Vitamins

[starburst66]

Hi, I cant't eat any dairy products, and only now and again eat soya(recently stopped the soya for abit)I'm not taking any vitamins, but if I do , do they contain any lactose etc.I might have a vitamin deficeintcy(not sure).I suffer from alopecia and also i have galactoseamia, now just woundering if i maybe lacking vitamins.Any help please!!

[Lan]

Hi Starburst, :D

The vitamins I take are calcium, vitamins B, C and D. My advice on taking them would be to call into your local Health Food Shop. Holland and Barrett are my nearest and they keep lists of what all the vitamins contain, and are happy to share the information.

You could also speak to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist and they would be able to advise you more fully, and advise you on what vitamins would best benefit you.

Hope this helps. Keep us posted.

Lan.

[Copper]

I took my mother to the hospital this week for her pre-investigation checks, she mentioned that she is dairy free and the nurse was quite concerned about her calcium intake. I told her that I too was dairy free and maybe I should take calcium tablets. The nurse said that older women should have plenty of calcium - at 50 am I an older woman? Anyway I was told that there are problems with calcium tablets as the calcium is not always absorbed by the body but is stored instead. Her advice was to go back to my GP. When I had my three year check last November I told the nurse that I was lactose intolerant and so dairy free, she never said anything about calcium to me - oh dear.

[linny]

Hi, before I knew that I was dairy intolerant I went to a dietician. In brief, I have psoriatic arthritis in all my joints. Anti-inflammatories and disease modifying drugs have caused me to have various side effects including gastritis. The dietician told me to take calcium citrate tablets as they are absorbed into the blood more easily than calcium carbonate. I had a problem getting them, Holland & Barrett and Boots here don't sell them. I think the brand I got were 'Solray'?? I got them in my local health shop. Hope this is some help. I now try to eat enough soya products with calcium to get my daily dose for my poor old bones!! I'm only 38!! Linny

[linny]

Hi, me again. I thought this may be useful. It's a guide I got from Allergy UK.

Daily recommended calcium intake as recommended by the National Osteoporosis Society is as follows:

Children                                        800 mg
Teenagers                                    1000mg
Pregnant and Nursing Mothers        1200 mg
Males 20 - 60 yrs                          1000 mg
Females 20 - 45 yrs                      1000 mg
Females over 45 yrs                      1500 mg
Males over 60 yrs                          1500 mg

From Linny

[Copper]

Thanks very much for the calcium information. My intake must be very small - I will try and work it out later. I will have to get some calcium citrate tablets this week.

Copper

[lrg]

I am still feeding my baby who is allergic to milk and when we went to a dietician calcium was one of the first things he mentioned. He has prescribed some tablets for me don't know what they are as i am picking them up on Monday from the chemist. Will let you know Lisa

P.S really interested to hear about some of the stories about children with constipation from milk i had exactly the same with my eldest daughter and she was also put on laculose making her much worse, in the end i took her off milk for 2 years now i have had my second daughter she is allergic to milk does it follow in families.

[matt]

my doctor has prescribed calcium tablets for me to supplement my lack.

i also take one a day chewable multivit/mineral centrum that say on the packet that they are free fromlactose,sucrose,gluten,wheat,yeast. only suitable for over 11 years old though.

hope this helps

[starburst66]

Hi, I had a bad cold a few days ago, and I bought some multivitamins and iron tablets from asda(checked what was in them, were ok).Now normally when I get a cold it lasts for weeks, but when I started these vitamins they must have helped(cold gone now)I eat plenty of vegatables and a healthy diet,also got fruit which to be honest dont normally buy any, had afew oranges(freshly squeezed)and seemed to help.!!So i'll keep to these vitamins now...Hope you all ok too.

[Copper]

I am aware that you could overdose on vitamins and calcium, so I have done some more research. The National Osteoporosis Society (UK) has a table which says that people age 19+ years need 700mg of calcium daily. I also have read a Which report which quotes the same figure of 700mg for us in the UK and they also quote figures for USA which are much higher!

I know that my calcium intake is very small so I appear to have two choices -
1) Change my diet to include cereal, soya milk with added calcium, orange juice with added calcium, lots of fresh fruit and veg especially green leafy veg, baked beans, sardines and eat brown bread instead of wholemeal.

Oh how I so don't like the taste of soya milk :(

2) calcium tablets

I could try both, as I am sure that with the best will in the world I will not be able to change my diet enough.

[starburst66]

Originally posted by starburst66@Apr 4 2004, 07:44 PM
Hi, I had a bad cold a few days ago, and I bought some multivitamins and iron tablets from asda(checked what was in them, were ok).Now normally when I get a cold it lasts for weeks, but when I started these vitamins they must have helped(cold gone now)I eat plenty of vegatables and a healthy diet,also got fruit which to be honest dont normally buy any, had afew oranges(freshly squeezed)and seemed to help.!!So i'll keep to these vitamins now...Hope you all ok too.
Just a quick message on how i'm getting on with those vitamins i mentioned, I have also noticed that my nails are getting stronger (& longer)too since taking them, so I will carry on with them....And my cold stayed away which is a good sign .lol :bleh: