Multivitamins

[Gillybean123]

Asked doctor about magnesium supplement today. He told me to get a multivitamin with magnesium in. Just been researching and found Centrum 50 plus. Do any of you good people take multivitamins if so which one.

[Teresa156]

Hi Gillybean123,

I don’t take a multivitamin as I prefer to take seperate vitamins, as I need to avoid some vitamins that interact with some medication, but that’s just my preference. For an all round multivitamin, I’m sure this is fine. However, if you are getting this purely for the magnesium, I do know that the magnesium used in multi vitamins is usually magnesium oxide, which is the cheapest form ( this one has that in) which isn’t very easily absorbed by the body and what is absorbed, is very, very little . If you did want magnesium in particular to help your afib, the amount in that multi vitamin would unfortunately do very little.

I would recommend Magnesium taurate, or magnesium glyconate as a type of magnesium that could help atrial fibrillation ( both are generally proven to be gentle on tummy and I’ve had no problems even taking 350 - 400 mg a day) there are a couple of others that are also suitable, but these are what I take and i think they help.

Teresa

[CDreamer]

I consider Multivitamins a waste of money. You need a proper assessment & testing by a Nutritionist for all the reasons Teresa outlined. I would look at your eating plan in the first instance.

I take COQ10 - 200mg/day - which I think most cardiologists would agree is a good idea for anyone with heart problems and certainly if you take statins. Glucosamine supplements for joints, VitC, D3, VitB complex & Magnesium as a spray as I can’t take oral Magnesium.

Did you ask your GP on what Nutritional training they had? Some are dual trained & know what they are talking about but very few.

I found this site gives useful help on supplements & meal plans

heartmdinstitute.com/diet-n...

[secondtry]

You may want to get your Mg level tested first to see if you need a higher dose than that in a Multivit. Lamberts have my trust as a reliable supplier of the latter (nb I have no commercial interest).

My London Naturopath said my Mg & CoQ10 levels should be well into the upper quartile and so I was tested for both at the start through him by posting off a blood sample to BioLab London. nb the Mg test should be the Red Cell test not the usual one done by GPs which almost always comes out 'Normal'. I have for the last 8 years used for Mg a compound with lots of other good heart stuff in nutriadvanced.co.uk/megamag...

[waveylines]

Not a fan of multivitamins as for best absorption they can oppose each other in one tablet! The best way to absorb magnesium is from a skin spray. You spray it on the inside of your arms, thighs or tummy rotating round. Or a magnesium bath. This is a neat trick as magnesium csn easily upset the tummy. You can buy sprays or make it. Most people are deficient in magnesium so your doc was on a safe bet recommrnding it. Ive also bought it in a powder for drinks, pleasent enough, but found I could only take it that way every few days as otherwise was running to the loo......so a great laxative if you need one!!

[Teresa156]

I wanted to add, that I found my GP tended to be quite dismissive about vitamins regarding the help or positive effect on AF, so I do my own research instead. You do have to be careful of course and sensible and not take too many as a lot can interact and there are limitations in daily doseage. Like others have said, ask to be tested, especially too for Vitamin B12, Vitamin D and also magnesium, although the serum test in blood tests for magnesium isn’t a good indication of levels as a majority isn’t contained in the blood, but if your results come back low it’s an indication you are insufficient. It also takes a long time to correct a deficiency in magnesium.

[CDreamer in reply to Teresa156]

If your Mg serum levels are low - you are in real trouble already.

[Teresa156 in reply to CDreamer]

Agreed. Even if low/normal ( like mine was) chances are it’s even lower in real life. I have found it takes a long time to increase, even on a high-ish dose of a good magnesium. It’s getting there….

[MalcolmCClark]

HiI have had bariatric surgery so rely on supplements. I get prescribed forceval multi vitamins. My pharmacist has told me it's a good quality one to take as the ingredients are of high quality which is not always the case for over the counter supplements.

[Deb1838]

I take centrum advanced as it was recommended for me by my gp

I agree that in the ideal world your diet should provide everything you need, unfortunately I have had eating disorders over the years and still have a bad attitude to food

I have taken them for about 10 years and swear by them