Advice On Sublingual Vit B12

[Puddy]

Hi...I could use some advice. I was diagnosed about 6 weeks ago with celiac disease...no GI symptoms, just anemia and osteoporosis. I had bloodwork done after a month on the gluten-free diet and my Transglutaminase IgA number went from well over 100 to 60. I had a follow-up appt. with my GP and she went over the bloodwork my GI doctor had drawn. My B12 level is within 'normal' range but towards the low side. My folate level is high however. I've read that a high folate level may give a false normal B12 level? The GI doctor said everything was fine, but my GP wants me to go on sublingual B12. She said you cannot take too much B12, your body will secrete what it doesn't need. My question is does anyone use this and what brands do you recommend? I think there are 2 different kinds of B12 and am not sure which is better. Thanks for your help.

[RiceGuy]

While most B12 supplements are cyanocobalamin (which contains cyanide), the best type by far is methylcobalamin. The doctor is right about the fact that you cannot overdose on it, but from what I've read, the body doesn't excrete it. Rather, it stores the extra for later use. Apparently the body can store enough to last over a decade. That's what I read on www.whfoods.com

Anyway, I use Open Original Shared Link. Taken three times daily, will give you 3mg, which is supposed to be the amount most effectively absorbed. I do not know if this product is the best of the gluten-free ones around, but I do know it works.

Another nutrient you might find helpful is magnesium. That along with calcium and vitamin D are very good for bone health. There are numerous products out there which combine these three into one supplement. Open Original Shared Link has a number of them, and at least some are gluten-free.

[Puddy]

While most B12 supplements are cyanocobalamin (which contains cyanide), the best type by far is methylcobalamin. The doctor is right about the fact that you cannot overdose on it, but from what I've read, the body doesn't excrete it. Rather, it stores the extra for later use. Apparently the body can store enough to last over a decade. That's what I read on www.whfoods.com

Anyway, I use Open Original Shared Link. Taken three times daily, will give you 3mg, which is supposed to be the amount most effectively absorbed. I do not know if this product is the best of the gluten-free ones around, but I do know it works.

Another nutrient you might find helpful is magnesium. That along with calcium and vitamin D are very good for bone health. There are numerous products out there which combine these three into one supplement. Open Original Shared Link has a number of them, and at least some are gluten-free.

Thanks, Rice Guy. I was hoping you would answer me! I had seen old posts of yours about Vit B12 and didn't have time to search for them. (Shhh I'm at work...don't tell anyone.) Anyway you seemed very knowledgeable about this. I had actually just found the Source Natural website so am ordering from them. They have a 1mg and a 5mg. You feel it's better to take the 1mg 3 times a day rather than the 5mg 1 time a day? Thanks again for your help.

[RiceGuy]

You feel it's better to take the 1mg 3 times a day rather than the 5mg 1 time a day? Thanks again for your help.

Yes, research indicates that the body can't absorb more than 5-6mg in a given day, and that the most efficient absorption was measured when the intake was over a period of time rather than all at once. Also, 3mg was found to be the most efficiently absorbed. Apparently, the absorption tappers off above that. So I figure the three times daily, for a total of 3mg would give my body the time it needs to absorb it.

Incidentally, when I first started taking it, the lozenge would take nearly a half hour to dissolve. Now it's gone in like 12-15 mins. So I am thinking my absorption has improved.

[Puddy]

Thanks again RiceGuy. You've been such a help to me.