to worry about adding additional oils?

So, assuming that I'm eating what's probably a fairly normal diet, I shouldn't need to worry about adding additional oils?

I've never heard of anyone requiring additional oils to absorb Vitamin D. I think there is some misunderstanding that fat-soluble vitamins require supplemental fat to be absorbed. Lots of non-water soluble things get absorbed by the body (like butter. yum.)-- they are absorbed by processes such as active transport and emulsification. I don't think there's anything inherently harmful about adding a little extra healthy fat to the diet, but it's hard to claim that Vitamin D is absolutely not absorbed without supplemental fats when we see significant increases in plasma Vitamin D levels in patients taking Vit D supplements.

When I passed 60 my doc told me to quit taking calcium as it was a waste of money. Used up my inventory (I buy at COSTCO which usually means a big stash at hand).

However she wants me to continue on Vit D until further notice. Even tested for it and found I was low on Vit D.

I know many women who are a lot older than I am who are still taking a great deal of calcium.

http://aifestival.org/session/new-approach-cancer - one thing the speaker says around minute 25 is eat your vitamins - he questions the impact of specific supplements, that they don't properly consider the body's network effect. He says we are showing so many Vitamin D deficiencies because we have only recently learned how to measure it. (A little he's marketing himself, brand, ... )

Sylvia

So, assuming that I'm eating what's probably a fairly normal diet, I shouldn't need to worry about adding additional oils?

It depends on how closely you've being following WW (if you are still on plan, that is). Many serious followers of WW cut their fat intake by quite a bit. My first we weeks I was consuming almost none. So if you aren't consuming those fats, then you need to start.

It depends on how closely you've being following WW (if you are still on plan, that is). Many serious followers of WW cut their fat intake by quite a bit. My first we weeks I was consuming almost none. So if you aren't consuming those fats, then you need to start.
I'm following it, but usually having salads for lunch at a minimum, so I'm guessing I'm probably in pretty good shape as far as oils.

I take my vitamins in the morning. I don't think I take anything that needs to be taken more than once/day, but if so it still gets taken in the morning. If I don't do it then, then I forget to take them at all. When traveling I try (to a degree) to time them for what the morning equivalent is for home. Not always successful, but sometimes I'll skip one day & then do the morning equivalent of wherever I am. This is more for int'l travel than domestic.

chococat, thanks for the detailed info.

Cheers.

I'm over 60, every doctor I've talked to has stressed the need for calcium, I have osteoporosis. I don't think I would take the chance of developing osteo. by not taking calcium. My obgyn did suggest it be taken obviously with a meal, but she suggested meat ...since its hard to digest and calcium requires acid to process it. As far as taking multi and calcium at the same time. I'm presuming your multi has calcium in it. Your body can only absorb apprx 600 mg of calcium at a time...the rest is wasted. Many people have milk or yoghurt or calcium rich foods in the morning... thats a good time to take a multi...take your calcium supplements with your other meals. Most calcium supps do indeed have vit d included...but dont forget you get vit d in a lot of other foods that are fortified w/ it...milk, cereal etc.

I take the chewable (caramel flavored) GNC Vitamin D with Calcium. They are individually wrapped and I throw some in my purse as well. 14 yr. old broke his collar bone and wrist and his Ortho told him to take D and Calcium for quicker healing. When I told him I took the GNC for women he said for 14 yr. old to take them as well - said they were very good.

Picked up generic calcium with Vitamin D chewables and One-a-Day Women's today. I opted for the chewables/gummies for the calcium because I figured I'm more likely to take those in the evenings because I don't need to drink anything to take those.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Missed my evening dose last night. :(

Took the calcium with breakfast, multi-vitamin with lunch today.

OK, about Calcium and Vitamin D.

It's been flipped upside down.

Supplements contain a lot of calcium, a tiny amount of vitamin D and magnesium. It should be the other way around. Lots of magnesium and vitamin D, and then not much if any calcium (unless deficient in vitamin D).

You ONLY need a lot of Calcium if you're deficient in vitamin D. So increase the dosage of vitamin D (I take 5000 iu per day, but that's with testing and no sun exposure. 2000iu is considered safe to take for everybody. To find out exactly what you need, you need to test and recalculate dosage several times).

Once you've got enough vitamin D in your system (more than 50 ng/ml), you need to limit exposure to calcium. For most people, that means not taking calcium supplements if you can avoid it (a multivitamin with a modest amount might be OK, YMMV). Avoid too much cheese etc.

You should also take the vitamin D with your fattiest meal.

You do need oil - the right kind of oil. The fat free diet is a crock. Avoid oil - get dementia early.

But when taking vitamin D, the most important issue is - co-factors. Those include zinc, vitamin K and magnesium. Look for good multi vitamins that contain a lot of minerals.

Most are deficient in magnesium. The soil our crops grow in just don't have enough minerals in it in most countries, and magnesium deficiency is really bad. And if you start taking high doses of vitamin D, you're likely to feel the results of severe magnesium deficiency sooner or later (cramps, stiff muscles - in extreme cases, your heart can't pump).

Take magnesium compounds that are not designed to alleviate constipation (magnesium oxide is the worst). If your pills are not good enough, you'll get diarea. Either then get a better type, or supplement with transdermal magnesium. Magnesium sulphate (epsom salts) and magnesium chloride are good - both water soluble. Foot baths, full baths, floatation tanks and magnesium oil are good applications. Swimming in the ocean, depending on location, would also help.

Calcium can interfere with the absorbtion/effectiveness of other medications, including thyroid hormones.
My doctor said I should be taking calcium twice a day so I started taking it at breakfast and dinner. Next time I had my TSH measured it was off. I didn't feel right on the adjusted dosage and investigated and found that I should not be taking Calcium and levoxyl together. When I mentioned my findings to my doctor he said "I didn't tell you that?"

I'm failing at taking a multi-vitamin and calcium plus vitamin D... I took one calcium plus vitamin D yesterday, forgot the second one and the multi-vitamin. Took calcium and a multi-vitamin on Monday. I think Tuesday is the only day I managed to take everything. :(

I'm failing at taking a multi-vitamin and calcium plus vitamin D... I took one calcium plus vitamin D yesterday, forgot the second one and the multi-vitamin. Took calcium and a multi-vitamin on Monday. I think Tuesday is the only day I managed to take everything. :(

I find that having a pattern helps a lot. I take a few of my vitamins in the morning with breakfast, and I take the other one right after lunch. By putting the vitamins where I eat or am likely to be after each of those meals (at my desk in the morning, at my work desk after lunch), it helps me to remember to take them every day.

Weekends on the other hand are a crap shoot.. :-P

That's why I do it at dinnertime. :)

I also dole out a weeks' worth of pills and keep them in a custard cup on the kitchen counter near the dinner napkins. Between me & hubby, one of us remembers to put them on the table :)

I find that having a pattern helps a lot. I take a few of my vitamins in the morning with breakfast, and I take the other one right after lunch. By putting the vitamins where I eat or am likely to be after each of those meals (at my desk in the morning, at my work desk after lunch), it helps me to remember to take them every day.

Weekends on the other hand are a crap shoot.. :-P
I have the mutli and a few of the calcium in my desk drawer. I figured that I'd take them with breakfast and lunch, and would remember, since they're both near my bowl for the instant oatmeal I have. Hasn't worked yet! :)

I have the mutli and a few of the calcium in my desk drawer. I figured that I'd take them with breakfast and lunch, and would remember, since they're both near my bowl for the instant oatmeal I have. Hasn't worked yet! :)

I second the pattern idea. Granted I only take my prenatal once per day but a pattern helps.

On sleep in days, I take my pill at 6:30 when one of us has to get up to feed the cats then I promptly go back to sleep. On work days, I get up and have breakfast. By the time I make it in to work it has been 2 hours since I my last meal so I pop a pill. The only times I forget are the days/weeks I forget to pick up my Rx.

The multi I take comes in a little daily strip. I find that they don't bother my stomach when I take them after lunch. In order to stop myself from forgetting to take them, I actually put the strip inside my lunch bag when packing my lunch. On days when I don't pack my lunch, I put the strip in my bag, next to my phone. Eventually I will see it and remember.

Keep at it! Taking it late or forgetting a few doses is better than not taking it at all.

The multi I take comes in a little daily strip. I find that they don't bother my stomach when I take them after lunch. In order to stop myself from forgetting to take them, I actually put the strip inside my lunch bag when packing my lunch. On days when I don't pack my lunch, I put the strip in my bag, next to my phone. Eventually I will see it and remember.

Keep at it! Taking it late or forgetting a few doses is better than not taking it at all.

I'm making a bit of progress... I remembered to take the calcium this morning, along with breakfast. I'm going to take the bottle of multi-vitamins with me when I head out at lunchtime, since I'm not returning to the office after lunch. It's sitting right behind my wallet, so as long as I remember to take that, I'm in good shape. :)

A method a friend uses is to keep them beside her toothbrush, as she brushes her teeth morning and evening, it works out right for her twice daily ones, and just take the other once a day one only morning or evening.

Great thread, OP!

I did not know about oils and absorption, but it may explain things (finally).

I take calcium/D3 and some other supplements. I really notice the difference in my hair and nails if I don't take the calcium. However, it's never really 'enough' and the doc has had no idea why.

We have talked about nutrition and supplements (I take glucosamine/chondroitin). He says there was a single nutrition class (non-required) when he went to med school.

I changed eating habits 15 years ago. I completely lost the taste for fried foods or anything remotely greasy or oily. I struggle to get enough fats in my diet (on average, I get less than a tablespoon a day of any kind of fat). I've tried (and failed) to incorporate more healthy fats in my diet - my taste buds are the issue.

Looks like I need to take a different approach. Maybe I will try to start treating my daily 'healthy fat' intake like a supplement.

I've not taken anything since Saturday. I'm on antibiotics right now for a sinus infection, and since I was unsure about any interactions/potential issues while on those, I figured I'll wait until I've completed the course of antibiotics before starting everything again. I'm also hoping that when I do restart everything, I can develop a routine.

I'm thinking that I'll do the multi-vitamin at breakfast, then the calcium at lunch and dinner.

I second the pattern idea. Granted I only take my prenatal once per day but a pattern helps.I found the best tool for keeping us on track with vitamins/meds is one of those plastic pill organizers with the days of the week on them - I fill it on Saturday, and keep it on the kitchen table, so we see it at breakfast and dinner.

As to one dose vs. two: if you take too much vitamin D at once, you're wasting money. Your body can only absorb so much at a time and excretes the rest, so divided doses are the way to go.

As to the "eat your vitamins" theory - doesn't work for D, you can synthesize it from adequate sunlight, but it's hard to eat enough unless your diet is quite high in a few types of fish.

On sleep in days, I take my pill at 6:30 when one of us has to get up to feed the cats then I promptly go back to sleep.Cats can be trained to sleep in :D, it isn't easy, but it's possible.

OP, if you are sick and on antibiotics, you definitely need your vitamins! They improve all sorts of bodily functions, including fighting infection.

OP, if you are sick and on antibiotics, you definitely need your vitamins! They improve all sorts of bodily functions, including fighting infection.
If that's the case, why did I get sick when I'd been taking them? :D Just kidding. I finished the antibiotic today (z-pack), so I'm back to taking them tomorrow.

Definitely a fan of z-pack. It works!

I just bought Calcium Vitamin Gummies; 58 cents for 60 gummies as a new buyer from SSC Nutritionland (http://www.nutritionnow.com/Adult_Gummy/):p

Definitely a fan of z-pack. It works!

LOL, I'm not, because it never seems to work for me. It works while I'm taking it, but with my sinus issues, 10 days is usually not enough of an antibiotic to really knock out the bacteria.

Definitely a fan of z-pack. It works!On what?:confused:

If you have ongoing sinus problems, z-pack's just money thrown away. Because of the way sinuses give bacteria so many lovely places to hide and breed, while new ones constantly are joining the party, most ENT's recommend 14 to 21 days of a strong antibiotic for sinus infections.

Kipper, 'fraid you're going to have to the vitamins a bit more than a week or two to see much immune system improvement. ;)

Strange thing I just remembered about immune systems and taking stuff. I had read somewhere (I think prevention magazine) that taking something like the cultures in Culturelle would help people stop getting colds by replacing some good bacteria that probably wasn't present. The article discussed all the different varieties of cultures available and what they worked best on.

My husband was getting lots of colds and bronchitis a few times a year. I got him Culturelle and he took it for about 6 months straight. I couldn't believe it... no bronchitis, no colds. He then went on it sporadically and hasn't really taken it religiously for about 3 or 4 months and still no colds and more importantly, not a single episode of bronchitis in over 2 years.

That bronchitis medication is strong, and I suspect that it killed whatever good bacteria he had and the Culturelle put it back.

Note: He always always always ate yogurt when on that medication - so it couldn't be it.

On what?:confused:Strep throat. Works like a charm. ^

On what?:confused:

If you have ongoing sinus problems, z-pack's just money thrown away. Because of the way sinuses give bacteria so many lovely places to hide and breed, while new ones constantly are joining the party, most ENT's recommend 14 to 21 days of a strong antibiotic for sinus infections.

Kipper, 'fraid you're going to have to the vitamins a bit more than a week or two to see much immune system improvement. ;)

That's my problem. I went to Patient First, rather than even my PCP, since they weren't open on Sunday. I'm figuring that I'll probably need to go to my PCP next week, but I was so miserable on Sunday that I wanted some sort of relief then.

LOL, I know, I know, but I found it a bit funny that I hadn't been sick with a sinus infection in several months, then start taking vitamins, and within a few weeks, I'm sick.

I just wish Calcium pills come smaller in size. I have trouble with such a big pill. I cut them in half, but the sharp edges hurt my throat. I know I should be taking my Calcium plus D twice a day, I am lucky if I do it once a week !! My stomach doesn't tolerate pills very well either.

I am asking my doctor to repeat my vitD level blood test at the end of September, after I've soaked up a lot of sun in the summer. Last time I had my test done in January, when I haven't been outdoors in a while and she put me on D with 5000IU once a week.

I just wish Calcium pills come smaller in size. I have trouble with such a big pill. I cut them in half, but the sharp edges hurt my throat. I know I should be taking my Calcium plus D twice a day, I am lucky if I do it once a week !! My stomach doesn't tolerate pills very well either.

I am asking my doctor to repeat my vitD level blood test at the end of September, after I've soaked up a lot of sun in the summer. Last time I had my test done in January, when I haven't been outdoors in a while and she put me on D with 5000IU once a week.

I found calcium chews. They're a fruit-flavored gummy chew, and while not incredibly yummy, they're decent.

Here's a repeat of my post: Calcium Vitamin Gummies; 58 cents for 60 gummies as a new buyer from SSC Nutritionland (http://www.nutritionnow.com/Adult_Gummy/)
1000 IU D
500 mg C
200 mg Phosphorus
They are very easy to chew, dissolve pretty fast.

I just wish Calcium pills come smaller in size. I have trouble with such a big pill. I cut them in half, but the sharp edges hurt my throat. I know I should be taking my Calcium plus D twice a day, I am lucky if I do it once a week !! My stomach doesn't tolerate pills very well either.

I am asking my doctor to repeat my vitD level blood test at the end of September, after I've soaked up a lot of sun in the summer. Last time I had my test done in January, when I haven't been outdoors in a while and she put me on D with 5000IU once a week.

I do the chocolate calcuim chews. I found the calcuim pills always gave me weird stomach aches, but the chews don't. Also, chocolate! Kinda like a weird tootsie roll flavor, but it's not horrible.

I do the chocolate calcuim chews. I found the calcuim pills always gave me weird stomach aches, but the chews don't. Also, chocolate! Kinda like a weird tootsie roll flavor, but it's not horrible.

That about sums up my experience with the chocolate calcium chews, and I'm not a huge tootsie roll fan. :) However, the fruit flavored gummy chews that I have now aren't bad at all. They're almost like Starburst candy.

Just read the article linked below and it presents an interesting view.

http://news.yahoo.com/vitamins-may-increase-womens-risk-dying-research-finds-212402256.html

Popping vitamins may do more harm than good, according to a new study that adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting some supplements may have health risks.

Researchers from the University of Minnesota examined data from more than 38,000 women taking part in the Iowa Women's Health Study, an ongoing study with women who were around age 62 at its start in 1986. The researchers collected data on the women's supplement use in 1986, 1997 and 2004.

Women who took supplements had, on average, a 2.4 percent increased risk of dying over the course of the 19-year study, compared with women who didn't take supplements, after the researchers adjusted for factors including the women's age and calorie intake.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/235755.php


Same study and worth reading for references to iron supplements.

Strep throat. Works like a charm. ^
We're moving away from giving out antibiotics over here everytime you get an infection. It increases antibiotic resistance hugely, while not actually doing much for the general health of the population. So now, doctors will give you time to fight the infection yourself (typically 2 weeks - a month for chest infections unless there are other indicators), and only if it shows it is something you can't fight off yourself do they hand out ABs.

We're moving away from giving out antibiotics over here everytime you get an infection. It increases antibiotic resistance hugely, while not actually doing much for the general health of the population. So now, doctors will give you time to fight the infection yourself (typically 2 weeks - a month for chest infections unless there are other indicators), and only if it shows it is something you can't fight off yourself do they hand out ABs.If you're diagnosed with strep throats on a regular basis, that's your choice. On the rare occasion I get strep, I don't have 2 weeks. I want to get better. Hence the Z-pack.

If you're really serious about antibacterial resistance diminishing, stop using anti-bacterial soaps. Regular soap is all one needs. Maybe that's why antibiotics like Z-pack work for me.

If you're diagnosed with strep throats on a regular basis, that's your choice. On the rare occasion I get strep, I don't have 2 weeks. I want to get better. Hence the Z-pack.

If you're really serious about antibacterial resistance diminishing, stop using anti-bacterial soaps. Regular soap is all one needs. Maybe that's why antibiotics like Z-pack work for me.

The UK already uses far less antibacterial soaps, hand sanitizers etc. than North America.

I'm back to taking mutli-vitamins, plus a prescription dose of Vitamin D.

I picked up Kirkland Daily Multi Pack (http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11218189&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC|589|770|90918&N=4048033&Mo=48&pos=0&No=20&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=90918&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&ec=BC-EC24936-Cat770&topnav=) vitamin packets this weekend. Each packet contains a multi-vitamin, a Vitamin E capsule, two calcium tablets, a Vitamin C tablet, an Asian ginseng capsule, and a Vitamin B tablet. I'm throwing out the ginseng, but I'm taking the others, dividing them between breakfast and lunch. I'll take most with breakfast, but the calcium with lunch.

I'm back to taking mutli-vitamins, plus a prescription dose of Vitamin D.

I picked up Kirkland Daily Multi Pack (http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11218189&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC|589|770|90918&N=4048033&Mo=48&pos=0&No=20&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=90918&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&ec=BC-EC24936-Cat770&topnav=) vitamin packets this weekend. Each packet contains a multi-vitamin, a Vitamin E capsule, two calcium tablets, a Vitamin C tablet, an Asian ginseng capsule, and a Vitamin B tablet. I'm throwing out the ginseng, but I'm taking the others, dividing them between breakfast and lunch. I'll take most with breakfast, but the calcium with lunch.

Wow, that's quite a few pills! Remember to make sure you are taking the calcium with food because your body can't absorb it without food unless you are taking calcium citrate/ Citracal

Wow, that's quite a few pills! Remember to make sure you are taking the calcium with food because your body can't absorb it without food unless you are taking calcium citrate/ Citracal

Orders on the prescription Vitamin D mentioned not taking other vitamins with it, so Mr. Kipper is taking the Kirkland vitamins for now. :)

When I was taking the Kirkland vitamins, I was taking the calcium with lunch, figuring that if I took everything else with breakfast, I didn't want to miss out on absorbing some of the calcium because my body couldn't process all of it at once. :)

The doctor said I could continue taking the vitamins, in addition to the prescription Vitamin D. My only problem is that the vitamins seem to make my stomach upset. Any suggestions?

The niacin I take gives me terrible heartburn -I just take an acid reliever for it (I already take it after dinner so I have a full stomach, and with aspirin to prevent flushing, and at night in case I do flush:rolleyes:)

So, I guess taking with food would be my first recommendation. If you're already doing that....Look for enteric coated versions?

The niacin I take gives me terrible heartburn -I just take an acid reliever for it (I already take it after dinner so I have a full stomach, and with aspirin to prevent flushing, and at night in case I do flush:rolleyes:)

So, I guess taking with food would be my first recommendation. If you're already doing that....Look for enteric coated versions?

I already take them with food, so I'm thinking it's probably one of the fillers.