Vitamin Supplements

[Psamathe]

I wonder if the need for supplements and tests highlighting deficiencies is from changes in the quality of produce. Where a varied healthy diet with plenty of veg, etc. used be be enough for most an interesting report (from over a year ago)

Vegetables are losing their nutrients. Can the decline be reversed?
In 2004, Donald Davis and fellow scientists at the University of Texas made an alarming discovery: 43 foods, mostly vegetables, showed a marked decrease in nutrients between the mid and late 20th century.
...
According to that research, the calcium in green beans dropped from 65 to 37mg. Vitamin A levels plummeted by almost half in asparagus. Broccoli stalks had less iron.

Nutrient loss has continued since that study. More recent research has documented the declining nutrient value in some staple crops due to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels; a 2018 study that tested rice found that higher CO2 levels reduced its protein, iron and zinc content.

The research paper Changes in USDA food composition data for 43 garden crops, 1950 to 1999

 

[albion]

I wonder if the need for supplements and tests highlighting deficiencies is from changes in the quality of produce. Where a varied healthy diet with plenty of veg, etc. used be be enough for most an interesting report (from over a year ago)

Modern/bad diets do not help. But as we age we end up needing more and more aids.

 

[Drago]

Does Viagra count as a supplement? Just asking for a friend.

 

[Psamathe]

I'm no dietician but wondering if generally those contributing here might me more active (cycling) than many in the population. Increased activity meaning higher metabolism and might this also mean a higher requirement of some vitamins and minerals? But then that higher metabolism probably also means eating more and thus consuming more of the essential nutrients so does it become self correcting?

 

[Mr.B-Campag]

If you are over 55 you do not even need a test, just take them.
And much the same for winter time, just take them, the benefits being so high

Well no, as ever it's a bit more nuanced than that - have a listen to https://zoe.com/learn/episode-the-truth-about-vitamin-d

Tl:dr - it's almost certainly not necessary for the vast majority of people on this forum to supplement with vitamin D.

 

[mjr]

Vitamin D. Used to take a B mix and iron but stopped due to some medication. I really ought to check if that's a med I stopped taking and whether my blood test suggests I should restart.

 

[albion]

Well no, as ever it's a bit more nuanced than that - have a listen to https://zoe.com/learn/episode-the-truth-about-vitamin-d

Tl:dr - it's almost certainly not necessary for the vast majority of people on this forum to supplement with vitamin D.

We are entering the winter period. The bone of it is that older people convert less sunlight into D.

 

[presta]

Fortified mushrooms might help, see: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6213178/

As a source of vitamin D, that makes mushrooms about 130 times more expensive than supplements.

I wonder if the need for supplements and tests highlighting deficiencies is from changes in the quality of produce. Where a varied healthy diet with plenty of veg, etc. used be be enough for most an interesting report (from over a year ago)

The research paper Changes in USDA food composition data for 43 garden crops, 1950 to 1999

Perhaps it's the increase in crop yields: more produce, but lower nutritional value.

 

[Mr.B-Campag]

We are entering the winter period. The bone of it is that older people convert less sunlight into D.

Did you actually listen to the podcast? While the science does seem to support some subgroups in the population taking vitamin d supplements, I'd be very surprised if it applied to many, if any, on here. It certainly does not contain a blanket suggestion that all older people (however you define that) should be supplementing.

 

[albion]

Yes. Well, there was I think, a 2011 Newcastle Uni study that showed protection against many lung diseases.
Plus there is the none health issue. (Possibly it was onky a diabetes one, the 2011 D study just might have been Spain).
Also, bear in mind that D tablets are said to need K2 in order to be converted)

How come they never covered that past study or debunked it?
And why do they recommend D for Covid protection?
Because recent studies have linked low D to worse outcomes.

Not forgetting D is cheap and ultra safe. Unless you take extreme quantities.

 

[Mr.B-Campag]

Yes. Well, there was I think, a 2011 Newcastle Uni study that showed protection against many lung diseases.
Plus there is the none health issue. (Possibly it was onky a diabetes one, the 2011 D study just might have been Spain).
Also, bear in mind that D tablets are said to need K2 in order to be converted)

How come they never covered that past study or debunked it?
And why do they recommend D for Covid protection?
Because recent studies have linked low D to worse outcomes.

Not forgetting D is cheap and ultra safe. Unless you take extreme quantities.

Assuming that 'Yes' means you did listen to the podcast - didn't you hear the bit where Spector said no one has been able to replicate the results of the bone health study? Or that the researchers that did it subsequently started selling vitamin d supplements...

Again I'm not saying it might not be useful for certain groups, I'd just be surprised how useful it would be for most members of this forum who are presumably active, outside regularly and eat reasonably well - at least compared to the general population.

 

[fossyant]

Did you actually listen to the podcast? While the science does seem to support some subgroups in the population taking vitamin d supplements, I'd be very surprised if it applied to many, if any, on here. It certainly does not contain a blanket suggestion that all older people (however you define that) should be supplementing.

Erm, I thought the same, nah, I don't need it. Fell off on ice, broke my pelvis badly (hip socket as well). NHS were shocking - nah nothing wrong, 6 weeks later went back and insisted on a CT - oh heck, multiple fractures including a number bad enough to normally need a new hip joint - ah nit late now ! Paid for a VitD test as the GP practice ignored the hospital requests for bone density (took me 6 months to get one) and I was 17 nmol. Normal is 50-200, so lets say around low/middle as norm, around 100 n/mol, I was a fifth of where I was supposed to be. As mentioned previously, I am outside a lot !

It's worth the £35 test - it's very common deficiency.

 

[yello]

A take I had from the transcript/podcast (aside from vitamin D not actually being a vitamin!) was the levels person-to-person are very different. Personal in fact. Virtually impossible to say what a normal level is, such is the variation. Some people function perfectly well on next to none.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Interesting, and surprising, that 6 or 7 (from a quick count) people on this thread - including myself - report that they tested low for vitamin D, or are at least taking it on medical advice.

I was surprised when I tested low as I generally think I have a decent diet, including oily fish. I am, however, pretty assiduous about avoiding exposure to sunlight. I always cover my arms, use loads of factor 50, only wear shorts for cycling, wear a hat and so on if it's sunny.

Not exactly a scientific sample, but I found it surprising.

 

[Mr.B-Campag]

Interesting, and surprising, that 6 or 7 (from a quick count) people on this thread - including myself - report that they tested low for vitamin D, or are at least taking it on medical advice.

I was surprised when I tested low as I generally think I have a decent diet, including oily fish. I am, however, pretty assiduous about avoiding exposure to sunlight. I always cover my arms, use loads of factor 50, only wear shorts for cycling, wear a hat and so on if it's sunny.

Not exactly a scientific sample, but I found it surprising.

See the post above yours from yello. Also on the pod Spector notes how low vitamin d levels (again however defined) are common in Australia as everyone smothers themselves in suncream and/or avoid the sun completely. Assuming you're in the UK the precautions you are taking sound excessive (and I say that as someone with light skin and freckles).