LESSWRONG

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Vulture

16 points

I almost didn't click on this submission because I was preconsciously thinking "Oh, that isn't directed at me, cause I don't take supplements". Then I realized that that was stupid and took it. I think you will probably get some pretty serious selection bias of that sort, though.

16 points

army1987

3 points

I suggest the OP adds “-- take the survey whether or not you use supplements” to the title.

3 points

Pfft

1 points

In fact, it's hard fill it in if you don't take any. My experience was

Tick all the checkboxes that apply (none of them), and select "never" for how often.
Error message. You need to tick a box, if none applies tick "other". So I tick "other".
Still an error. It's not enough to tick the box, you also need to fill in the name of your nonexistent supplement in the text box.

1 points

3 points

There's a "do not take any supplements" option in Q1

3 points

gwillen

1 points

Note that 'caffeine from beverages' is listed as a supplement, but it's midway down the list. So many people like me who don't think they take any 'supplements' will likely miss it. I suspect this will be a big source of error as well.

1 points

Princess_Stargirl

5 points

Cool survey!

I wish you could have answered the "how often" question for each supplement.

5 points

2 points

I thought about it, but it would multiply the number of necessary options insanely.

2 points

5 points

Took it.

Does the "took survey karma" rule apply here?

5 points

1 points

I upvoted you. Don't know if that makes it a social norm or not.

1 points

1 points

Generalizing From One Example :-)

1 points

NancyLebovitz

3 points

Is there some way to see the survey results again without taking the survey again?

3 points

1 points

this link

1 points

LawrenceC

2 points

Took the survey!

On a related topic, does anyone know where I can find a copy of Scott's Quantitative Health Prize entry? The link on the Less Wrong page is broken.

2 points

Unnamed

3 points

Here, thanks to Gwern.

3 points

LawrenceC

1 points

Thanks!

1 points

Capla

2 points

I have been prompted by this discussion to consider taking supplements. Where can I find a concise summery of the relevant research and the pros and cons of the options?

2 points

James_Miller

4 points

For non-smart drugs start by getting lots of cheap medical tests on things like your vitamin D level, magnesium level, lipid profile and whatever else your doctor recommends.

For smart drugs: http://www.reddit.com/r/Nootropics/ and as Sjcs writes Wikipedia and Examine.

4 points

Capla

2 points

Smart drugs? Drugs that are a smart choice or drugs to make me smart?

2 points

James_Miller

2 points

Drugs that make you smart.

2 points

Vulture

4 points

Gwern has some good summaries/meta-analyses.

4 points

sixes_and_sevens

4 points

You could start with the Quantified Health Prize Winners.

4 points

Sjcs

2 points

Although I would consider myself as a supplement novice, I generally look into supplements based on other peoples recommendations whenever I stumble upon them, and then look them up on Wikipedia and Examine. I occassionally go looking (via google) specifically for peoples' negative reviews of the supplement to check for significant adverse effects that might not have been made clear.

I realise this is obvious, but if anyone were to experiment with supplements be very aware of placebo effect and confirmation bias.

2 points

Gavin

1 points

Does anyone have experience with Inositol? It was mentioned recently on one of the better parts of the website no one should ever go to, and I just picked up a bottle of it. It seems like it might help with pretty much anything and doesn't have any downsides . . . which makes me a bit suspicious.

1 points

1 points

I wonder whether a simple LW poll would receive more attention. beware trivial inconveniences

1 points

2 points

I tried that, that internal LW polls don't allow multiple selections

2 points

2 points

Not for a longe poll, but your could have created lots of Yes/No entries or alternatively a numeric field indicating the amount per week or how often it is taken (0 meaning not).

2 points