# Doc says I need to take vitamin D supplements, but the Google says vitamins are BS.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-says-i-need-to-take-vitamin-d-supplements-but-the-google-says-vitamins-are-bs/840110>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [September 12, 2019, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-says-i-need-to-take-vitamin-d-supplements-but-the-google-says-vitamins-are-bs/840110 "2019-09-12T16:27:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-says-i-need-to-take-vitamin-d-supplements-but-the-google-says-vitamins-are-bs/840110/41 "2019-09-17T13:13:58Z")

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I had low Vitamin D. Had to take a giant Vitamin D Horse pill for a few weeks and then my level went back to normal. A vitamin is something you buy in a supermarket that may or may not have the image of Fred Flinstone. What your doctor is giving you is medication, not a vitamin.

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**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-says-i-need-to-take-vitamin-d-supplements-but-the-google-says-vitamins-are-bs/840110/42 "2019-09-17T13:36:10Z")

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> [@RickJay](#):
>
> My doctor suggested Vitamin D to help with restless leg syndrome. I’m pretty sure it’s a placebo suggestion, but, meh, what the hell, I got a big bottle on sale.

Does a placebo work if you’re dubious?

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**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-says-i-need-to-take-vitamin-d-supplements-but-the-google-says-vitamins-are-bs/840110/43 "2019-09-17T13:49:43Z")

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> [@DesertDog](#):
>
> Does a placebo work if you’re dubious?

[Apparently, yes.](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/09/26/placebo-effect-works-even-know-given-dummy-pill/#targetText=Traditionally%20it%20was%20thought%20that,they%20may%20experience%20an%20effect.)

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**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-says-i-need-to-take-vitamin-d-supplements-but-the-google-says-vitamins-are-bs/840110/44 "2019-09-17T17:15:55Z")

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> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#):
>
> [Apparently, yes.](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/09/26/placebo-effect-works-even-know-given-dummy-pill/#targetText=Traditionally%20it%20was%20thought%20that,they%20may%20experience%20an%20effect.)

Interesting thing about that study, and something I think probably hasn’t been studied enough in placebo effects

There are subjective measures, e.g., pain, and there are objective measures, e.g. blood Vit. D levels.

I want to see research to see if placebo effects are just as likely to affect results in instances where objective measures are used to gauge results vs when objective measures are.

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