Are vitamins a waste of money?

[mnpqrd]

Ten years ago I took vitamins for about 5 months then stopped and didn't notice a difference. Since then I didn't take any at all. I try to eat healthy food and stay active. I rarely get sick, even when season changes I rarely get cold and I don't get flu shot either.

[Echoguy]

Are vitamins a waste of money?

1. You are what you eat. Recent studies at Rutgers University have shown mineral deficient vegetables which were selected randomly from your market shelves. As compared to the beginning of the last century, the nutrients or minerals found in today's vegetables are considerably reduced, even organics. ww.becomehealthynow.com/article/dietgood/318/ (You'll need to add another w to this link when you copy & paste it into your search bar as they wouldn't allow me to post links.) This study shows you'd have to eat massive quantities of vegetables to get the nutrients you used to get at the beginning of last century. It turns out that after you grow crops on the same ground for 80+ years, the ground becomes trace mineral deficient. Depleted soil used to mean you couldn't grow on it anymore; but with nitrogen fertilizers, we've been able to grow beautiful looking vegetables on the outside but nutritionally depleted on the inside. The Federal Government finally recognized that the average American adult needs to consume 5000 healthy calories/day to get the adequate nutrition needed.

To answer the question: "Are vitamins a waste of money?":

2. Only if: they don't contain what they say they contain. The FDA closely monitors pharmaceuticals (medications) to make sure that their contents are EXACTLY what is in the pill. Vitamins are, on the other hand, considered by the FDA to be food and therefore what is in the pill must be on the label but what is on the label does not need to be in the pill.

3. Only if: they don't dissolve in water. Pharmaceuticals are closely monitored by the FDA and must dissolve within 15 minutes or less in water. Your common Advil and Tylenol dissolve in less than 5 minutes. This insures that the ingredients are available to the small intestine and colon quickly. My old vitamins didn't dissolve after 72 hours!! I was mad!! This is easy enough to test-- just place your multi vitamin in water and set it on the counter. If it doesn't dissolve within 20 minutes you may consider chewing it.

4. Only if: it's not bio-available or efficacious (effective). Pharmaceutical companies are required to undergo randomized double blind studies in human trials which test the effectiveness of the ingredients. Few vitamin companies offer randomized double-blind human trials. These multivitamins can be classified as nutraceuticals. Many thousands of randomized, double-blind studies have been performed by universities and teaching hospitals proving the effectiveness of vitamins. Check out this independent study done at UC Berkeley: ww.angieupnorth.wordpress.com/2007/10/27/uc-berkeley-landmark-study-published-cnn-and-others-to-air/ (You'll need to add another w to this link when you copy & paste it into your search bar as they wouldn't allow me to post links.)

Clearly vitamins are NOT a waste of money if they are quality vitamins.
Hope this is helpful; great question.

[DebbieL]

I've always taken my daily vitamins, but I have a friend that says that there is no proof that vitamins help. Am I just wasting money buying them?

For me they are a waste of money. I've never bought into the whole vitamin thing. I eat a balanced diet with lots of fruit/veggies and I'm as healthy as a horse. I very rarely even get a cold (I had one this winter, but before that it had been years). I haven't taken vitamins since I was a kid (I'm 38 now).

I suggest a well balanced diet. If you have poor eating habits, or your doctor has suggested them for another reason, then of course vitamins are better than being deficient. I just always prefer to get my nutrients from the source.

[myrdale]

I've always taken my daily vitamins, but I have a friend that says that there is no proof that vitamins help. Am I just wasting money buying them?

Well it depends. How many are you taking?

I watched my cousin take her "daily vitamins" a couple months ago. She takes 6 separate pills. That is a waste IMHO!

I take a single multi vitamin. One A Day Active. It has pretty much any and everything wrapped up in a single pill.

Additionally, I personally would spend the extra $2 for the named brand verses a knock off.

[deadgoon]

If your doctor recommends that you take vitamins, you probably should. Otherwise you get all you need from your food unless you're eating nothing but ice cream or Cheetos all day.

[cschin4]

I don't take vitamins. I hate to take pills of any kind. And, with all the stuff coming from overseas, who even knows what is really in those pills you are taking?

[Aleta]

There is no way that we can receive the vitamins and minerals from our foods because of the way our food is grown. The only way to make sure you're getting what you need is by taking a supplement.

I have gone off of vitamins for a while and eventually felt the difference. Too many doctors take multiple vitamins for me to be concerned about them not being important.

I do worry about where they are coming from and espeicially the Vitamini C. If taken properly they can be a big boost to your health.

[boosami]

I grew up taking a multivitamin every day. These days, I still take a brand-name multivitamin each morning. I occasionally forget to take a supply with me when I travel, so I'll miss several days or a week. However, I have never noticed any difference when I take it versus when I don't take it.

In general, I think the people who could benefit from vitamins are the ones who don't get an opportunity to take them. Extremely poor and malnurished families are not going to think of taking multivitamins, for example.

If you eat a mostly balanced diet and a sufficient amount of food, you don't need to take a multivitamin. If you are undereating, skipping meals, or eating junk all the time, taking a multivitamin might fill in some of those gaps.

Why do I take them? They aren't doing me any harm, so I take them just in case they could help. Even if you piss 99% of it out, you are still getting something out of it. It also costs pennies a day, so it's not expensive.

[boosami]

Where's DS on this post? It'd be interesting to hear a physician's perspective.

[Aleta]

I suppose we could ask Dr Steve how he feels about vitamins. He always gives an excellent view.

[boosami]

I suppose we could ask Dr Steve how he feels about vitamins. He always gives an excellent view.

I just PMed him!

[cschin4]

I have some friends that are into food supplements, etc. But, for me, I would rather spend the money on better quality foods to begin with.

[MonkeyMama]

Where's DS on this post? It'd be interesting to hear a physician's perspective.

Agreed!

I am in the "vitamins are a waste of money" camp.

I've taken iron before surgery and for anemia suring pregnancy. No complaints about vitamins when needed...

I diligently took folic acid before pregnancy and during, as widely advised. I Was distrubed to learn, during my second pregnancy, that folic acid has been added to U.S. food to the late 90s, since the medical community decided women can not be trusted to get their folic acid (which does reduce serious birth defects). In the meantime all sorts of other diseases are on the rise, and much speculation about too much folic acid in the food supply. (Too much folic acid is in the running for one of the many possible causes of autism. Colon cancer as well). I actually cut back my vitamins, second pregnany, upon learning this. I was to distrubed to realize we were guniea pigs in a "national folic acid experiment."

I think this is my issue with vitamins. The whole idea that "more is better" idea (with little regard that there is such a thing as "too much can be bad" - or that there could possible be other trade-offs). Also, certain vitamins are "in" and "out" based on the study of the day. I don't follow fads (diet fads? parenting fads?)because they change every 5 minutes. Vitamins seem to go the same way.

Along the same lines, a couple of relatives & friends in their 40s/50s were diagnosed with sever osteoperosis. Completely unrelated cases - their doctors both think their multi-vitamins were too blame. (Too much calcium was blocking Vitamin D absorption??? Something like that). I threw my vitamins in the trash around then. I always took them before because my doctors push it pretty heavily (particularly calcium since I am a woman). Now I am skeptical.

I eat well, I exercise. I notice little difference in my energy, vitamins or not. I have a LOT of energy usually. Healthy as a horse. Though would mean more if I Was older of course.

[feh]

I'm a 42 yo, healthy male. I eat well (not perfect, but better than your average American) and exercise regularly.

Had a physical a couple months ago, and my doctor suggested I take a daily multivitamin, so I am. My blood work was spotless; no deficiencies or anything, but he still said it's a good idea.

I live in the northern latitudes, so he also has me taking vitamin D, simply because we don't get much sun here in the winter.

[GREENBACK]

I usually take a multi-vitamin every day but sometimes miss a day.They're relatively cheap and I haven't seen a lot to say they harm you in anyway. I don't feel any different for taking them but hopefully they help internally.