Vitamins - Name Brand vs. Store Brand

If you are eating a proper diet, supplementing it with vitamins is unnecessary.

My doctor told me to take calcium with Vitamin D pills for my osteoporosis. He didn't mention if different brands have different levels of effectiveness.

My doctor told me to take Calcium with Vitamin D pills for my osteoporosis.

Vitamin supplements aren’t really necessary for a normal, healthy adult although in the UK, official guidelines recommend that everyone over the age of 65 takes a supplement of vitamin D.

All of the vitamins and minerals that the body needs are either produced in the body, which means as long as the body is functioning properly it should be producing enough, or in the foods we eat.

By eating a balanced diet on a regular basis, there should be no reason for you to take vitamin supplements. A normal healthy diet is not something special; it is within the reach of almost everyone in Western countries.

UK guidelines describe such a diet like this: "A healthy, well balanced diet is one which contains plenty of fibre-rich starchy foods and fruit and vegetables, moderate amounts of meat or its alternatives, milk and milk products and only small amounts of foods and drinks containing fat and/or sugar."

contrex-
Thank you.

I believe Vitamin D is naturally produced by the human body when exposed to direct sunlight.

Official health warning on risk of vitamin supplements

From The Times
April 16, 2008

Millions of people taking vitamin supplements will today be urged to exercise caution by the Department of Health over fears that in some cases they may do more harm than good.

“Most people are able to meet their nutritional needs by eating a balanced, varied diet including plenty of fruit and vegetables, and therefore do not need to take dietary supplements,” a spokesperson said last night.

The advice, following a large review of scientific evidence first published last year and reported in The Times, comes as scientists appeal for greater regulation of vitamin supplements.

“There is a need to exercise caution in the use of high doses of purified supplements of vitamins, including antioxidant vitamins, and minerals, as their impact on long term health may not have been fully established and they cannot be assumed to be without risk,” she said.

“Anyone concerned about their diet should speak to their doctor or dietitian.”

Quote:

If you are eating a proper diet, supplementing it with vitamins is unnecessary.

,

That's very true. However, I don't believe I actually personally know one single person who routinely eats a proper diet on a consistent basis. Not one. For most of us living in the real world (as opposed to the fantasy promulgated by dietitians) a daily multiple vitamin (regardless of brand name) is a damn' good idea.