Vitamin or Mineral Supplements?

[aways]

Just doing a quick survey to hear about what vitamin and/or mineral supplements you may take, and what your reason is for taking them? If you take any, it would also be useful if you could offer any arguments/evidence that they work. I'm generally skeptical, but I'd like to hear people's experiences.

[Looking_for_911]

Every year without fail between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I would get a cold so bad I'd pray for death.
Not this year.
I have been on Ester-C, twice daily, for about 7-months. It seems to have worked wonders fending off the "snots" from school kids dragging who knows what home in an effort to kill us adults.

I used to take GNC's 50-Plus (can't remember the name) multi vitamin. Felt better when I took them. Did it for about three years running. Stopped for some unknown reason.... I think I need to start back.

[herr_oberst]

I take a multi vitamin single day and a fish oil tab. With OJ. Because somebody said I should :-)

I may try that Ester-C because I hate my yearly cold with a passion.

[stomachmonkey]

Today announced if you are not a "premium" customer and you want/need to fly standby it'll cost you an extra $50 for the privilege.

[Tobra]

I take multi-vitamin occasionally. I generally eat a good diet and exercise. Very rarely get sick, maybe 5 times in the last 30 years, food poisoning 4 times, flu shot once.

[aways]

I think there's pretty good evidence that Fish Oil is beneficial, so I take that along with selenium occasionally... Correct me if I'm wrong, but most doctors and nutritionists downplay the need for a multi-vitamin? If you're gonna take vitamin C, I agree that Ester-C is great. Calcium Ascorbate is not as acidic as typical vitamin C preparations and ca be taken without any stomach upset.

[craigster59]

I take a multi vitamin "LifeEssence" another "Probiotic" and 2 fish oil gelcaps. My Wife is big into vitamins and supplements so she buys only the best. They're not cheap (around $75 a month) but I do feel better and haven't gotten sick for awhile.

[Burnin' oil]

There are extensive peer-reviewed studies indicating that vitamin supplements are not beneficial. Fish oil might be beneficial.

[Evans, Marv]

I've taken a multi vitamin with minerals, fish oil caps and fiber tabs for what seems like most of my life. I know if you eat right, vitamin supplements aren't supposed to be necessary. But if they don't hurt if not overdone and offer a little insurance against deficiencies, I figure it's OK. I don't pay attention to the latest craze about this or that vitamin or supplement. I just do what I do, and keep on doing it. But it's irritating that these things come & go, and cause the prices to rise. For instance there was a recent report that taking Omega-3 capsules seemed to extent the life expectancies of those taking them through seemingly helping repair the telimires (sp. ?) on the ends of their DNA. I thought, "Great, now the price of that is going to sky rocket."

[herr_oberst]

Most multi's have Lycopene, which I need, due to prostate issues in the family health tree.