Vitamins and health supplements for RA

[notagranny]

Hi! What health supplements/vitamins have you been recommended for living with RA? Do you feel they are effective? There are so many it's hard to know the best combination

[Metal-legs]

My rheumy recommended fish oil. Also I take a multi vitamin, I have tried other things but it had no effect on inflammation so I am not wasting my money.

[hatshepsut]

I have definitely benefitted from being prescribed Vit D, after my levels were found to be deficient. I don't believe in taking anything unless tests show the need. M xx

[nomoreheels]

I've had this conversation with my Rheumy when I asked her about taking fish oil & she ok'd them so I take one with Omega 3. I'm also prescribed a calcium & vitamin D supplement & my D levels are checked annually. She's not keen on me taking anything else & prefers I have a good balanced diet so I continue on my mainly Mediterranean diet. I aim to include vitamins A, E & C as much as possible plus iron rich foods. You need to do your homework on vitamins & supplements or even better ask your Rheumy what may be helpful for you. Check labels, if anything purports to boost your immune system avoid at all costs, we're trying to help stop our body attacking our joints & vital organs not boost it! This link may be helpful arthritisresearchuk.org/art...

[Livingston]

None!

[Keryn]

I have RA and currently on mxt and pred. I also tske natural meds i take 3000mgs fish oil a day (4tabs), 3000mg glucosomime a day (2tabs), i take 1 folic acid tab each day due to mxt make my hair fall out in clumps, and i take 1000mgs of tumeric per day (2 tabs) all up i take on average 10 tabs a day. But the days i miss the natural ones my body does ache alittle more. Iam not saying they help 100% but they do help allittle. Best to find a health food shop that you trust and have a chat also remember to run all meds by your drs before you start on them. Fish oil and glucosomine have to be taken in large doses to have an effect. I wanted to take a multi vit aswell but my rhuem said no as it will help boost my immunie system when in actual fact we want to slow it down.

[helixhelix]

I spend my money on fresh vegetables, fruit and fish instead. I'm on vit d because of low levels, but that's on prescription.

[Karen77]

I take Nutrasea Omega 3 + Vitamin D daily, as well as a probiotic. Others have been recommended to me but I find myself getting overwhelmed with all the pill popping and prefer to [try to] get my nutrients through food sources. Not perfect, and supplements could probably help, but that's what works for me.

Be careful with things like Vitamin C, echinacea and other supplements that boost your immune system, as they can be precursors to RA flares for some people.