# Supplements: Do You Take Them And They Work? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 11, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supplements-do-you-take-them-and-they-work/502706 "2009-07-11T20:06:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supplements-do-you-take-them-and-they-work/502706/41 "2009-07-14T20:10:31Z")
I eat a fairly balanced high protein diet with lots of green vegetables. I also take a multi, a calcium supplement, fish oil and glucosamine. I take the calcium and gluco because I have bad joints due to the various wear and tear associated with several years as a full contact fighter, and I’ve seen a definite reduction in the number of knee related bad days since I started a couple of years ago. I don’t know about the calcium and the fish oil, but my doc told me I should take them and my cholesterol has never tested above 100. ---
**Author:** ![Jorge\_Burrito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Jorge\_Burrito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jorge_Burrito)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supplements-do-you-take-them-and-they-work/502706/42 "2009-07-14T20:42:31Z")
The reason there is such an extreme difference in fish oil prices is that the higher priced stuff is refined to contain a higher percentage of omega3’s. If you look at the costco pills only 30% of the oil is omega 3’s (EPA/DHA). The fish oil I take is about $25 for 90 pills, but is 100% omega 3’s and is ~750 mg of omega 3’s/capsule vs 300 mg. I have found that I get less fishy burps using the more expensive pills as well (not sure what exactly that is related to however). I honestly am not sure why Lovaza is so expensive other than because it is a prescription medicine it has had to go through clinical testing, which they need to make some money back on. While NinetyWt probably couldn’t use the Costco brand for the high dose he/she is taking, there certainly are other non precription fish oils that contain similar amounts of omega 3’s for much cheaper ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supplements-do-you-take-them-and-they-work/502706/43 "2009-07-14T23:16:18Z")
> [@NinetyWt](#): > > I’m going to ask the doctor what’s so special about this stuff he prescribed for me. It’s not over-the-counter stuff. > > Are those people serving fish oil capsules at their wedding ?? > > 😛 If your doctor is prescribing a ‘special’ supplement, he is getting a cut of the sale. Guaranteed. ( No cite.) Many doctor offices supplement (heh) their income with specialty stuff be it supplement or skin care regime stuff. All for a cut to the DR’s office. Compare the ingredients with what you can find at any store. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supplements-do-you-take-them-and-they-work/502706/44 "2009-07-14T23:33:41Z")
Thanks for the info, **Jorge.** I did _not_ know that. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supplements-do-you-take-them-and-they-work/502706/45 "2009-07-15T03:41:06Z")
So…fish oil isn’t just some kind of “snake oil” pill? I assumed it was total shit, but I am admittedly ignorant of it. I always figured it was “health store” kind of stuff. What, scientifically, does it do? I take: 1 Multivitamin - It has Iron and I was told I was barely anemic a year ago. I figure this helps. 1 Niacin pill - I have low “good” cholesterol and this helps 2 Calcium pills - I just do. 2 Vitamin C pills - Again, no idea why I do this. Just do. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supplements-do-you-take-them-and-they-work/502706/46 "2009-07-15T15:18:53Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > What, scientifically, does it do? The patient insert says: “_Omega-3 acid ethyl esters, a type of fat found in fish oil, is used along with diet and exercise to help lower levels of a certain blood fat (tryiglyceride). It may also raise “good” cholesterol (HDL). \ Lowering triglycerides and increasing “good” cholesterol may help decrease the risk for strokes and heart attacks. Omega-3 acid ethyl esters are thought to work by decreasing the amount of triglyceride the body makes_”. Not much help is it? ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supplements-do-you-take-them-and-they-work/502706/47 "2009-07-15T16:26:02Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Melatonin. I take it religiously and it has absolutely had a positive effect on my life. Before Melatonin, I would sometimes stay up until 2 or 3 in the morning, on worknights, steadfastly unable to get sleepy. With Melatonin, I take 3 tablets and I’m out like a light within 45 minutes. I occasionally take one SleepMD, which contains melatonin along with valerian, white willow, lemon balm, hops, lavender powder, passionflower, and coQ10. Works great. Expensive as all get out, though. I would love to find a cheaper version. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supplements-do-you-take-them-and-they-work/502706/48 "2009-07-15T16:35:31Z")
I take a multivitamin. It is in capsule form, and labeled to take one three times daily. I take one a day. No scurvy here. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supplements-do-you-take-them-and-they-work/502706/49 "2009-07-15T18:05:24Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > So…fish oil isn’t just some kind of “snake oil” pill? I assumed it was total shit, but I am admittedly ignorant of it. I always figured it was “health store” kind of stuff. What, scientifically, does it do? They supply Omega 3 fatty acids, which are supposedly much lower in most modern diets than is healthy. This website sums up pretty much every claim I’ve heard about it: > **[Shoulder Arthritis Treatment | Baltimore](https://www.umms.org/ummc/health-services/orthopedics/services/shoulder/arthritis)** > > At the University of Maryland Orthopaedics, our shoulder surgeons are experts in treating shoulder arthritis, a condition that involves the breakdown of cartilage. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supplements-do-you-take-them-and-they-work/502706/50 "2009-07-15T18:07:33Z")
You can get high dose niacin pills as a prescription to lower cholesterol. I took it for a while as Rx. Recently I have seen ads for a Rx version of niacin that is extended release. Of course you can also get high dose niacin pills over the counter. A side effect of high dose niacin is flushing (red skin, tingling) but that often goes away after you are on it for a few weeks- it went away for me. A way to avoid that side effect is to take aspirin or ibuprofen 1 hour before the niacin. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supplements-do-you-take-them-and-they-work/502706/51 "2009-07-15T19:48:54Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > I have used kava kava as a sleep aid when under significant stress. [Kava kava has some help issues.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kava_kava) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supplements-do-you-take-them-and-they-work/502706.md?page=2)