Tips On Taking B Vitamins (B12, B6 Etc.)

[amaterasu2915]

I am currently trying to figure whether I have celiac. What I do have is substantial bloating after eating; tingling and numbness in the extremeties; aches and pains; and worst of all, an inability to concentrate, unrestful sleep and tremendous fatigue.

Based on some of the postings on this site, I have taken some B12 and B complex sublingual vitamins over the past 2 weeks, and they have helped a great deal. They have taken me from having so little energy that I don't want to do anything, even watch a casual, non-thinking movie; to a level of energy where I can do a bit of work, think substantially more clearly, and have at least some of my normal interests. They definitely reduce the tingling/numbness sensation and the aches and pains, although not entirely.

I did have the following questions about B-12, B-6 and other vitamins. I was hoping people here with similar experiences but a longer history of taking the vitamins would have some insights to share:

1. My fatigue, although better, is still fairly bad, so I am tempted to take even more B-12 and B-6 to improve my condition further. But I am worried about the dosages -- I currently take 2 Trader Joe's sublingual B complex tablets (each one B6 2mg, B12 1mg) and 8 Trade Joe's sublingual B-12 tablets (each one B12 1 mg). Is that too much?

2. When is it best to take them? I typically take them all one hour before bed, but I'd be curious to hear if other people had positive experiences with other regimens.

3. What does it mean that I get a significant energy boost out of B12/B6? Does that say anything about whether I have celiac or not? Or some other ailment? I am currently glutening (I wrote another post about this) in preparation for a blood test soon.

4. Are there are other vitamins or supplements that you have found really helpful in reducing fatigue and brain fog?

5. What brands have you found to be particularly effective?

6. Are there other minerals/nutrients that are very effective for people? Based again on comments I read in the review boards, I take Dr. Ohira's probiotics and a multivitamin, although I do not feel any great impact from any of these. Also, the only sublinguals I've been able to find are B complex and B12, so I wonder whether simple oral supplements of any kind would get through my apparent digestive problems. Perhaps people out there have found that oral supplements of say, iron or magnesium or d, nevertheless are helpful?

Thank you for your help!

[Gardening]

We are seeing a nutritionist for my daughter, who weighs 35 pounds (relates to dosage). She was found deficient in many B vitamins, and B12 was the lowest. She is getting a total of 635 mcg, so, less than 1 mg, per day. The nutritionist is definately not conservative with the vitamins, so it sounds like you are really getting a lot of B12.

I don't think there is a toxic level of B12 - you just pee out the extra - but I'd hate for someone to waste money and energy on taking more than they need.

She recommends spreading out the vitamins, so half in the morning and half in the evening, to keep the levels consistant.

Also, she says the methyl form of B12 is the active, bioavailable form, and any other type is a waste.

She says it usually takes 3 weeks for vitamins to help - how long have you been taking your multi?

I'm sorry I can't help you with brands - we use Thorne for our multi, and I think Kirkman Labs are supposed to be good, too.

[amaterasu2915]

We are seeing a nutritionist for my daughter, who weighs 35 pounds (relates to dosage). She was found deficient in many B vitamins, and B12 was the lowest. She is getting a total of 635 mcg, so, less than 1 mg, per day. The nutritionist is definately not conservative with the vitamins, so it sounds like you are really getting a lot of B12.

I don't think there is a toxic level of B12 - you just pee out the extra - but I'd hate for someone to waste money and energy on taking more than they need.

She recommends spreading out the vitamins, so half in the morning and half in the evening, to keep the levels consistant.

Also, she says the methyl form of B12 is the active, bioavailable form, and any other type is a waste.

She says it usually takes 3 weeks for vitamins to help - how long have you been taking your multi?

I'm sorry I can't help you with brands - we use Thorne for our multi, and I think Kirkman Labs are supposed to be good, too.

Thank you for the reply. I may try spreading out the vitamins. I've been taking multivitamins for a long time (months at a time), so that's why I get the sense that a standard multivitamin does not do the trick.

It's strange, though -- but I tried taking just 2 B complex pills, and felt that the positive effects were quite a bit less. Which is why I feel that I need more pills.

I've been taking B vitamins for maybe just 2-3 weeks, so it may be I need more to study their effects on me. Also, I admittedly have gaps where I didn't take B vitamins, as I was experimenting.

[Skylark]

You might want to look into methylfolate (metafolin) as well as methyl-B12. Solgar seems to have the license to sell it over the counter now. Some people do not convert dietary folate to methylfolate and end up B6 deficient. My understanding is that excess B12 is not a problem, but too much folic acid (B6) is a problem. Supposedly methylfolate is safer. I have always heard to take vitamins with meals for the best absorption.

If you're really picky about vitamins, you want the Albion chelates. Metagenics, Solgar, and Bluebonnet are three of the Albion Gold Medallion companies. Metagenics stuff is supposed to be really good, if you can find someone who resells them.

[fromscratchmom]

From my own experience and from what I've heard from other experienced moms and supplement takers, I'd advise that another possibly help would be omega 3 supplements or other fat containing supplements. Fats are very important to our bodies and the "intuitive" leap that our whole society has made to believing that eating fat must automatically lead to gaining fat in our bodies is simply fallacious. As with many things eating too much might be bad where eating the right amount might be necessary for good health. And don't even get me started on the harm done by the likes of the Center for Science in the Public interest in successfully coercing our whole society into replacing animal fats with trans fats. Your brain, your entire neurological system and your reproductive system are particularly worth mentioning as being in need of fat in the diet.

The half way recant that the aforementioned do-gooders have done in now wanting to coerce society to abandon the damaging trans fats but never go back to animal fats would seem to have at least a little merit. While perhaps they ought to pay more heed to certain studies on animal fats, the "healthy fats" that they recommend do appear to have a great deal of health benefits. Flax, fish oil, and black currant oil are three that I have had good experiences with and heard good things of from others.

I believe Kirkman labs has good quality supplements that fit the bill and there may be great ones from other sources as well.

I'm currently trying a new supplement that is not bad cost-wise through Costco called Mega Red. It gets its omega 3s from krill in some of the purest waters on the planet, those near the Antartic. I have high hopes for their claims. The product contains "powerful antioxidants" in addition to EPA and DHA omega 3s. They are certainly correct that there is no fishy after-taste like I get from most brands of fish oil. The only caveat I would mention (and I am hoping the company corrects eventually), is that it uses an artificial flavoring called vanillin. This is not a problem as far as going gluten free, it is a separate concern of mine.