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Comment by throwaway_law | Hacker News Reader

- Even on fast days, make sure you take vitamins (I take Fish Oil, Zinc, a Multivitamin and Magnesium)

I have done some fasting recently (water, some water/apple cider vinegar in the morning; coffee, green tea, Ooolong tea), and have a similar vitamin intake (B complex; calcium/D combo; Magnesium; Zinc; Iron; Fish Oil).

During the fasting I don't take the Fish Oil, I haven't read anything about it specifically, but just assumed Fish Oil was fat that would break the fast. Do you have an opinion on that? I'm Guessing the caloric intake (if any, I am not even sure) is not enough to trigger metabolic response, and as a fat wouldn't trigger insulin response.

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In a talk my parents sent me a few years ago, the speaker (I believe a nurse) argued that you need at least ~20 calories to trigger a metabolic response. Hence, things like tea, coffee (even with a tiny bit of milk), fish oil, etc. should be fine.

A tablespoon of cod liver oil has 122 calories.

In general with a good diet there is no need to continuously take vitamin supplements.

In my case I am an endurance athlete, so at minimum supplementing electrolytes is helpful (also during the fast electrolyte supplements have at least seemed beneficial to my experience). Also, most American's are low on Vitamin D, and trust me I prefer it from the sun myself, but currently Im an office worker, so I supplement that.

Anecdotally, I can tell you that historically I used to get sick 2-3 times a year minimum, and since I began taking vitamins 5 years ago I got sick 1 time.

But I do generally agree with you about vitamins and minerals coming from diet over supplements, but I also say if you can get all your vitamins and minerals from food, your just not running enough (thats a joke).

I have to take Vitamin D all year. I got really sick a year and a half ago due to low levels and wound up with some other issues that it triggered. Turns out, I have MS and the low vitamin D probably helped trigger a flare.

I literally cannot get enough Vitamin D in the winter: The days are short here in Norway and the sun isn't enough. Theoretically, I might be able to get it in the summer, but I really need to wear strong sunscreen since a medicine increases my skin cancer risk. The neurologist doesn't really want me to not take the supplements anyway.

My diet isn't bad. Mostly vegetarian, though I try to eat fish once a week and not otherwise completely devoid of animal products (dairy, for example). The rest of my bloodwork turns out OK.

That also assumes you're getting enough sunlight. A lot of people who work in an office don't.

That's a bad diet compounded by a bad lifestyle. Working in an office does not mean one has to stay indoor all the time and at weekends.

If you live far enough North it basically does mean that for a good part of the year. Going to the office, it's dark, and it's already dark again when leaving. Need that supplement.

- During the fasting I don't take the Fish Oil, I haven't read anything about it specifically, but just assumed Fish Oil was fat that would break the fast. Do you have an opinion on that?

A fish oil pill has around 14 calories and most of the times will break your fast -> Take it after your first meal.

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin and you should take it only after a meal containing some fat. Taking it while fasting will just not be absorbed.

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