Vitamins and Lupus

Myrna · Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 2:11 pm Post subject: Vitamins and Lupus

My daughter is 15 and was diagnosed with Lupus in 2003. We have her taking a lot of natural vitams like Calcium, Omega, B-Complex, Multi-vitamin, Vitamin E and Vitamin C. It seems that since we've been giving her these vitamins she's had a good reaction to a lot of her joint pain and tiredness. Does anyone out there take this vitamins or any vitamins at all? Is it helping? How long have you been on natural vitamins. Any information will help Smile

Myrna
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Myrna Figueroa

hatlady · Tiger Joined: 16 Oct 2004 Posts: 810 Location: Illinois

Hi Myrna;

I believe in vitamins, minierals, herbs and spices to help my lupus stay under control. My doc knows what I take, and says it is OK. In fact both my primary and my rheumy told me to take 1500 mg of calcium and 800 units of D every day.

I take...

2 tablespoons of ground flax seed - omegas plus fiber
1 tsp turmeric - has shown to be helpful in reducing inflamation and pain
1 tsp ginger - for my stomach
1/2 tsp cinamon - to help lower my cholesterol, some studies show it as effective as Rx drugs
1/2 tsp cocoa powder - hey, something in the mix needs to taste fantastic! plus good antioxidants

I've been doing that for at least a year, probably closer to 2 years

C
E
Fish oil - morning and evening
B complex
Magnesium
glucosamine complex
and ever other day I alternate the basic vitamins with a multi - i figure that rounds out the smaller amounts of trace vitamins I wouldn't get otherwise.

Some of those I've been doing for years - even before lupus. The fish oil has been about the last year or so.

I do think it all helps.

lupus volunteer · Newbie Alert Joined: 23 Sep 2005 Posts: 2

I read the vitamins message posted by Myrna because Myrna is the name of lupus support group nurse in northern california.
I would like to point out most supplements are not effective except a few oriental herbs--"immortal herb extract"--that have been proven effective. Research was published five years ago in Taiwan. I used to teach alternative medicine and dietary supplements at community adult ed. If you would like to have further info, let me know.

hatlady · Tiger Joined: 16 Oct 2004 Posts: 810 Location: Illinois

Volunteer, I'd love to learn more about that research, is it available on the web somewhere?

What is "imortal herb extract"? Is is something commercially available, and is it compatible with plaquenil and other lupus meds?

kathyp · Tadpole Joined: 26 Sep 2005 Posts: 26 Location: Michigan

It never hurts to take vitamins, your body just excretes what it doesn't use of the water soluble ones. Your body can be depleted of them during illness. Some of the lupus meds can deplete vitamins also. You should try to use special formultions that make the vitamins easier to disgest and more readily absorbed by your body.

Smiles,

Kathy

Cinnamon · Tadpole Joined: 26 Sep 2005 Posts: 17

I never knew all that!

*Cinnamon runs off to make a stir fry w/ turmeric, ginger, and cinnamon (her favorite of course!)*
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The Proverbs 31 woman didn't have Lupus.

lupus volunteer · Newbie Alert Joined: 23 Sep 2005 Posts: 2

madthumbs · Big Guppy Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 45

You can develop dependancies on vitamins like the B family of vitamins which can also compete for absorbtion and block each other. Withdrawal can cause depression, and B-deficiency either by diet or lack of ability to absorb seems to be a common denominator in mental illness.

I suggest eating as healthy as you can and if you feel you need supplements use whole food supplements that you know aren't harming you instead of chemically derived vitamins. Eat more raw/ unprocessed foods. The more "old fashioned" the better.