Real Women Respond:

What Vitamins and Supplements Do You Take?

by Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 2 Comments | Share a Tip

This isn’t a post about what vitamins and/or supplements women should take—it’s about what vitamins and supplements we do take. I started wondering how my vitamin/supplement regimen stacked up to other women’s: Was there anything crucial I was missing out on? Did I take more vitamins and supplements than other women my age, or less? So I polled my friends, family members, colleagues and acquaintances. This is a highly unscientific survey, sure, but some trends definitely emerge—biotin is popular, as are multivitamins and children’s vitamins (not taking anything is popular, too). Read some of the responses below—and then tell us about your own vitamin and supplement regimen in the comments.

“Biotin. Only for the last few months and I have no idea if it’s really doing anything …” —Lynn, 29, Chicago

“I always take a B complex and biotin, and sometimes a multi.”—KC, 28, Washington, D.C.

“Does it count if I bought the vitamins with good intentions to take daily but they are sitting unopened in my cabinet?” — Brenda, 52, Ohio

“Women’s multivitamin (from Trader Joe’s), Calcium Citrate + Vitamin D.” — Katie, 27, Washington, D.C.

“I take none. I try to make sure I eat balanced … Well, as much as possible.” — Rachel, 29, San Francisco

“I just take a Woman’s multivitamin.” —Bonnie, 37, Ohio

“I take Biotin daily (for my hair, skin and nails), an iron supplement (when I’m PMSing) and a Flintstone tablet with Vitamin C. Seriously. Flintstones were also my prenatal vitamins (doctor approved). I couldn’t handle the big horse pills.” — Tina, 36, Virginia

“Fintstones, because I’m mindful of the effect that marginal incentives have on my health-related behavior. :) ” —Marie, 37, NYC

“I don’t take any vitamins though I bought a bottle of womens health something or another a while ago … I should probably take those …” —Allie, 26, Ohio

“I try to take a daily multivitamin once a day, or every other day … and I use this brand specifically .” —Karin, 31, Washington, D.C.

“I take none. Once a year I do the women’s one-a-day’s for about a week. Lately I’ve just been trying to eat more apples.” — Megan, 27, NYC

“I don’t take any vitamins or supplements daily. I used to take a generic “one-a-day” vitamin, but that was around the time I was having chest pains and issues, so I was afraid the vitamin might have something to do with it and I stopped taking it. Every now and then I’ll take a children’s vitamin (apparently they are good for even adults to take, per doctor friends of mine) but I pretty much only remember to do that like once every three weeks … so that probably doesn’t count.” —Rebecca, 25, Ohio

“I do a vegetarian prenatal vitamin daily (well, mostly; oft times I forget…). As a vegetarian, it’s the way to ensure you get all the B12, iron and calcium you need, and the mega dose of vitamins makes my hair and finger nails grow faster and stronger. I swear it keeps my immune system up as well. I also do vegan rice protein supplement powder in the mornings and post-workout.” —JB, 28, Chicago

Here’s what my fellow Blisstree writers and editors had to say: 

“Quercetain and vitamin C for allergies. Quercetin was something my doctor recomended when I sprained an ankle a few years ago, and I noticed it helped with my allergies, so I kept taking it.” —Lilit

“I take a multivitamin with iron and Vitamin D supplements because my doc said I was deficient (even though I live at the beach in FL and am outdoors exercising all the time).” —Deborah

As for me, I take: Fish oil supplements (come on, no one else takes fish oil?!?), a B-Vitamin complex, biotin, Vitamin C (because I like the chewable kind’s taste, mostly), cranberry extract (to ward off urinary tract infections) and iron. I used to take probiotics and a(royal jelly, bee pollen and propolis), but I ran out recently and haven’t restocked. I also used to take an antioxidant supplement, until reading more about the research on  how antioxidant supplements don’t help and could be harmful .