Fibromyalgia Support Group

Usually, this information is on the bottle. It's called the RDA - recommended daily allowance.

It is on the bottle but there are 3 different kinds.One is for spine care,one is for joint care and one is for bone care.Sorry if I sound like an idiot,I'm tired.Some of the bottles have the same things in them and some have different ingredients.I just didn't know if I should take all 3,if I'd be getting too much of certain vitamins or suppliments.

You are right to be cautious. Supplements can be deadly if not taken properly.

I believe the USDA lists the recommended amounts.

Try this site:

http://fnic.nal.usda.gov/nal_displ...

Thanks,got it!Thats what i needed.Got it all copied!Thank-you so much!!!

The RDA info is way behind the times and the agency that has determined those daily allowances is the FDA, and thus, not an advocate of vitamins and supplements.

In most cases, the RDA is not enough, especially for us. What I've found helpful is to compare a few different brands of the same supplement. Your better brands have been around for a long time and they've done much of the research for us. Yes, I still do my own research online and make sure that I get a balanced viewpoint from a diverse selection of sites.

Two good sources for types and dosages is the book "Prescripton for Nutritional Healing", authors Phyllis and James Balch and the website vitacost.com. Vitacost has many great namebrand supplements and it also shows the customer feedback on each one (or most of them). Not only do you see their ratings, but you can view their specific comments about the product. I've also found them to be the most reasonalbly priced. The book I mentioned has been my nutritonal "bible" for years. Because one of the authors is an M.D., it's a very conservative source of info. It will also tell you what you can or can't take with each and if you shouldn't take it at all if you have certain health issues. The other great feature of the book is that it tells you what foods contain each of the vitamins or minerals.

I hope that helped!

I would look into the book that Shari recommended. I found the RDA and they were not enough for me. My doc tests for everything and has increased my dosages of my vitamins....example: the RDA for vitamin D3 is 1,000IU....I take 6000 IU and feel better (less fatigues) than I have in years. Everyone is different, so a blanket RDA is not universal.

If you can not afford to have your doc test your levels or your insurance will not cover these tests, I suggest that you start with the recommendations of the FDA. Then increase 1 vitamin for a few days...see how you react....etc. Only 1 a day though, I would not increase all of them at the same time for two reasons.

First, you may need more of one but not more of the other.
Second, you will not be able to tell which you need more of
Three, you will see if you have any sort of reaction to one and not the other

I agree with D...though they are recommendations they are really lagging behind the times. For instance I believe that they say you only need 60 microunits of Vitamin C...in actuality it is much higher than that. 60 units is what was recommended to keep scurvy away during the days that it was a major concern. SO back then it was felt that 60 was all you needed...its actually closer to 2000 (I think...dont quote). THe best way would be to see a specialist but again if you cant afford one then I would do as D said.

I take vitamin D in conjunction with calcium (to aid in absorption) and the recommended dose on my bottle is 400 IU....my doc prescribed 1000-1200 IU. So it will vary from person to person.

Thanks so much ladies!!I knew someone would be able to help me!Love you guys!

I just use the rda on the bottles. Most the time a vitamin doesnt give you the full amount of any one given med cause it assumes that you will get some from food. SO if you combine he totals from the bottles and it adds up to the 100 (or close) your probally fine. I know some vits give you more then the daily recomended too so IDK

Glad you got the RDA list. As far as ODing on vitamins and minerals, you only have to worry about the fat soluble ones as water soluble ones will simply get eliminated in urine. Which vitamins are fat soluble? vit A, D, E and K come to mind. My rheumy did recommend a much higher dose of vit D than RDA, however, 4000 IU per day for 2 months! Which vitamins are water soluble? vit C and vit B come to mind. You may want to go by how you feel, not just RDA. Periodically take breaks to see if it makes a difference. Uptake is important, not just dose. Sometimes our bodies don't process what we deliver to them. I wish I could say I wasn't processing all the Halloween candy calories, but unfortunately, I am. LOL.