My doctor recommended zinc, magnesium and vit. D. I’m starting biotin because my youngest has been taking it for a couple months and thinks she sees a difference in her nails. I’m not convinced but am willing to try because my nails are really bad.

I’ll have to try biotin. My nails are awful too, just in the last six months or so—constantly splitting even if I put polish on.

I take a multivitamin, Vitamin D, and recently read Menhaden fish oil is good for the heart and it comes in an Omega-3 pill. I’m not knowledgeable as to the best brands. I buy drugstore brands or from Amazon.

Raw one for women is what I take.

Your doctor should tell you whether you have vitamin deficiencies.

I've been taking Centrum (for men, but they have it for women also), plus B12 with breakfast and B-complex with evening meal, as I had a B vitamin deficiency. I also have to take Calcium Citrate (Citracal) twice a day. At one time, my doctor had me taking Vitamin D, but I think I get enough of that with my multivitamin, and I do get a small amount of sun exposure, now that I am retired, although I have to limit that.

Thank you so much for the suggestions everyone.

I love the packaging on the Rainbow Light vitamins. And, yes, I realize how silly that sounds.

Lars, Neither I or my doctor have reason to suspect a vitamin deficiency. I just want a little added insurance policy on vitamins. As they say, it couldn't hurt.

It’s funny you mention packaging. When I worked in the industry, we started putting our supplements in a box to stand out in the shelf - I mean get more information on the package. It was a huge point of disagreement within the organization, but then many others followed. Packaging accounts for a large percentage of the cost of supplements. Sad but true.

I take a multivitamin, magnesium, and biotin. Biotin because my nails have really thinned with age. I started taking magnesium after I researched what might be behind the muscle twitches ("fasciculations") I was having. You know web medical research--it could either be CANCER or you might just have a magnesium deficiency. Fortunately, I'm not a hypochondriac, and the onset correlated with my having lapsed in taking my multivitamins. Restarting the multi remedied the problem for a while, but the twitches come back when I get stressed, hence the separate magnesium.

Just adding - Yes, my Dr. told me to stop taking biotin two weeks before thyroid blood tests results or it will give a false tsh reading

Currently I take Biotics Research Bio-D-Mulsion Forte drops, Thorne stress B-Complex, SlowMag, and Smartypants Women’s Multi.

Extra vitamins are either toxic or peed away, or a little of both, so I don't load up too much. Just a women's over 50 multi and some herbs for lung health in the AM, a probiotic, and then in the PM, calcium and magnesium either with a glass of OJ or a vit. c tab. Meets all my daily mins. Posting to point out that the calcium, mag. and c combo has been remarkably good at helping with restless legs and trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep. Also calcium interferes with other vit. and thyroid absorption so I take it at night with the other stuff in the AM. I occasionally take an iron tablet with some vit. C in the AM on an empty stomach.

I take a calcium with D supplement, B12, and Biotin.

Lately I have added a scoop of unflavored collagen protein to my morning coffee and may start skipping the Biotin. Only been doing it a week but I think I can already see some improvement in my nails. I had a couple of fingernails that were starting to be brittle, no matter what, and I have always had really strong nails. I use this one from Costco and about to order the large container.

I would stick with a multi-vitamin and if you feel the need for an extra vitamin, just make sure it's not fat soluble unless your doctor tells you to take it after a blood test. For supplements, read about them first but never from a place that sells them. :) You'd be surprised at how many common supplements people take that interferes with their prescribed medications, or they can make an illness you already have, worse. Don't go in blindly because a friend suggested it.

I don't take a lot of supplements anymore, but I have tested low for vitamin D, and supplementing has helped me feel so much better. so that one is a really good one to get tested for if you're not feeling well! I take a rather heavy dose every day and get tested every year (it's unsafe to take more than you need).

I also take magnesium because years ago my doctor recommended it for cramps and it really did seem to work. bonus: it helps your body absorb calcium properly, so I figure this is a win-win. I prefer magnesium citrate, not so easy to find (esp these days).

I don't take calcium supplements though. annual tests indicate I don't need to... I'm guessing in part due to the magnesium.

Such great information, thank you everyone. I am researching away. There are a lot of bunny trails, though. I am thinking multi ( for women or over 50s, IDK,) plus Zinc, magnesium, biotin, D and extra C. I'll email my doctor and get her blessing(or not.)

Zalco, I'm another who has rarely taken vitamins. I eat a well-balanced diet, and so far, have not been deficient in any area. When I was working (I worked at a university) I took All B with C during the winter/flu season. My D has never been low but I am going to ask at my next physical about taking it since the hype re: D and covid. I'm outside alot so it may not be a good thing to take extra. I also don't take calcium. Testing indicates I don't need it, which is funny, I rarely drink milk, but I guess my leafy greens and cheese does the trick. I have strong bones - so far! I don't do supplements (although I have a container of collagen in my cabinet, never have started it) and only allergy meds as needed.

One thing about nails. I recently noticed that my nails are so much stronger and longer. I could not figure out why. It's been a year since I retired and it was after that I begin to notice a change. The only thing i can figure, is I eat an egg several days a week for breakfast. My favorite breakfast is an egg and toast. Plus my fav english toffee cappuccino. I know eggs are full of good nutrients, so I'm thinking it's gotta be the eggs!

Tina Marie, my doctor had mentioned needing extra D if you wear sunscreen all the time.

I am chronically low on D, no matter the season, what I eat or how much sun I get, so I take that every day, along with magnesium and a multi-vitamin. When I broke my ankle a few years ago the bone health expert I talked to told me that most people in the northern U.S. are deficient in D in the winter and should be supplementing. YMMV.

We buy our Vitamins at Costco or Whole Foods 365. Too many fake products on Amazon.

There's a history of osteoporosis in my family, so I used to take a lot of calcium. Absorption is an issue with that, and many other supplements. But newer research has indicated that overdoing it on calcium is not good, for kidneys and heart issues too. I have dialed back my calcium intake. But it still helps, along with C and magnesium, with the sleep issues and restless legs. But I cut my dosage in half from previous years. Both calcium and magnesium have absorption issues, related to thyroid issues, and related to each other and the chemical form of the supplement you take, so not easy to find the right mix . . . .

I just take a generic multivitamin for women over 50 plus a calcium+D supplement. I tried biotin for bad nails - absolutely no improvement. A lot of $ are flushed down the toilet with all that‘s spent on supplements.

Life Extension for me

"Dan Iblan" is a frequent spam editor.

Interesting, sushipup. I'm sorry I hit like and thanked. He was not the one to revive the thread, though. (Just mentioning that, since it's a real person who did and not one of the usual suspects.)

Actually, Zalco, there was another spam post that revived the thread and that was zapped. Yayagal responded to that.

More: it's just whack-a-mole. It's an entire industry in some countries. Note that many/most are in Russia or Romania. Now, how many unsuspecting people will click on a link in one of those posts? And how many links lead to infected websites that dump things on your computer?

Unbelievable! Sushipup, I so wish you were not the one woman patrol against this nonsense. Thank you stepping up where Houzz does not.

My doctor requested I take a one-a-day..so I do but after discussing supplements with my new DIL my daughter the Medical Laboratory Scientist gave me the book: Do You Believe in Magic? by Paul Offit MD. Comes down to how expensive do you want your pee to be?

I started taking good vitamins (ones created for absorbency and made with high quality ingredients, $$ also) two years ago and about 6 months ago added iron and magnesium and WILL NEVER BE WITHOUT vitamins. They have been life changing. I was in the expensive pee camp most of life and thought I could get all nutrients from food, but I couldn't.

Aches, severe pains have disappeared and energy has skyrocketed.

Bumblebeez, would you consider sharing what brand and which vitamins you take?

Of course!

1 a day

2 a day

2 a day

2 a day

Thank you so much, Bumblebeez. I am totally game for trying new things, having been in the no vitamins camp for most of my life.

Because vitamins are NOT regulated by the FDA, encourage purchasing brands that are USP certified. Look for USP logo on label.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/whats-in-your-supplements-2019021515946

Thanks for the biotin tip

I see it's been a while, but I wanted to chime in. Biotin is a good choice for promoting healthy hair, skin, and nails. As for multivitamins, it can be overwhelming to choose from all the options. I like the Garden of Life Vitamin Code Women's Multivitamin and collagen gummies https://www.amazon.com/Women-Multivitamin-Gummies-Vitamins-Daily/dp/B0BDDPNZLV for improving my nails, hair, and skin condition. You could also check it out!

Funny, I almost posted about this last night. 'Cause, you know, you all haven't heard from me in a while.

My husband's doctor, during a routine physical, recommended fish oil supplements for him, as neither of us care for any oily fish and in any event we eat fish less than 1x a week (2-3 is recc).

My DH asked me if he should take anything else, so, I did a spread sheet. I looked a what Mayo, NIH, Harvard, and AARP said.

It boiled down to this - NIH and Harvard said don't take anything at all but eat well. Mayo said the same thing (assuming you are otherwise healthy), but suggested fish oil if you do not get enough in your diet. AARP suggested B12, Vitamin D and fish oil. We ordered Nature Made Fish Oil 1000 mg, 90 Softgels, Omega 3 Supplement For Heart Health.

I think I eat well but don't quite trust my own judgement. I always think of a family member who says they aren't a picky eater and then when we go out she gives the waiter a laundry list of changes to the menu items.

When one person plans and cooks most of the meals I think it's easy to forget that they naturally cater to their own tastes. Which may be omitting something important.

I gave myself a pat on the back for picking up these pumpkin seeds the other day. I used to throw them in my cart all the time but then they started to get expensive and I stopped buying them to prove a point to ... no one.

Anyway, I forgot about their great nutrition.

Mtn, I take the same brand fish oil, but the version that has Vit D added.

As an added note, the research on Vit D is everywhere. Typically, it seems we become deficient as we age. However, my 22yo DS had reason to get bloodwork not long ago, which showed his D levels were just below the lower limit. He's young, cooks good food for himself, and is overall very healthy. His D levels should not be low already.

I’ve never taken vitamins electively or as a prophylactic, also following the recommendstions of major research institutions Last year, however, routine bloodwork showed levels of vitamins D and B that were so low my bloodwork was repeated. i am now taking D daily and getting weekly injections of B 12. I took both for three months last year and had another panel of tests two months after I stopped them, with the same results. They tried tapering the B12 to every 2 weeks, then once a month, but that was also insufficient. I eat loads of food with B vitamins and am outside daily. 🤷‍♀️ No idea if I will ever be off these, probably not, and still don’t take any vitamins that have not been prescribed by my doctor.

My d and b12 were on the low side so my doctor recommended taking only those daily until my numbers were higher. once I was at the desired level I now take one of each suppement every third day in the lowest dose I can find.

My hematologist suggested that I eat more oranges or have a glass of juice for vitamin c every day because I bruise easily. He tested my V C it was in range the day of the test so advised against buying C supplements. He thinks supplements are not necessary nor helpful without proof of deficiency. He dislikes how high the doses are compared to what most people really need. Like too much protein, too much of certain vitamins can be very hard on the kidneys.

If on any meds, including low dose aspirin, many vitamins and fish oils may be counter indicative always ask your doctor first. Also if you have autoimmune disease many supplements are harmful. If post menopause Iron supplements can cause heart damage our iron needs drop significantly in our later years.

Yes, I wish routine bloodword started much sooner in life. I've had it done regularly since my 20s because I have an autoimmune disease. My D levels started dipping in my late 30s IIRC. My son had a separate occasion to get his checked, and I'm so glad we did.