Does anyone else think that all the vitamin tablets and supplements are a waste of money?

[Jonesjp]

Well the heading pretty much sums up my question! I’ve seen so many documentaries where they say you just wee/pass them all out before the body absorbs them, but then the clinic says you should be taking all these different tablets, I’m just not sure what to think. I’m rubbish at remembering to take them (odd that I remember to give my beautiful pooch his tablets, but never remember mine lol!) there not cheap and I just wondered what everyone else’s views were? X x

[Kempton]

I always wonder myself! Most packets advise you take them with food or after a meal so I like to think I'm absorbing at least some of the nutrients. Hopefully! I mean as long as they don't make you feel unwell there's no harm right?

I started taking a supplement with ginger extract during pregnancy that took away some of my nausea and I got one with calcium as I was worried I wasn't getting enough calcium as I don't drink cows milk.

I switched from Pregnacare to superdrug's own brand. They cost less! I guess I feel reassured that I might be making up any missing nutrients by taking something. I've been told I'm glowing (don't see it myself!) so putting it down to pregnancy hormones, a fairly good diet and supplements!

[Lilli79]

Yeah I agree, I think pregnacare etc are terribly expensive for what they are. Any good nutrition doctor (if there's such a thing these days!) will tell you that a varied diet will provide all the nutrients you need. I don't know if it's true of all vitamins and minerals but apparently you do pee out any vitamins & micronutrients which are surplus to requirement. I'm not certain that the supplements we have taken have had any effect. Other than that we are both now vegan, I think this helped us more than any nonsense supplements. I trust food more than pills. Still taking the pills though! 😕

[Lizzielizzielizzie]

Folic acid and vitamin d are proven to make a difference. They’re the only things my clinic actually recommend for most people. You can get them quite cheaply from places like Aldi if you buy them separately rather than in an expensive preconception tablet.

Why not keep them in the same place as your pet’s tablets and take them at the same time as you administer his?

[S-Joys]

I also wondered this especially as I bought the zita west ( so expensive) ones and it pretty much turned my wee to fluorescent yellow! I still take supplements but it's definitely something I wonder. My doc recommended the original pregnacare ones at my last appt.

[Kari55]

I have worked with a fertility nutritionist for over a year and all I can say is that my energy levels are better and my hair stopped falling out as much as it did before but I was taking high doses of zinc for a bit. My husband had his sperm tested before taking anything, and then had 2 other tests during the year of taking supplements and they were very similar to the very first one if not slightly worse. For him, the supplements didn't do anything, however because in general they are quite save to take, I still think it is good to invest in a food-based supplements which are easier to absorb. Make sure your supplements have at least 400mcg of folic acid or at least 800-1000mcg of folate, B12 and vitamin D.