Question:
Anyone ever hear that Centrum is not good?
I recently went to GNC to get some iron supplements, and got into a conversation with the store manager. He was trying to recommend their multi-vitamin pills for women (which includes iron) instead of taking my multi-vitamin w/o iron and a separate iron supplement. He asked me what multi-vitamin I was taking and I told him "Centrum". He told me I was wasting my time, as the way Centrum, and other "one-a-day" multi-vitamins are processed, the human body can't break the pill down properly. He said something about small bits of plastic are used to hold the pill together, and that prevents the pill from breaking down in our bodies (nevermind intestines that have been bypassed). I was so confused, I walked out without buying anything. From checking the library, I see that many of you do take Centrum. Does anyone know definitively if Centrum and other "one-a-day" vitamins do what they're supposed to? — Cyndie K. (posted on May 11, 2002)
May 11, 2002
Hi Cyndie - I'm not sure if the fillers (plastics?) used in many
multivitamins really do affect our ability to absorb them, whether pre-op
or post-op. I recently went to www.vitacost.com to check out their prices
on supplements, and they make a statement on the site about one-a-day type
multivitamins, similar to what the GNC manager was saying. I would think
that dieticians or nutritionists would be able to answer this for us? Or
perhaps a pharmacist? I'm going to try to find out more before I buy my
post-op vitamins (I'm still awaiting approval). Our next support group
meeting is featuring our hospital's pharmacist, so I'll be asking him this
one. Good Luck! - Anna
— Anna L.
May 11, 2002
Sorry, one more thing. I see that Centrum now has a chewable out. Anyone
who has tried it? Thanks - Anna
— Anna L.
May 11, 2002
I don't know anything about plastic fillers to hold the pills together, but
I work for doctors, and recently went to a seminar on vitamin and
supplements, we were told that centrum, and other such vitamins were a
waste of money. Our bodies do not break the pills down and they have even
been found in whole form on x-rays(I personally saw the x-rays) and have
been found in whole form in bowel movements, So I do not recommend such
vitamins, as we are not benefitting from them if they are in whole form,
right?
— jennap
May 11, 2002
I have used Centrum chewables for months and my labs were just perfect at
my last checkup. Also for the first time in my life, my fingernails are
growing like crazy so I know something is getting through to me. Its the
guys job at GNC to sell you THEIR products so I'm not surprized he tried to
downplay the effectiveness of Centrum. And, by the way...the Centrum
chewables are VERY good.
— Donna L.
May 11, 2002
I use a generic version of Centrum. It is simply cloudy water in less than
5 minutes. I know in saliva it would go even faster.
— vitalady
May 11, 2002
My Dr. recommenced Centrum post op. He said this is the vitamin he suggest
to all of his patients. My surgeon has been doing Open RNY for over twenty
years and has performed over 700 RNY. I totally trust him and will
continue to take them.
— Angela A.
May 11, 2002
Centrum is what I have been told to use, and My Local KMART carries Centrum
in Liquid form, as well as chewables,
There is a Pro And Con to everything I guess, I am personaly happy with the
product
— Jeri P.
May 11, 2002
I was told to use Centrum silver and I use the generic form.
— Marie A.
May 11, 2002
Boy, I couldn't resist answering this question! Jennifer Peterson you hit
the nail right on the head with your answer. I am a registered nurse by
profession and attend seminars on health and nutrition, and nutritional
supplements every month. Tablets are a WASTE of money and people continue
to spend billions of dollars every year purchasing them, then literally
flushing them down the toilet. Let me share with you an article I recently
ran across. In his book RARE EARTHS, FORBIDDEN CURES, Dr. Joel Wallach
talks about a man who owns a Porta Potty business. This man finds
literally thousands of whole vitamin and mineral supplements in the bottom
screens when the toilets are pressure cleaned after a public event. When
asked how he knew they were vitamin/mineral tablets, he replied,
"because the names are still on the coatings." Needless to say I
haven't wasted a dime on tablet supplements. You must also keep in mind
that the body CAN NOT absorb anything UNLESS it's in an
"Isotonic" state. So why not take your vitamins in an
"Isotonic" state. They provide about 95% absorption within 5
minutes! Even if you are presently consuming a chewable vitamin, it MUST
convert to an isotonic state in the stomach before any absorption can take
place in the small intestines. Also, if you're presently taking a liquid
vitamin, it still must convert to an isotonic form before absorption takes
place. While "Isotonix" brand is liquid, it is ALSO already in
an isotonic state and ready for IMMEDIATE ABSORPTION. I hope this
information helps you. I will never take anything BUT "Isotonix"
vitamins. You are welcome to contact me via email for further info at
[email protected] Patti Schmoldt RN
— Patti S.
May 12, 2002
Saw Michelle's response about her vitamin becoming only cloudy water in a
short time. Grabbing one of my mom's Centrum Silver I dropped it in some
warm water. Yup, it dissolved easily. If anyone's concerned about their
vits why not try that test. If its dissolving in water, I'm sure it
doesn't stand much of a chance with digestive juices in your common
channels, or for us pre-ops, our stomachs.
— Shelly S.
May 12, 2002
Hmmm.....interesting responses :-) I have to admit, I'm still just as
confused and it looks like I've got to do some research on this. Last
night, after I read Michelle's response, I took a Centrum and put it in a
cup of room temperature water. Sure enough, before I was done eating my
dinner, the pill was "dissolved" and the water was yellow. Aha! I
thought, "that store manager didn't know what he was talking
about". After 30 minutes, I emptied the cup of yellow water into the
sink, and found the bottom of the cup filled with sediment. Uh oh. Maybe
the pill does break down from solid form, but what about the sediment? How
does that break down?
— Cyndie K.
May 12, 2002
I have heard a similar story to the porto potty story. But it was about
sewage drains that get clogged with millions of supplements in solid form.
I dunno, but I do know that when I started being able to swallow all of my
supplements I started feeling much better, more energy. Something is
working.
— Cheri M.
October 30, 2002
My surgeon's nutritionist shared with me how to tell if it is a good
multivitamin. Drop the pill in water or vinegar and if it does not break
apart & dissolve within half an hour, it will never break down in a
gastric bypass patient. I tried a Centrum, it broke down within minutes. I
tried expensive vits from GNC & Herbalife. They never broke apart.
Remember the vitamin companies & sales people have no one (FHA)
governing them like the RX companies do. So they can say anything they want
to make a buck. I use Centrum daily.
— Karla K.
October 30, 2002
I take a Centrum Performance (or the generic knock-off from Walmart) twice
a day. The Peformance part means that it contains extra B vitamins, Ginkgo
and Ginseng. I got my mother to start adding it to her post-op routine,
too, and both of us notice increased energy. I'm over a year out and have
been taking Centrum since the third month once I stopped taking chewables.
My labs are great and I feel great!
— PT LawMom
July 18, 2005
I am finding that many of the postings contain messages about purchasing
supplements and other things from the person who does the post. I hate
that. Many of the people that I have spoken with are taking the Centrum
Silver vitamins and are doing really well. Most are two or more years
post-op. I was told to take Opti-Source by my nutritionist, but Centrum
Silver by my surgeon. Since he is the one that will be monitoring my
health, I am following his recommendation. They (Centrum tablets) are much
easier to take than the Opti-Source horse pills.
— Allen B.
July 20, 2006
I use Centrum because it's available in the liquid form. I could not find
a vitamin that wasn't the size of a horse pill or hard to swallow. To make
the taste of liquid vitamins more palatable, I pour the dosage in a cup of
hot decaffinated tea (better) or any other small cup of fluids. Centrum is
one of the better vitamins. I take an iron tab because I need more iron
than what's found in most multi-vitamins; I tend to be anemic. Viactive
makes a soft chewable multivitamin and calcium supplement. I use Viactive
for my calcium. Satisfies my sweet tooth (it's like soft candy in various
delicious flavors) and my calcium need.
— CHARLYLVN
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