Vitamins and Supplements: What to Ask Your Doctor First

Supplements are a huge industry, and it's hard to know what's worth taking. The best first step isn't the store. It's a conversation with your doctor.

Nutrients people commonly ask about

• Vitamin D, especially if you spend most of your time indoors.
• Vitamin B12, particularly for vegetarians and vegans.
• Iron, which many women are low in, but it shouldn't be taken without testing.
• Magnesium and omega-3s, often asked about for sleep, muscles and heart health.

Why your doctor needs to know

Some supplements interact with common medicines. Vitamin K affects blood thinners, and St. John's wort interacts with many prescriptions, including birth control.

Questions to ask

• Should I get a blood test to check my levels first?
• Does this interact with anything I take?
• What dose makes sense for me?
• How will we know it's working?

Choosing a product

Look for third-party testing seals like USP or NSF. See how to read a supplement label.

Nutrients often discussed after 60

As we age, our bodies absorb some nutrients less easily. Vitamin B12, vitamin D and calcium often come up at checkups for people over 60.

Bring a "brown bag"

Put every pill bottle and supplement you take into a bag and bring it to your next appointment. Your doctor or pharmacist can check for duplicates and interactions.

Beware of miracle claims

Supplements marketed to older adults sometimes promise to cure memory loss, arthritis or other conditions. Be skeptical of any product that sounds too good to be true.