Vitamin D - Lidl vs pharmacist

AndrewJRenko · 08-10-2017 4:47pm #1

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 · 08-10-2017 6:00pm

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 · 08-10-2017 6:34pm

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 · 08-10-2017 6:49pm

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 · 08-10-2017 7:40pm

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 · 08-10-2017 8:23pm

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 · 09-10-2017 12:40pm

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 · 09-10-2017 4:43pm

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 · 09-10-2017 5:23pm

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

AllForIt · 10-10-2017 5:14pm

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 · 07-10-2018 8:23pm

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 · 07-10-2018 8:41pm

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 · 07-10-2018 8:55pm

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 · 14-10-2018 8:05pm

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 · 15-10-2018 10:33am

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 · 15-10-2018 2:57pm

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 · 16-10-2018 6:37am

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 · 16-10-2018 6:40am

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 · 16-10-2018 6:46am

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 · 16-10-2018 6:49am

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 · 16-10-2018 6:27pm

AndrewJRenko wrote:

Any good pharmacist will provide good advice on generic equivalents

Good idea. Never even thought of asking them.

ford2600 · 17-10-2018 11:31am

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 · 17-10-2018 1:42pm

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

seefin · 19-10-2018 7:35pm

Got prescribed vitamin D 800iu.costs over â‚¬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 · 04-11-2018 11:54pm

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 · 04-11-2018 11:55pm

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 · 05-11-2018 12:07am

igCorcaigh wrote: »

Wow, what dosage are they?

25,000 IU.

igCorcaigh · 05-11-2018 12:22am

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 · 05-11-2018 12:27am

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 · 05-11-2018 12:42am

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 · 05-11-2018 9:34am

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 · 05-11-2018 11:16am

Dtp1979 wrote:

Thatâ€™s only 3,500iu daily dose. Thatâ€™s shocking expensive @ 14 a week. I take 5,000iu a day and itâ€™s about â‚¬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 · 05-11-2018 11:17am

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 · 05-11-2018 12:08pm

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 · 05-11-2018 12:16pm

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 · 05-11-2018 1:52pm

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Have a chat with your pharmacist about cheaper options.

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

Vitamin D - Lidl vs pharmacist

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