vitamins

[shadow4me]

I am thinking of asking for some blood test to check that I am getting all the nutrients and vitamins I need has I have noticed that many with copd take supplements but I have been told that what is a susceptible level for certain vits ect in the UK would be classed has very low in other countries ?Vitamin D being one of them has anyone any knowledge of this please x

[O2Trees]

Our RDAs (recommended daily allowance) would indeed be considered low in some other countries for several vitamins and minerals Shadow4me. I take 4000iu vitamin D3 and magnesium (2.5gm) as I have osteoporosis and they both work with calcium, which we generally get enough of in our diet, to form new bone. But Ive read on several sites that if you take D3, you need to also take Vit K2 Mk 7, as K2 directs calcium to the bones. The risk Ive read is if you don't take the K2, the calcium can float around the body causing problems, e.g. kidney stones or calcification.

Good idea to have some blood tests to diagnosis any deficiencies but frankly lots of GPs don't know much about diet, and NHS dieticians often don't know much either. I remember one coming to our BE group and advising those underweight to eat Mars Bars - that can be the level of information so probably best to see a naturopath or other independent dietician if you want supplement advice.

[Carnival567]

My GP did a full blood test to evaluate vitamins and minerals and subsequently prescribed vitamin D3 and folic acid ( labelled preconceive- long past that!) and recommended CQ10 and Osteocare, as well as a multivitamin. I do feel less fatigued and my concentration is better, so it is well worth asking. I got the non-prescription ones from Holland and Barrett, who were very helpful.

[jmsutt73 in reply to Carnival567]

Oxygen drops on exertion was/is the only symptom of anything that I have had, but it was enough to put me on supplemental oxygen. I did however suffer almost dibilitating fatigue for months. Then I read an Internet article about supplements. Coq10 was listed, stating that as we get older our bodies do not manufacture even 50% of what it did when young, and that it plays a huge part in our energy. I began taking the one for older person, Ubiquitol. My energy level is now better than it has been in years.

[Helen6]

Yes, do ask for blood tests to check this out. My GP picked up that I was low on vitamin D a few months back and advised me to take vitamin D on a daily basis. Better to be certain rather than take anything you might not need or something that could cause other problems.

Helen

[Lily-]

The problem is that when doctors recommend vitamins, apart from folic acid, they are not available on prescription because this was changed during Thatcherism. This makes them reluctant to give them credence. It was justified by claiming that vitamin deficiency was unimportant in regard to health, which is obviously nonsense. Our bodies need adequate nourishment that would have once been available in food when it was grown more naturally & when the food chain was less polluted by additives & antibiotics in animal produce from their feed. Good nourishment will prevent many medical problems, our bodies need the correct nutrients to work effectively. It also pays to filter our drinking water as it is now commonly recognised that a large percentage of medical problems are caused or increased through dehydration. A large proportion of the population simply do not drink enough water to flush our bodies of toxins & that's usually because they don't like the taste or drink too many carbonated drinks & coffee. This can be remedied by the use of charcoal filters. A good balanced diet is the best way to boost our vitamin intake, but it is a complicated process whereby there may be a lack of zinc or magnesium, which are needed for our bodies to be able to metabolise vitamin C efficiently. If more nutritionists were used by the NHS then a large amount of illness would-be preventable, which is a more economically & humanely sound way for medicine to progress. Continually starving the NHS of the funds to improve the nation's health is detrimental to us all, rich or poor. The working wo/men built this country & fought in it's wars with the understanding that they were protecting us & future generations who are now being limited by the availability of good healthcare through underfunding.

[lKeith]

shadow4me

HI, try a site agorahealth, they are a natural health site based in USA but with English distributors they would put you wise about what you need and quantity. Be aware though that natural medicines are deaerr than normal Holland & Barret prices.

IKeith