response 2 of 29:

Jun 10 03:49 UTC 1994

 I use Theragran-M with Iron, and everything seems to be fine.
We buy them at Meijers.

response 4 of 29:

Jun 16 02:54 UTC 1994

We get some mail-order that might fit your bill (specifications on
request, all 32 ingredients).  Consumer Vitamin Values "vitamin
factory outlet" calls them "Natura-vites with minerals" -- also
"NEW! IMPROVED! ALLERGY FREE! VEGETARIAN! No Sugar, Starch, Soy,
Wheat, Milk, Yeast or Corn".  Bottle of 100 was $4.95 in this catalog,
some discount in larger quantities.
        I generally look for a reasonable proportion in the B vitamins,
getting equivalent approximations to RDA in each instead of equal
milligrams or some such idiocy.  But if I pick up a bottle in the 
store to read ingredients, I'm usually looking first at the fillers to 
see if there's corn in it under some disguise (maltodextrin, e.g.)
and there usually is.

response 6 of 29:

Jun 17 02:05 UTC 1994

I quote: "TOLL-FREE NUMBER 800-777-2200 For Continental U.S.
Including N.Y. // 516-586-2292 All others & information"

response 8 of 29:

Jul 1 12:29 UTC 1994

Shark cartilage is one of the latest attempts at a treatment for cancer,
stemming from the fact that sharks don't get cancer.  I hadn't heard it
was being pushed as a preventative measure.

response 12 of 29:

Mar 20 05:47 UTC 1998

Re #0: don't buy any multivitamins that contain Vitamins A or D. These
are not found in plants. The body manufactures both of these, or they
are made synthetically. Not "vegetarian". 

response 14 of 29:

Mar 20 21:41 UTC 1998

Yeast and bacteria are plants - sorta. At least, I counted them so
and did not mention B12 as non-vegetarian. The Merck Manual does not
mention a plant source for D, nor for its precursor, 7-dehydrocholesterol.

response 16 of 29:

Mar 21 06:26 UTC 1998

The Merck Index (I should have said) lists natural sources of most
chemicals that have natural sources, as well as synthetic routes. It
only lists a few plants since the purpose of the Index is to provide
information on chemicals and any one plant contains hundreds of chemicals.
However some are mentioned that are primary sources of particular chemicals.
Seaweed is mentioned under iodine.

_Magic and Medicine of Plants_, however, does include kelp. It only
says "Rich in micronutrients - vitamins, minerals and trace elements",
but no specific substances are mentioned. Alginates are one of the major
products from kelps.

I don't think that sarcasm adds much to these discussions. 

response 18 of 29:

Mar 22 22:49 UTC 1998

I now have more information on D. Vitamin D itself is only available in
practical amounts from animal sources, in particular from fish liver oils,
such as provide the infamous Cod Liver Oil. I have read that eating Polar
Bear liver will kill you because of Vitamin D toxicity (but that doesn't
mean I believe it....). 

We obtain Vitamin D from natural sources via its precursors
7-dehydrocholesterol from animals, and ergosterol from plants. They are
converted in the body by externally applied ultraviolet light to,
respectively, vitamins D3 ("activated" 7-etc) and D2 (calciferol). 
Vitamins D2 and D3 have identical anti-rickettsial action in humans. 

Even if one is getting plenty of meats and/or vegetables containing one or
the other of these precursors one can get the disease ricketts as a result
of inadequate illumination with ultraviolet light, a serious problem as
one gets older if one spends less time outdoors. Therefore supplements are
used. 

One can take Cod Liver Oil, or a number of other supplements prepared from
natural products by artificial treatment with ultraviolet light. 
Consequently, we now have available irradiated milk to provide D3 and
irradiated yeast and irradiated bread ingredients for D2. The primary
source of synthetic vitamin D ("viosterol) for vitamin supplements is
vitamin D2 prepared be irradiating ergosterol extracted from yeast with
ultraviolet light while it is in a suitable solvent. 

response 20 of 29:

Mar 23 02:27 UTC 1998

I found a website on vitamins for vegans, that says no plant foods have
vitamin D.  It is sometimes added to soy milk and margarine.  It regulates
calcium absorptioon and an overdose causes Ca deposits.  The RDA is 400 IU,
158,000 IU is toxic (wonder how they measured that).  If you eat Vitamin C
at the same time it breaks down the excess.  It is made by the body from
cholesterol and is stored for a while.  In the summer, if you are out a lot
in the sun, even 2 cups of fortified milk may cause toxicity.  It is best to
make your own rather than taking or eating it (as animals), as there is no
way to make too much (though  you can get sunburnt).  Polar bear liver can
be toxic due to both Vitamin A and Vitamin D contents, and eskimos avoid
eating it.  15 min a day on face, arms and hands is plenty if you don't happen
to be in the far north, in the winter, but you can store quite a bit. 
Reserves are lowest about this time of year.

response 22 of 29:

Mar 23 18:25 UTC 1998

I thought that it was only fat-soluble vitamins (D, A, E?) that were toxic,
since the others (B, C) simply washed out of you rather than accumulating in
the liver.  Could be wrong.  Livers accumulate all sorts of toxins, including
pesticides and I think heavy metals.  Anyone know for sure?

response 24 of 29:

Mar 24 19:32 UTC 1998

Is is possible to overdose on anything besides A and D by eating vegetables,
or even animals?  What are common sources of K?
Jim wonders if you can overdose on chocolate, and can we all vote to make it
a vitamin.  (Obviously I meant 'to overdose on any vitamin'.)