safru says:

I'm currently taking a multivitamin, but I'm thinking that if I keep running regularly maybe I should take glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate because I've had problems with knee pain before.
Has or is anyone using this? Had any success with it or something else?

 Daft Punk says:

I currently take Mega Men Sport from GNC (IMO the best multivitamin on the market) and an Omega complex (Fish, Flaxseed, Borage and Safflower oils). I have been tempted to try glucosamine and Co Q-10, but they are quite pricey. Hopefully someone here can sell me on the benefits.

 RicC says:

I take multivitamins and minerals, glucosamine, cod liver oil and omega 3. My uncle had really bad knees after many years of playing rugby, to the extent that stairs were a major problem - after a couple of months taking them he started feeling the benefits and now does a lot of hill walking etc so it seems to work for him. I take them as a precaution but haven't had any problems with knees etc so far.

 sprinterpain says:

I take the Mega women from GNC too.

 safru says:

Thanks for the replies.
I might wait for a while to try glucosamine (as it is pretty pricey) and my knees seem to be pretty good right now. But I am going to look into the GNC mega women and try that when I run out of my current multivitamin (Centrum performance).

 jkendall says:

I've been drinking Original Limu for the past 3 years. Takes care of all of my vitamin and mineral needs, helps keep me healthy, tastes good. More info on my personal site.

 clayruns4beer says:

Udo's oil- Choice Blend      I wouldn't live without.    www.udoerasmus.com/products/oil_blend_en.htm

Whey protein- I have tried many, I think you just have to find the one you like.

Multivitamin- I split it in half -1/2 in the morning, 1/2 with dinner.

vitamin D- I try and stay out of the sun, I was a huge fan of the sun until I was diagnosed with Squamous
                     cell cancer :(   All better, vitamin D is my best friend now.

 amcdj says:

Folks,

You really shouldn't need any extra vitamins if you eat a normal diet! I believe that all you get from vitamin supplements is expensive urine.

Andy

 RicC says:

amcdj - I'm sure a nutrition expert would probably back you up however I disagree. I have a pretty healthy and balanced diet. I tend to eat 5-8 pieces of fruit and veg a day etc, however I totally feel the benefit of using supplements. For example, I've experimented with having a soluble vitamin drink (eg Berocca) before a long run and found that it significantly improves my recovery time.

Just my observations though

 NextLevelMentor says:

Same here. I've been an organic foods eater most of my life (including fish and beef occationally) and I find I have much higher recovery, O2 uptake, lower food consumption when consuming liquid multivitamins by GBG than without. There is 5 of us in my house an no one has had so much as a cold in years. I know plenty of non liquid multi consumers who don't enjoy the consistant and vibrant health we do.

Never mind that I run 50-100 miles per week bare foot....

 safru says:

For anyone who has ever wondered ... it is apparently possible to be allergic to a multivitamin. For me this was Centrum Performance. Looks like I will now be shopping for a different one to try. I am intrigued by the GNC mega woman - and since my bf gave me his GNC card I think I will try that next.

 Mightyman says:

I take a multivitamin with Vit C 1000mg and fish oil and magnesuim oratate.

But still got a cold.

 olafd says:

i like plenty of multi vitamin fruit and vegetable mixed with high fibre whole/multi-grain bread (you should try the german vollkornbrot , supplemented with moderate amounts of meat and the occasional omega-3 rich sea fish. that keeps me going quite well....

afaik, there is not a single scientific study that proves the efficiency of supplements aside from enriching the sellers wallet. placebo effects however can do miracles too.

but whatever works, everybody's mileage varies.

 Monstergolf says:

Glucosamine is all I need. Worth every penny. Knees feel great since taking it. You should notice a difference in a week.

 ts1draft says:

I had knee aching last season while running. This season, I have been using Glucosamine and haven't had any pain. Kinda cool. Good luck.

 KMKMom says:

I take a multi-vitamin, omega complex capsules (fish, flaxseed, & borage oils), grapeseed extract, and tissue recovery formula with glucosamine/chondroitin along with other stuff from hammernutrition.com

 angrav says:

careful....I tried taking a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement and found the hard way that I'm allergic to shellfish!

 paulks says:

I take a Vitamin B complex, Zinc, Magnesium, and a multi... it seems to do me quite well!

 stapletonj says:

story to tell.

approx 48 year old runner (treadmill) lift weights, play a little golf and tennis. One day I run 6.4 miles on the treadmill and my knee REALLY hurts for many days afterward. It got so bad I was even having trouble driving because the use of my foot on the gas pedal caused excruciating pain after about 20 mins. Finally went to the othopod. he said

Torn meniscus. Gotta cut. no other option other than just live with the pain. It'll be like new for about 10 years, but then you're definetly gonna have bad arthritis in that knee.

Well, my kid went to Space Camp in ALA. so I had a chance to go see Dr. Andrews at University of Alabama Birmingham. This guys phys rehab place was awesome. Walls LINED with pro athletes from every sport there is, from formula one to the NFL. All signed, all saying things like "Thanks for giving me my career back"....These guys say.....surgery? no way, the tear is not that bad and the conventional wisdom that there is NO blood flow to the menscus is wrong, there's some, just not much.

So.......they give me some exercises to do and tell me to get some glucosamine and take 15oo mg a day.

I have never taken nor do
i take anything else stronger than coffee, no multivitamins, no nothing.

I do the exercises, take the glucosamine, and in 4 months, the...pain...is....gone.

I am up to 833 miles running with Nike+ since 9-1-07, I ran 6.4 miles this morning (OK, on a golf course, but, hey, I'm even older now) and then I spent an hour with the ball machine on the tennis court this evening. No.....knee.....pain....

You can get a big bottle of glucosamine for about $10 at Target.

AS the Monkees say, "I'm a Believer"

 Finlandia says:

I think the all multivitamin market is just a fake...they don't actually improve any performance if someone eat correctly already and is not overweight. And vitamins....knees...I can't see the connection.
Can anybody here telling what is the advantage of using these products? I think it's just a lot of money wasted and the effect is mostly psychological...