Premeds: What supplements do you take?

[majahops]

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Thanks, Roy. Yeah. I see what you're saying.

You can't really be into it just for the results, you actually have to enjoy lifting. If you enjoy lifting itself you will make time for it. It's hard to explain but I enjoy the challenge and afterwards I always feel supremely confident and powerful during and afterwards--even though I'm not very strong.
-Roy

 

[iheartmpls]

Fish oil and calcium w/ vitamin D 3 times a day.

I'm impressed with how many people are taking fish oil!

 

[majahops]

Me too! I'd also really like to know WHY people are taking it. Like, what particular benefit(s) are they seeking or do they believe they are reaping by taking it?

Don't get me wrong, I'm sold on fish oil myself, but for a reason that isn't commonly advertised. I'd be interested to see if anybody else mentions the same reason.

Fish oil and calcium w/ vitamin D 3 times a day.

I'm impressed with how many people are taking fish oil!

 

[JJMrK]

Multivitamin and whey.

 

[UFGatorMed]

Food, Food, Food, NO Xplode, Food, Food, Food, Centrum Silver Multivitamin, Food, Glutamine, Food, Food, Food, Food, and FOOD.

Then gym.

 

[enjoydrywax]

Multivitamin
CoQ 10
Grape seed/skin (for polyphenols and resveratrol)
B complex
Fish Oil 3x a day
Udo's Oil thrown in my protein shakes (a perfect blend of EFA's)
Vit E
2-3g vitamin C
Zinc/Magnesium aspartate before bed

Melatonin occasionally to sleep

Around workouts..

BCAAs and maybe some arginine
Beta Alanine (precursor to carnosine)
Whey protein after lol

My god, how do you pay for all those supplements?

 

[p30doc]

I take a time release multi-vitamin, acetyl L-carnitine w/ alpha lipoic acid, fish oil, and green tea complex. I'm mainly hoping for some cardiac protection, blood pressure reg/cholesterol without taking perscription drugs. High blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease runs in my family.

 

[tigawoods]

Whey protein

and

HGH












(not serious)

 

[schismal]

I definitely don't rate them over controlled experimentation. I've read through pubmed and I don't feel like I've got a good idea for whether a given supplement will be of benefit to ME. My asking in this forum is just an attempt to gain one more source of input on the matter.

Damn, no matter how hard you try, there are always going to be people who want to argue with you or point out some reason for why the questions your asking aren't the "right" ones.

Please, stop. DON'T... BE ... THAT ... GUY!

Holy overreaction, Batman! Caps and exclamation points... guess I hit a nerve.

Well carry on. Strange to discuss this if you want to ignore the research behind these supplements, but whatever makes you happy. 👍

 

[dohgrl76]

I take fish oil, vitamin E, a multivitamin, biotin (for hair and nails! - works great), and Vitamin D, since I live in Chicago where there is very little sun 🙁

 

[Anotherface]

I suppliment with creatine, calcium, protein, fish oil, multivitamin, vit. C, and glutamine.

I take Vitamin c and vitamin b. On occasion I take whey/casein, but I'd rather get it directly from my diet instead of supplements. I rely on a balanced diet for everything else.

I think there is no benefit to taking creatine (as mentioned, it might cause a placebo effect). Creatine phosphate is broken down to creatinine, which is supposed to be quite toxic at extra physiological levels. It kind of wreaked havoc on me when I tried it. Then again, if your kidneys can handle the load and you don't over do it, then I guess go for it.

 

[time md]

I use creatine, whey protein, fish oil, glutamine, vit c, and vit b.

 

[luvrunning]

I take a multivitamin, fish oil, curamin, and glucosamin/chondroitin (to help my joints because I run almost everyday). I also make sure that I buy all of these from a natural/organic grocery store because I've heard from reliable sources that your body is able to absorb these better. Hope this helps 🙂

 

[doctor712]

Right, but there isn't any community consensus on the efficacy of supplements - the type that comes from huge double-blind placebo's - but just a bunch of isolated trials and reports.

actually, that's not true. there are plenty of clinical trials out there on everything from gingko to black cohosh. the latter i worked on at an Ivy med school's CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) research center.

over a decade ago, NIH created a division, NCCAM, funding about 11 centers at med schools to do just the research you are talking about. all that hoity toity double blind stuff that you discuss. and many of these centers are still at it. not sure if they have funded additional centers.

also, there are only a few CME courses ACCME accredited to teach health professionals, mostly MDs, about CAM and Intergrative medicines. i raised funds for three major ones, two of which are still up and running:

U of Az Nutrition CME. You would probably love this course. Check out Andy Weil's website and the course brochure. Also, P&S and U of AZ used to hold a Botanical Medicine in Modern Clinical Practice CME discussing everything that you talk about. Alllllllll the major supplements are discussed down to the bonds that hold together Ginseng, etc etc. Lastly, there were 5 CME courses given by P&S on Integrative Pain Medicine, and alternatives to typical drugs, anti-inflammatory supplements was a large topic taught by P&S docs.

Unfortunately, many med schools don't touch on supplements and the like, where the rest of the world really relies on them so much more than the US. I mean, P&S has a center for Holistic Urology. The pace is basically baby steps, but it's happening.

For what it's worth.

D712

p.s. I take Evening Primrose and DGL.

ps.ps. Check out the American Botanical Council website out of Austin, TX if you are further interested. ABC is trying to get standardized labeling on ALL nutritional supplements. It's a good cause.

 

[TheMagicCookie]

Multi-vitamin, whey protein, selenium, B-150

 

[thegetupkid]

NO explode, Cell Mass, Muscle Milk.

and food.

 

[riceman04]

Whey
Casein b4 bed
Fish Oil
Flax seed oil
Glutamine
Size On (essentially creatine and some type of sugary shuttle)
Multivitamin

Yeah....muscle milk is a joke...and I cannot take NO-xplode (which is a joke as well)

To combat my sweet tooth I actually use stuff like muscle milk and syntha-six as dessert supplement when I am really craving something sweet and fatty

 

[Tizoc]

Multivitamin
Fish Oil
Glucosamine Chondroitin
Greens+ powder
Muscle Milk

And Airborne for my hypochondriatic moments.

 

[AH11]

Fluconazole, Proctocort, Acyclovir, Valtrex

 

[periwinkle]

womens multivitamin, calcium+vit D, and flaxseed oil on days that I don't eat ground flaxseed.

 

[majahops]

What a thoughtful response! Thanks so much!!

actually, that's not true. there are plenty of clinical trials out there on everything from gingko to black cohosh. the latter i worked on at an Ivy med school's CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) research center.

over a decade ago, NIH created a division, NCCAM, funding about 11 centers at med schools to do just the research you are talking about. all that hoity toity double blind stuff that you discuss. and many of these centers are still at it. not sure if they have funded additional centers.

also, there are only a few CME courses ACCME accredited to teach health professionals, mostly MDs, about CAM and Intergrative medicines. i raised funds for three major ones, two of which are still up and running:

U of Az Nutrition CME. You would probably love this course. Check out Andy Weil's website and the course brochure. Also, P&S and U of AZ used to hold a Botanical Medicine in Modern Clinical Practice CME discussing everything that you talk about. Alllllllll the major supplements are discussed down to the bonds that hold together Ginseng, etc etc. Lastly, there were 5 CME courses given by P&S on Integrative Pain Medicine, and alternatives to typical drugs, anti-inflammatory supplements was a large topic taught by P&S docs.

Unfortunately, many med schools don't touch on supplements and the like, where the rest of the world really relies on them so much more than the US. I mean, P&S has a center for Holistic Urology. The pace is basically baby steps, but it's happening.

For what it's worth.

D712

p.s. I take Evening Primrose and DGL.

ps.ps. Check out the American Botanical Council website out of Austin, TX if you are further interested. ABC is trying to get standardized labeling on ALL nutritional supplements. It's a good cause.

 

[majahops]

By the way, dealing with some GI issues?

actually, that's not true. there are plenty of clinical trials out there on everything from gingko to black cohosh. the latter i worked on at an Ivy med school's CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) research center.

over a decade ago, NIH created a division, NCCAM, funding about 11 centers at med schools to do just the research you are talking about. all that hoity toity double blind stuff that you discuss. and many of these centers are still at it. not sure if they have funded additional centers.

also, there are only a few CME courses ACCME accredited to teach health professionals, mostly MDs, about CAM and Intergrative medicines. i raised funds for three major ones, two of which are still up and running:

U of Az Nutrition CME. You would probably love this course. Check out Andy Weil's website and the course brochure. Also, P&S and U of AZ used to hold a Botanical Medicine in Modern Clinical Practice CME discussing everything that you talk about. Alllllllll the major supplements are discussed down to the bonds that hold together Ginseng, etc etc. Lastly, there were 5 CME courses given by P&S on Integrative Pain Medicine, and alternatives to typical drugs, anti-inflammatory supplements was a large topic taught by P&S docs.

Unfortunately, many med schools don't touch on supplements and the like, where the rest of the world really relies on them so much more than the US. I mean, P&S has a center for Holistic Urology. The pace is basically baby steps, but it's happening.

For what it's worth.

D712

p.s. I take Evening Primrose and DGL.

ps.ps. Check out the American Botanical Council website out of Austin, TX if you are further interested. ABC is trying to get standardized labeling on ALL nutritional supplements. It's a good cause.

 

[scrubsaresexy]

After getting sick multiple times over my winter break (yay having a fever for 36 hours straight!), I've gotten better about taking my supplements 😛

I take the target/walmart brand of flinstones with iron, vitamin c, and airborne because everyone at my school has been getting sick. My cello teacher has been on me to take b vitamins because she insists I'll have more energy, and they were finally on sale so I'm going to give that try. I'm super excited because airborne comes in a yummy caramel apple flavored chew and those dissolvable tablets were gross.

I took Women's One a Day for a few days, but they make me violently ill. The same thing happens to my mom...anyone else had the same experience? I'll be fine the first day, feel nauseous the second day, and puke on the third...fun stuff.

And some of us ladies strength train, too! It makes me feel less stressed and I'm also a firefighter and a sailor...I need all the upper body strength I can get.

 

[parafilm]

Fish oil and vitamin B. Sometimes I also buy those "adult" gummy vitamins because they are delicious.

I'm not convinced they've made much of a difference, but what the hell.

 

[Isis24]

Well-balanced diet and vitamin D in the winter. Loooong winters in Canada. No sun 🙁

I admit...if slack on the well-balanced diet, I'll pop a multivitamin to get rid of the guilt! 😛

 

[Anotherface]

Fluconazole, Proctocort, Acyclovir, Valtrex

😆, I hope you are kidding.

In any case, OP was referring to dietary supplements.

NO explode, Cell Mass, Muscle Milk.

and food.

I tried NO explode and I actually liked it. However, I felt like I was on speed after I took it and am weary of what may or may not be in that stuff. NO explode is probably the most important sports supplement within my network.

 

[unsung]

Hey, btw, do any of you guys take Heliocare (it's an internal sunscreen)? I took it for a while during the summer and it really did seem to work in keeping me from getting darker/sunburned. I hate messing with chemical sunscreens (allergic) and physical sunscreens too are a bit of a pain. Love the idea of an internal sunscreen that basically repairs sun damage.

 

[DrGonz]

speed w/ NO explode.. try Black Powder. I felt wired for my entire workout. I actually stopped taking these kind of supplements though and now I kind of do my own thing. I have switched from trying to gain to gettin lean. I now run roughly 8 miles a week and play basketball when i can manage time. (which is diminishing since mcats are soon)

To alaska: Can you give me some more info on Muscle Milk or a link to studies. I really find that it is good all around for gains while staying lean. Thanks in advance

OH to anyone else that has used muscle milk: Did you like it? and did you find any other protein supplement better?

 

[RySerr21]

i dont get why people take supplements like Vitamin C. Eat a piece of #$%^*!@ fruit.


I'm a vegan, so every few days i take a b12 supplement, just in case i dont get enough from the foods/drinks that I eat that are fortified.

 

[chad5871]

i dont get why people take supplements like Vitamin C. Eat a piece of #$%^*!@ fruit.

I'm a vegan, so every few days i take a b12 supplement, just in case i dont get enough from the foods/drinks that I eat that are fortified.

The only reason I take it is to supplement the MSM I take - supposedly the MSM is more effective when its paired with a large amount (i.e. more than a regular diet would provide) of Vitamin C.

PS - I didn't know you were vegan! Way cool! 👍

 

[Anotherface]

speed w/ NO explode.. try Black Powder. I felt wired for my entire workout. I actually stopped taking these kind of supplements though and now I kind of do my own thing. I have switched from trying to gain to gettin lean. I now run roughly 8 miles a week and play basketball when i can manage time. (which is diminishing since mcats are soon)

To alaska: Can you give me some more info on Muscle Milk or a link to studies. I really find that it is good all around for gains while staying lean. Thanks in advance

OH to anyone else that has used muscle milk: Did you like it? and did you find any other protein supplement better?

Haha, yea I try not to use many supplements anymore. I am so much happier when I get to eat tasty food, which I cook, that is healthy than when I drink icky supplements. I guess supplements like protein etc are great if you have no time to cook and eat right.

As for Muscle Milk, it contains Mufa's, protein, and a lot of carbs. I think that combination isn't the greatest if you are trying to lean out, but it can work. Though sugar doesn't help, I have read some studies that say that mufa's help reduce belly fat. People I know drink because strawberry creme taste great, it gives them a sugar rush, and it contains "good fatty acids"

Like I plan on cutting later on. Though I normally prefer to clean bulk, I decided I wanted to do something different this time around. So I think I am going to have to cut before some competitions in the spring.

 

[funkydrmonkey]

I eat fruits and vegebibbles and try to eat real food... I am actually one of THOSE people who does not believe in eating vitamins and other crud... but that is just me... Although when I was little, I used to take Polyvisol. Does anybody remember them... they were shaped like rabbits?

 

[RySerr21]

The only reason I take it is to supplement the MSM I take - supposedly the MSM is more effective when its paired with a large amount (i.e. more than a regular diet would provide) of Vitamin C.

PS - I didn't know you were vegan! Way cool! 👍

Fair enough. I was more referring to people who refuse to eat healthy and as a replacement take vitamin supplements. That **** doesnt work, and it isnt healthy.

Well, i eat a vegan diet, but i dont live a vegan lifestyle in any other aspect, so technically i'm not a full out vegan. "True" vegans are always so anal about that kinda thing. Kinda dumb, but whatever.

 

[Lukkie]

running a dbol/sust cycle right now, starting tren/dbol in march

 

[Anotherface]

Fair enough. I was more referring to people who refuse to eat healthy and as a replacement take vitamin supplements. That **** doesnt work, and it isnt healthy.

Well, i eat a vegan diet, but i dont live a vegan lifestyle in any other aspect, so technically i'm not a full out vegan. "True" vegans are always so anal about that kinda thing. Kinda dumb, but whatever.

That problem is just as bad as our nation's infrastructure problems. Though I do admit some people are cannot eat healthy because of time constraints or their income.

running a dbol/sust cycle right now, starting tren/dbol in march

Sorry, but I find a hard time believing that. You just don't seem like that type.

 

[Charles English]

flintstone's chewables and extenze 🙄

 

[squrlgrl007]

Flintstone vitamins

ditto

 

[Bacchus]

Does anyone use Cytomax by Cytosport? Its a performance powder... used a trial once during a workout with great results but I don't know if that was due to the hype on the back of the package... might wanna get back onto it but wanna see if anyone has any opinions.

http://www.cytosport.com/Product.aspx?ProductID=5

 

[Sociopath]

Fish oil, Vit C,B,D,A,E Calcium, Multi Vitamin (just in case the others didn't cover enough ... unnecessary I know. ) and Muscle Milk (Vanilla) 😀

 

[doctor712]

By the way, dealing with some GI issues?

Yes, very impressive! 😀 I spoke to my boss, the Course co-Director at the Botanical CME course, and he put me on DGL and Evening Primrose. Suspecting my GI issue was autoimmune as well.

Now, if you can get the autoimmune diagnosis, I'll give you three 👍👍👍 Give ya 5 guesses.

D712

 

[majahops]

1) Thyroiditis
2) Ulcerative Coilitis
3) Chron's
4) Lupus
5) Some atypical type of arthritis?

Yes, very impressive! 😀 I spoke to my boss, the Course co-Director at the Botanical CME course, and he put me on DGL and Evening Primrose. Suspecting my GI issue was autoimmune as well.

Now, if you can get the autoimmune diagnosis, I'll give you three 👍👍👍 Give ya 5 guesses.

D712

 

[doctor712]

1) Thyroiditis
2) Ulcerative Coilitis
3) Chron's
4) Lupus
5) Some atypical type of arthritis?

Hehee. No. Good thinking though!

 

[RySerr21]

That problem is just as bad as our nation's infrastructure problems. Though I do admit some people are cannot eat healthy because of time constraints or their income.

lots of fruit you can eat on the road, if you really are that stressed on time. But anyway, i do agree that eating healthy can be difficult for the extremeley over worked and busy person...but thats not the case for most of our nation, especially the children/adolescents/young adults. But regardless of why they do it, taking vitamin supplements is not a healthy alternative, theyve actually shown it may have a negative effect on health, so those people are gettin screwed in more ways than one!

 

[Anotherface]

lots of fruit you can eat on the road, if you really are that stressed on time. But anyway, i do agree that eating healthy can be difficult for the extremeley over worked and busy person...but thats not the case for most of our nation, especially the children/adolescents/young adults. But regardless of why they do it, taking vitamin supplements is not a healthy alternative, theyve actually shown it may have a negative effect on health, so those people are gettin screwed in more ways than one!

I read that it is bad for you too. Since its seems like there is a new report with a new opinion ever so often, I just stick with a diet that makes me feel good.

Greasy and sugary foods make me feel sluggish and crash, respectively. I try to stick to a diet with a lot of grains, veggies, and certain sources of protein. Personally, I always eat fruits like bananas, tangerines, and apples when I am on the run and don't have time to cook. I drink whey/casein shakes after a work out or for lunch if I am really short on time.

I am essentially the opposite of the average American in terms of diet. Many people who work, have kids, and are on a limited budget rely on greasy and relatively inexpensive food from fast food restaurants. Even if these families had time to cook, many of them would find that cooking can be more expensive than fast food. Case and point, a burger from a dollar menu will be a lot cheaper than alternatives made at home.

 

[justdoit31]

I take 3 prescriptions each day for a chronic disease...

I also take

a multivitamin for kidneys- I got stones and had emergency surgery
also fish oil
thats about it- I feel like 8 pills a day is more than enough!

 

[KTownGT]

Let's see:
- Fish Oil
- Multi
- Green Tea caps
- Ginkgo Biloba
- Cissus Quadrangularis
For exercise:
- Cytogainer(BCAA's, Glutamine, Whey Protein, etc.)
- OmegaSports Ultima (methylcobalamin, creatine, NO supplement)

And I am seriously considering a nootropic such as piraceam or aniracetam.

I have a problem. 🙁

 

[ShaneK]

i've heard nurses refer to them as bed pan bullets... they come out the other way just the way you swallowed them because their absorption rate is so low...

My Psych teacher was actually talking about this the other day.

 

[ONUALUM]

You can't really be into it just for the results, you actually have to enjoy lifting. If you enjoy lifting itself you will make time for it. It's hard to explain but I enjoy the challenge and afterwards I always feel supremely confident and powerful during and afterwards--even though I'm not very strong.
-Roy

I definitely agree with Roy here. If you enjoy lifting, which I do, you'll find the time. If not, you'll have to find some way to convince yourself it's worth your time. There are numerous benefits of lifting/exercise, choose one and think about that the next time you're debating whether or not you should work-out.

I take a multi-vitamin, creatine, protein, and coffee.

 

[cyclin M]

DMEM + 4 mM L-glutamine + 10% FBS + 1% pen/strep

 

[DrWookie]

I try to get what I need in the food I eat. I personally have not read enough evidence to convince me that supplements help (either because of the amount of it you need vs. what's in a daily dose or for absorption issues...your body doesn't take in things stuffed in a pill the same way it does from natural sources). To be honest I just haven't done enough research so I figure it is easier for me to just make smart choices.

I eat fruits/vegetables every day, always have OJ and some grape juice (i do semi believe in the resveratrol thing...call me a sucker. So I also like red wine in small amounts). I try to have fish 2-3 times a week. I do eat red meat but I buy organic grain fed (and try to get local)....other then that I say let fate decide.