Basic vitamin regime on the cheap

I'm on Medicare due to disability.  I'm poor.  Another women in my boat wrote in at the duodenal switch lists asking for advice on how to pay for her vitamin supplements since Medicare doesn't pick up this cost.

I wrote her back privately...this is what I do

I can get the basics shipped to my door for approx $20 a month.

I ordered the multivitamins with ADEK from Baratric Advantage at first, but they are too expensive and unnecessary.  I bought cheaper multivitamins from Vitalady 180 caps (her private label) for around $35 which will last me three months.  I'm going to go with the cheapest generic ones when I run out.

I don't take the ADEKs my doctor's office showed me.  They are too expensive at $40 a bottle for 60, not even a month's supply at 3 a day.  The doc said they weren't necessary either.  It's best to add what you need based on your lab tests.  If you need extra vitamins, your lab tests will show it.

You can order what you need at Amazon, cheap, and utilize their free shipping for orders over $25.  I always buy enough at once to get their free shipping.

Ferro sequels from Amazon.  100 tablets at 1 a day will last appros 3 months. I love these because they are good to my tummy and non constipating. $7/mo

Citracal calcium citrate with D 180 tablets at three a day will last two months. I do like the chewable and lozenges, but these are cheaper. They have no taste, like chalk. I just chew 'em and chase it with a beverage. $7.50/mo



Centrum multivitamin You get 250 which at 2/day will last approx 4 months. Big pills, I break them into half. $5/mo


(Don't always go with the best price. If it's just a dollar or so more, the ones that qualify for free shipping are worth it)

Curcumin

I've been taking this the last month, just one rather large capsule a day, 900mg, because I wanted a protectant against the toxins in the appreciable amounts of fat I'm releasing in my blood. since I now have rheumatoid arthritis, I also like it for its anit inflammatory properties. It's also supposed to do a lot of other stuff, but who knows. It doesn't hurt to try it though.

From Wikipedia

In vitro and animal studies have suggested the curcumin may have antitumor, antioxidant, antiarthritic, anti-amyloid, anti-ischemic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Anti-inflammatory properties may be due to inhibition of eicosanoid biosynthesis. In addition it may be effective in treating malaria, prevention of cervical cancer, and may interfere with the replication of the HIV virus. In HIV, it appears to act by interfering with P300/CREB-binding protein (CBP). It is also hepatoprotective. A 2008 study at Michigan State University showed that low concentrations of curcumin interfere with Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) replication. The same study showed that curcumin inhibited the recruitment of RNA polymerase II to viral DNA, thus inhibiting the transcription of the viral DNA. This effect was shown to be independent of effect on histone acetyltransferase activities of p300/CBP.A previous (1999) study performed at University of Cincinnati indicated that curcumin is significantly associated with protection from infection by HSV-2 in animal models of intravaginal infections.
Curcumin acts as a free radical scavenger and antioxidant, inhibiting lipid peroxidation and oxidative DNA damage. Curcuminoids induce glutathione S-transferase and are potent inhibitors of cytochrome P450.

Dangers of taking too much of the stuff

Kawanishi et al. (2005) remarked that curcumin, like many antioxidants, can be a "double-edged sword" where in the test tube, anti-cancer and antioxidant effects may be seen in addition to pro-oxidant effects. Carcinogenic effects are inferred from interference with the p53 tumor suppressor pathway, an important factor in human colon cancer. Carcinogenic and LD50 tests in mice and rats, however, have failed to establish a relationship between tumorogenesis and administration of curcumin in turmeric oleoresin at >98% concentrations.
In animal studies, hair loss (alopecia) and lowering of blood pressure have been reported.
Clinical studies in humans with high doses (2–12 grams) of curcumin have shown few side effects, with some subjects reporting mild nausea or diarrhea. More recently, curcumin was found to alter iron metabolism by chelating iron and suppressing the protein hepcidin, potentially causing iron deficiency in susceptible patients.

I might go up to two capsules a day though (around 2 grams). This RA is kicking my butt. Fat and an element of black pepper, piperine, helps with its absorption. The LA Times had a great article on it, citing that despite all the test tube studies, there's little hard evidence as far as human studies that it helps. But it doesn't hurt. At least if you don't take craploads of the stuff

Cole agrees that there's little downside to trying curcumin. Because the compound is so poorly absorbed, he sees little potential for harm. Studies have found that people can take 7 grams a day without side effects, although it’s possible that larger doses, or use over longer periods of time, can upset the stomach and perhaps increase the risk of bleeding.

LA Times

Hmm. I think I'll go make some chicken curry now :-)

Vitamin regimen

I take the basics to start

I'm supposed to take a separate ADEK and was referred to sourcecf.com to get the chewables (children, bubblegum flavor). My doc said the bariatric advantage multis high in ADEK were fine though. I just finished my first bottle.

Those damn things are high priced and taste nasty though. They ring in at about $40 a bottle for a two month supply. I just ordered the multivitmin caps from vitalady.com that don't seem that different as far as nutrients. They run almost $40 (throwing in shipping expense) for a three month supply...a bit better.

I'm swallowing pills better now. I also got six bags of chewable chocolate calcium citrate with D, ten bucks a bag, but I bought five and got one free. Once these are done, I think I'm going to the Calcium Citrate pills at Wal-mart. They run $15 for a twenty day supply (120 pills). They have more D and now I'm swallowing pills now, I'm not crazy about chewables. Or I might keep these bottles as a back up and order some suckable lozenges through vitalady. I have about three bags of chewables left. They're going fast.

Wal-Mart has stand alone dry D now. It's pretty cheap. I'm upping my D even though I don't have those labs yet. can't hurt. I bought the 400IU and the 2000IU. I'm taking an extra 400 with my citrate chews.

As far as iron, I take a Ferro-Sequels (ferrous fumarate) from Wal-greens. It's $22 for a three month supply and I'm pleased with it. It doesn't jack with my stomach or cause me constipation problems like iron has in the past and it seems to be holding my labs fairly steady. 11.9 hgb is great for me.

As far as other supplements, I try to get extra protein, one scoop (18 grams) in my coffee every morning, but I'm working at being more consistent at this. I take 20mg of generic prilosec twice a day.

I don't need my diabetic stuff, insulin and pills, or my high blood pressure meds anymore!

I ordered Omega 3 from cormega from vitalady because of my RA because of its anti inflammatory properties. Hope it helps. I also take curcumin with piperine once a day because it might have a protective effect because of my fat loss which releases toxins and its anti inflammatory properties.