Is it ok to take multi vitamins along with hrt? Any advice please

Hi Angela, I,ve been taking multi vitamins, magnesium salts (my life saver) kali phos, which is another cell salt, vitamin d and vitamin b complex, alongside my hrt with no problem. On the contrary, I have had a really tough time over the past 6/8 months but I am coming out the other end with no dependancies on the meds the gps prescribed. I also use a spray night time magnesium, which helps me to sleep again. I now wonder when we use moisturising creams, deodorants and all the other potions supposed to improve our skin etc. What happens to our bodies when we absorb these as we obviously do when using patches. Are we actually putting products into our systems which can harm us? Just a thought. But make sure you get your vitamins in the right strength!

Hi Angela, there was an in depth program done recently with before and after blood tests documenting taking the validity of taking Vitamins. It was proven beyond doubt that all the vitamins do is give you very expensive urine.. the only vitamin highly recommended and useful is a good Vitamin D supplement, other than that unless you have an extremely poor diet, the food you eat will cover you. I have been on Evorel Conti for 14 years and a recent blood test just showed a deficiency (slight) in Vit D which a lot of people are deficienint. Dont go wasting your money. If you still wish to take vitamin supplements (of course this is entirely your choice) most of them are safe to take alongside HRT. 

Hi Angela

Theres a good Timed Release Mega B100 vitamin that works really well for mood and anxiety by helping the central nervous system and the fight or flight response, check with pharmacist or herbalist that it's okay for you though. Also omega 3,6,9 helps, along with lots of water and drop coffee, make sure you gave small regular meals plus good quality snacks. 

Hope this helps. 

I take multi-vitamins, plus additional B12 for heart arrythmia.  I've just googled and found the following advice (basically, yes to taking extra Bs):

Using B vitamins to relieve menopausal stress

The B vitamins, which include thiamine, niacin, B12 and folic acid, are often referred to as the ‘stress’ vitamins. There are many symptoms of B vitamin deficiency, and these include tension, irritability, difficulty managing stress, poor concentration, and anxiety. B vitamins have a complex role to play in your body, and ensuring you have optimum levels during menopause can help in a number of ways to support stress management.

Support for sex hormone production

Even though your ovaries gradually stop their sex hormone production, your adrenal glands and fat cells will continue to produce these hormones. B vitamins help to support this production: for example, B3 and folic acid are needed to produce oestrogen, with folic acid supporting your body’s ability to use the female sex hormone.

B vitamins for adrenal gland health  

As you go through menopause, your adrenal glands form an important site for sex hormone production, as well as the release of stress hormones. If you’re suffering from stress, the small levels of oestrogen and other sex hormones produced by your adrenals may be affected. Don’t forget, your body still needs oestrogen to protect your bone health.

If your adrenal glands are under pressure, you’ll find it more difficult to manage stress, and small problems may overwhelm you. The conversion and production of hormones from your adrenal glands relies heavily on B vitamins, especially B5 (pantothenic acid).

B vitamins for neurotransmitter balance

Serotonin is one of your neurotransmitters, which are chemical messengers in the brain. It’s known as the ‘feel good’ neurotransmitter, and helps to stabilise your mood, support feelings of wellbeingand your ability to sleep. Vitamin B6 and B12 are important cofactors in the production of serotonin, which means without them this neurotransmitter cannot be made.

B vitamins for the nervous system

Your nervous system is also responsible for how your body responds to stress, with the sympathetic nervous system controlling your ‘fight or flight’ stress response. It relies heavily on good B vitamin intake, particularly B12, B1 and B3. For example, B12 is needed to make the myelin sheaths that surround your nerve cells, which provide insulation for nerve impulses to be sent efficiently. Keeping your nervous system in good working order is vital for helping your body to manage stress.

B vitamins for your liver

Having a healthy, working liver can help with hormonal balance. It’s the liver which breaks down excess hormones for excretion through the gut. The two different phases of liver detoxification of your sex hormones rely on good levels of all the B vitamins.

Where do I get my B vitamins from?

The B vitamins work in harmony together, which means that a deficiency in one can affect the efficiency of another. So you need a good intake of all B vitamins, rather than focusing on one or two. Here’s the best food sources of the B vitamins – you’ll notice a pattern— meat, fish, eggs, wholegrains, fresh fruit and vegetables.

B1 thiamin: vegetables especially peas, fresh and dried fruit, eggs, wholegrains, liver

B2 riboflavin: milk, eggs, rice and fortified cereals

B3 Niacin: meat, fish, wholegrains, eggs, milk

B5 Pantothenic Acid: chicken, beef, potatoes, oats, kidney, eggs, broccoli, wholegrains

B6 Pyridoxine: pork, chicken, turkey, fish, wholegrains, eggs, pulses, soya, peanuts, potatoes, bananas, avocados

B12: meat, fish, milk, cheese and eggs. Vegetarian sources include fortified foods and some sea vegetables

Folic acid: green leafy vegetables, liver, peas, chickpeas, brown rice, asparagus, oatmeal, avocados

If you’re looking to supplement B vitamins, it should contain all of the vitamins listed above, and may also include others in the family such as choline and biotin. Make sure it has at least 10mg of Vitamins B1 to B6, and over 10mcg of B12 and at least 200mcg of folic acid. Your urine will go bright yellow whilst taking a B complex: this is perfectly normal, it’s just the breakdown and excretion of excess B2.