Do you take daily supplements?

[Florence NightinFAIL, BSN, RN]

Some dieticians do not like the idea of taking pills to replace a healthy diet. Vitamins should not be used as substitutions for a healthy diet, but rather as supplementation. Experts do not recommend vitamins in pill form despite the beneficial effects; this is due to the fear that people will use them to replace healthy eating habits.

Most Americans do not eat ideal diets. According to a national survey, over half of all Americans do not drink a glass of juice, each one serving of vegetables, or eat a piece of fruit daily. Only 40% eat 3 to 5 servings of vegetables daily, the recommended amount. Only 20% eat the recommend 2 to 4 servings of fruit each day. For those not eating properly, supplementation is better than nothing. Vitaguide.

I know as nurses that either we are up all night and sleeping most of day or working inside all day and sleeping all night - so we hardly ever get to see the sun. Do you take vitamin D supplements? I don't but have wondered what my vit D levels are.

And each time that I prepare my morning meds for my patients and see the vitamins I have to give them (Vit D, multivitamins, B12, Iron, etc.) I'm reminded of my own forgotten bottles in my cupboard, gathering dust and getting closer to their expiration date

I know that most of us, esp during night shift, do not eat healthy, well balanced meals due to either time constraints or being too tired to cook meals.

What daily supplements do you take? And have any of you taken a blood test to find that you're low on some vitamin or mineral? I'm thinking about doing that one of these days.

P.S. I started taking fish oils a few months ago and I noticed a difference in my nails. I tend to have really dry skin where the nails around my cuticles actually tear and bleed - and now they are so smooth and soft. Love it! I haven't noticed a difference in my hair or skin though.

Dietary supplements: What you need to know from the FDA

Using dietary supplements wisely

[donsterRN, ASN, BSN]

I take a daily multivitamin.

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

Yes, a bunch. I have an exceptionally healthy diet though, as well. Whole foods, all organic, all fresh. I do a fairly good job of getting 7 servings of veggies and 2 of fruits a day. I also exercise religiously-6 days a week.

I still take: CoQ10, fish oil, Vit D, Calcium, Cranberry, Niacin, Vit E, biotin and a MVI.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

Ester C (kinder to stomach that plain Vit C) and 1000 mg. Vitamin D (documented low levels last year). Both indicate I probably need more sun time.

[LPNnowRN]

I take a daily multivitamin without any herbal stuff in it, some glucosamine for the knees, and right now am on ferrous gluconate for low Hgb from surgery last month. I like that better than ferrous sulfate which makes me nauseated.

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

I try... I have low vitamin D so I need to take them qday. Doesn't happen though.

[V-Neck T-Shirt]

My doctor has recommended that I take fish oil supplements and Vitamin D. I have a hard time following through, though. I guess because I feel healthy and fine, it's hard to find desire to take pills daily...which should give me a little more sympathy for med non-compliant patients, I guess

[Bobylon]

Yeah, I take a handful, but always have, long before becoming a nurse. At the moment, I take a multi-v, a B+C, a D, some Calc/Mag/Zinc, a glucosamine/MSM, some fish (or flax seed) oil, Panax ginseng, and my 'script' meds (lisinopril, and Keppra). I usually eat pretty healthily (I don't eat while working.....we're the only 8 hour floor in the hospital, I work nights, and eating makes me sleepy...heh). Also, I drink yerba mate (as opposed to coffee/tea/soda/energy drinks). I feel pretty good for an old epileptic with htn...heh.

[starfishlpn]

I take a prenatal vitamin and a probiotic every day and then teaspoon of fish oil qod. I am not pregnant or even trying to be right now, as my husband are both students right now, but my ob/gyn says he recommends that for all of his patient's of child bearing age and especially considering my diet as I eat fresh vegetables and a limited amount of fruit, but have pretty much eliminated fortified cereals/ grain products in adhering to a ketogenic diet for my migraines. The probiotic is great never have any GI irregularities, which has never been a big issue for me but think everyone has an occasional bout of problems.

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

I take a high quality multivitamin/mineral supplement, fish oil capsules, and recently started a combo cinnamin/chromium supplement. I get plenty of sun working in the garden so I don't take any extra Vitamin D. I do make sure to have some yogurt daily for the active cultures.

After reading the OP I had to take a look at my own cuticles, and realized that mine are also much less dry than before I started the fish oil. :) I hadn't really noticed.

[mzjennx, BSN, RN]

I work nights too and trying to lose weight. I make sure to eat my breakfast before work (dinner with family about 8pm). I pack my own healthy snacks and I take a daily multivitamin, calcium with vitamin D and fish oil. When I'm sick I take extra vitamin c and zinc. I take whey when I work out or don't eat enough during the night shift. I avoid munching on unhealthy snacks. I work out after work cardio/weight train 3-4x a week and take whey protein afterwards. I also avoid eating meals before beds. That has helped a lot with my weight loss so far. Lost 10 lbs in 6 months.

[LongislandRN23]

I eat a well balanced and healthy diet plus I take a multivitamin, 1000mg of vitamin C, calcium with vitamin D everyday and I take a super B complex every other day. I notice my hair and nails grow like wild fire now and I feel better.