Vitamin D - Lidl vs pharmacist

AndrewJRenko

The GP has told my other half to take some Vitamin D. This photo shows the product provided by the pharmacist (left) and Lidl (right).

The Lidl ones seem to be 1/7 of the price for twice as many tablets.

But should I be focusing on the NRV value, which seems to show that Lidl ones are 1/10 of the strength of the other ones? Is there enough in those Lidl ones to be useful?

njs030

NRV is the new way of saying recommended daily amounts, the Lidl ones supply half that so she'd need to take two a day.

AndrewJRenko

notjustsweet wrote: »

NRV is the new way of saying recommended daily amounts, the Lidl ones supply half that so she'd need to take two a day.

And the other ones provide 5 times that? Is that just pointless? Any possible risk?

njs030

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

And the other ones provide 5 times that? Is that just pointless? Any possible risk?

No risk at all it would put her into the optimal category rather than the just OK one. I'd get the chemist one myself.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-much-vitamin-d-is-too-much#section3

bladespin

notjustsweet wrote:

NRV is the new way of saying recommended daily amounts, the Lidl ones supply half that so she'd need to take two a day.

Not really, unless you only want to get the rda from the supplement alone.

AndrewJRenko

notjustsweet wrote: »

No risk at all it would put her into the optimal category rather than the just OK one. I'd get the chemist one myself.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-much-vitamin-d-is-too-much#section3

Thanks, that's helpful.

Mellor

Looks like you'd need 5 packets the lidl ones to get an equal amount to the pharmacy ones.
If they are 1/7 the price, it'll be $10 instead of $14 or whatever. But personally, that would be worth the hassle of taking 10 pills per day instead of just one

Tar.Aldarion

There are no risks with taking more at these levels, personally I take 2500IU and 5000IU which are much stronger than those tablets. Also the RDV is 3x higher in some other countries like the US and Canada (600IU).

NinetyForNone

There's a years supply on Amazon for ~£10, if that's an option for you.

AllForIt

NinetyForNone wrote: »

There's a years supply on Amazon for ~£10, if that's an option for you.

A years supply for £10? Can you trust they are legit at that price?

SuperRabbit

Lower doses are better, your body is often "wtf is this" when it gets large quantities of vitamins as they don't naturally occur in large quantities.



Happy winter everyone, take your vitamin d

Markcheese

SuperRabbit wrote: »

Lower doses are better, your body is often "wtf is this" when it gets large quantities of vitamins as they don't naturally occur in large quantities.



Happy winter everyone, take your vitamin d

But don't take unlimited amounts...there is a condition called hyper-vitaminosis, so stick to the recommended daily dose..

igCorcaigh

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-d-dosage

I usually take 50 to 75 ug daily.

Haven't had my levels tested though.

Brussels Sprout

OP, in Aldi they have 60 tablets of 12.5 micrgram dose for something like €2. I bought them myself 2 weeks ago.

I suspect that if you go for Vitamin D only, not the combo of D + Calcium that the does of Vitamin D is stronger.

iguana

Isn't Vitamin d taken in liquid form much more absorbable by the body? I use a Vit D mouth spray and find it excellent.

seefin

On a related note, my GP wants me to take calcichew prescription calcium . I can't see any benefit to taking that Vs eg boots supplement( 2 boots tablets vs one of the calcichew works out cheaper). Is the calcium citrate in calcichew more absorbable ? GPS always seem to recommend prescription supplements Vs OTC ones but I wonder is that just ignorance ?

AndrewJRenko

seefin wrote: »

On a related note, my GP wants me to take calcichew prescription calcium . I can't see any benefit to taking that Vs eg boots supplement( 2 boots tablets vs one of the calcichew works out cheaper). Is the calcium citrate in calcichew more absorbable ? GPS always seem to recommend prescription supplements Vs OTC ones but I wonder is that just ignorance ?

Any good pharmacist will provide good advice on generic equivalents

NIMAN

This stuff is well reviewed, apparently a spray under the tongue is a great way to get maximum absorption of the vitamin

https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/betteryou-dlux-3000-vitamin-d-oral-spray-60012895?skuid=012895&&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_vK72J-K3gIVBEkYCh0ftACXEAQYAiABEgI9OPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

uck51js9zml2yt

I take 10000 IU a day.
Bloods can be checked at the city assay in Birmingham for £29.
They are part of Birmingham hospital and specialise in vit d testing as part of research they do.

Springfields

igCorcaigh wrote: »

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-d-dosage

I usually take 50 to 75 ug daily.

Haven't had my levels tested though.

I had my bloods done lately and need vit d supplement. Gp recommended 2000iu daily for 4 weeks then 1000iu from Oct to may every year. Think I'll just take it year round...

seefin

AndrewJRenko wrote:

Any good pharmacist will provide good advice on generic equivalents

Good idea. Never even thought of asking them.

ford2600

seefin wrote: »

On a related note, my GP wants me to take calcichew prescription calcium . I can't see any benefit to taking that Vs eg boots supplement( 2 boots tablets vs one of the calcichew works out cheaper). Is the calcium citrate in calcichew more absorbable ? GPS always seem to recommend prescription supplements Vs OTC ones but I wonder is that just ignorance ?

On fat soluble vitamins it's hard to look past Chris Masterjohn
https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/2017/05/16/tell-difference-vitamin-d-calcium-deficiencies/

You can't look at Vitamin D in isolation, in particular look at K2 and A.
https://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/abcs-of-nutrition/vitamin-d-supplementation-panacea-potential-problem/

Also maybe just go outside more. Our fear of sun exposure is on a par with the fear people had of saturated fat. You'll reduce a tiny risk of skin cancer but greatly increase risk factors for a whole host of other conditions.


No lunatic like a Scots lunatic
https://drmalcolmkendrick.org/2018/01/12/what-causes-heart-disease-part-44/

Tar.Aldarion

People had of saturated fat? Pretty sure they still do!

seefin

Got prescribed vitamin D 800iu.costs over €10 a month. Tesco has 25Ug D3 for 5 euros for 3 months which gives a higher dose for a sixth the cost. Is there any difference? I can't afford the cost off these supplements on top of other medical expenses. Asked pharmacist and she said should be same once dose the same

adox

I’ve been prescribed vitamin D for two months after some blood results.

€14 a packet for 4 tablets! One a week to be taken.

igCorcaigh

adox wrote: »

I’ve been prescribed vitamin D for two months after some blood results.

€14 a packet for 4 tablets! One a week to be taken.

Wow, what dosage are they?

adox

igCorcaigh wrote: »

Wow, what dosage are they?

25,000 IU.

igCorcaigh

adox wrote: »

25,000 IU.

Thanks. That's 625ug, which works out about 90ug per day. I take about 50ug per day, but haven't had my levels tested.

adox

igCorcaigh wrote: »

Thanks. That's 625ug, which works out about 90ug per day. I take about 50ug per day, but haven't had my levels tested.

Yeah I was getting a general set of blood tests done for some health issues I was having and vitamin D level was low as well as low white blood count.

I hadn’t been taking any supplements before this.

I wa surprised it was a weekly dose though an not a daily one.

I’m five weeks in and need to get my bloods re done after I’m finished so will see how I go.

igCorcaigh

Yes, it's a weekly dose, my partner had the same. Glad to see you had the test and were provided with the vitamin. I suspect lots of people are deficient.

Dtp1979

adox wrote: »

25,000 IU.

That’s only 3,500iu daily dose. That’s shocking expensive @ 14 a week. I take 5,000iu a day and it’s about €10 for the entire year

seefin

Dtp1979 wrote:

That’s only 3,500iu daily dose. That’s shocking expensive @ 14 a week. I take 5,000iu a day and it’s about €10 for the entire year

Is there a difference between eg Boots vitamin D and the prescription one GPS recommend which are vastly more expensive. Dosage being equal of course

adox

Dtp1979 wrote: »

That’s only 3,500iu daily dose. That’s shocking expensive @ 14 a week. I take 5,000iu a day and it’s about €10 for the entire year

It is mad expensive but its €14 for 4 weeks not one. Plus the second month I didnt pay for due to being over the spending limit but I agree its mad money. I said so when I got them first.

I`m just following the GPs prescription until I get tested again. If I do have to introduce a vitamin D supplement into my diet long term I will definitely be look for cheaper alternatives. I`m sure my GP wouldnt put me on this particular one long term anyway.

Dtp1979

seefin wrote: »

Is there a difference between eg Boots vitamin D and the prescription one GPS recommend which are vastly more expensive. Dosage being equal of course

Honestly I don’t know if there are grades to it

AndrewJRenko

adox wrote: »

It is mad expensive but its €14 for 4 weeks not one. Plus the second month I didnt pay for due to being over the spending limit but I agree its mad money. I said so when I got them first.

I`m just following the GPs prescription until I get tested again. If I do have to introduce a vitamin D supplement into my diet long term I will definitely be look for cheaper alternatives. I`m sure my GP wouldnt put me on this particular one long term anyway.

Have a chat with your pharmacist about cheaper options.

adox

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Have a chat with your pharmacist about cheaper options.

I will do for sure if I have to keep taking it.