Why Do We Need Mega Doses Of Certain Vitamins

[plumbago]

I have a friend who questioned my PCP's recommendation to give myself B12 shots monthly, and to take 50,000 IUs of Vitamin D. She is quite vehement that if I am now going gluten-free, my gut should be healing, and I should now start to absorb the vitamins normally. No need for supplementation. I did not dare tell her that my B12 reading since I started giving myself the shots is wayyy high. I am not that concerned since I have not been able to find any data confirming the danger of too much B12.

But what are people's thoughts here on vitamin mega dosages? Why do we need them if indeed we are healing?

Plumbago

[mommysarah713]

My children have been gluten free for a year and a half and their iron, vitamin D and Zinc levels are continually low even after healing. I don't know why and i hope i don't have to give them these vitamins forever. They never had B12 deficiency.

[Lisa]

I have a friend who questioned my PCP's recommendation to give myself B12 shots monthly, and to take 50,000 IUs of Vitamin D. She is quite vehement that if I am now going gluten-free, my gut should be healing, and I should now start to absorb the vitamins normally. No need for supplementation. I did not dare tell her that my B12 reading since I started giving myself the shots is wayyy high. I am not that concerned since I have not been able to find any data confirming the danger of too much B12.

But what are people's thoughts here on vitamin mega dosages? Why do we need them if indeed we are healing?

Plumbago

Well, at the time of my diagnosis, I was walking into walls. I could not walk a straight line. So glad I didn't get pulled over, while I was trying to figure out where I was drive, while stopping at green lights and moving forward on red....scary times.

My point being, is that it takes some time to destroy your ability to absorb "fuel". It thus, will take time to put the system back. Critical organs depend on the proper nutrition. The longer you go without the proper mix, the higher the change of long term issues.

With my weekly B-12 short, I joined the world of the living. I do believe that you release

any excess B-12. Your body takes what it needs and expels the rest... I think

Once, you master the diet (and it can take months), you can reduce or eliminate your supplements. Your body will let you know. Listen well.

[sb2178]

Depending on age and degree of damage, your healing process could take anywhere from 3 months (wicked fast) to 2 years (kinda slow, but not unusually slow).

B-12 is stored in your liver, and I believe that like iron, you have to be quite deficient before your blood levels drop. If you are concerned, you can also post up old/current numbers and those with B-12 experiences may be able to relate their symptoms/treatment plan to give you some context.

50,000 IU of D/week or month is standard treatment protocol for someone who is deficient. Typically, you're treated for 8 to 12 pills and then a follow-up test is run but that will vary somewhat.

I had some issues with iron and magnesium, and still find that I feel better if I take the additional magnesium. (Note the normal biopsy, so minimal damage at most but probably the "D" induced malabsorption.) Like the above poster said, if you've already used up what you have in storage, it takes extra to re-stock so even if you are absorbing normally, diet alone may be rather slow. Especially if you have had any symptoms, associated anemia, bone pain, etc. the extra is really good for quality of life.

[cassP]

dont know about D yet.

concerning B12-> you do need major supplementation if your stomach hasnt been working right... or with many diseases.. your liver stores like a 5 year supply- so by the time you become deficient- your poor liver has already been depleted. before my dx, i was dx with Hypoclorhidia (not making enough stomach acid), my integrative doc wanted me taking B12 shots every day for 2 weeks. another friend of mine had Lupus- and she got them every day for 2 weeks at a time too.

that being said-> members on here have said that you can have too much B12. i, personally would get those shots and aim to get your B12 in the upper range but within limit (i guess between 700-800)

**also- i would advise to find a clean good quality B12. not sure what's available- but the last shot i got had Aluminum in it- and that's just not okay for me. at the moment i take a sublingual.

[ravenwoodglass]

If your doctor has prescribed the shots do keep up with what the levels are. While it is rare to have levels that are too high if your levels are over 1000 it can cause some issues. Too much D can also cause issues. Go back to your doctor and get those levels checked on a regular basis and if they are going above the highest level of the range you can step down a bit on the supplements.

[plumbago]

I would love to know what specifically are the dangers or issues of too much B12. If someone has a site to point me to, I would appreciate it.

My D reading at my last blood test on Oct 28 was 18.9, just a tad bit higher than it was about five months earlier right when I was diagnosed. I've been gluten-free (hopefully) for now about 7.5 months. And at the time of that blood test, I had been taking monthly 50,000 IUs of D. Now I am doing that weekly.

Now, my B12 reading was off the charts: 1387, where the range is 211-946. I've been getting the shots for about four consecutive months now. I had these blood tests done on Oct 28. I just don't feel quite right going back in for more. I even called my dr's office, concerned about the high reading. The nurse who answered said that is normal for people getting the shots.

Thanks.

[cassP]

I would love to know what specifically are the dangers or issues of too much B12. If someone has a site to point me to, I would appreciate it.

My D reading at my last blood test on Oct 28 was 18.9, just a tad bit higher than it was about five months earlier right when I was diagnosed. I've been gluten-free (hopefully) for now about 7.5 months. And at the time of that blood test, I had been taking monthly 50,000 IUs of D. Now I am doing that weekly.

Now, my B12 reading was off the charts: 1387, where the range is 211-946. I've been getting the shots for about four consecutive months now. I had these blood tests done on Oct 28. I just don't feel quite right going back in for more. I even called my dr's office, concerned about the high reading. The nurse who answered said that is normal for people getting the shots.

Thanks.

how do u feel? because i dont think you need any more B12. im not a doctor, but i personally would feel better within range- and if you felt really tired and sickly before and like to be full of B12- just aim to get it just under 946. even tho i argue with many docs and nurses- and even tho some ranges i think should be CHANGED... they are there for a reason- i would skip the shots and then get your levels checked again

and i think its even more important to not overdose on D- ive read too much about how it actually works more like a hormone- and hormones can NOT be out of whack- it can be dangerous.

good luck, hope u figure it out

[burdee]

dont know about D yet.

concerning B12-> you do need major supplementation if your stomach hasnt been working right... or with many diseases.. your liver stores like a 5 year supply- so by the time you become deficient- your poor liver has already been depleted. before my dx, i was dx with Hypoclorhidia (not making enough stomach acid), my integrative doc wanted me taking B12 shots every day for 2 weeks. another friend of mine had Lupus- and she got them every day for 2 weeks at a time too.

that being said-> members on here have said that you can have too much B12. i, personally would get those shots and aim to get your B12 in the upper range but within limit (i guess between 700-800)

**also- i would advise to find a clean good quality B12. not sure what's available- but the last shot i got had Aluminum in it- and that's just not okay for me. at the moment i take a sublingual.

Hypochloridia can prevent absorption of Vitamin D and B12 from foods we eat. I was also diagnosed with hypochloridia after years of symptoms of low stomach acid. I was also rather low on Vitamin D and had a low white blood cell count on a recent blood test. Low WBC can be caused by B12 and/or folate deficiency and compromise immunity so that you are vulnerable to chronic infections. (I had 8 gastro infections during 4 years plus many colds.) More recently, I had cold symptoms for over 3 months before my doc started me on LDN to stimulate WBC production and arabinogalactin to fight viral infections. Taking extra B12 helped (as shown by my last blood test), but I also opted for a B12 injection, which made me feel even better. However, one B12 injection was enough while my LDN and arabinogalactin resolved my other immune problems. I also took 6000IU daily of Vitamin D for several months. I'm doing MUCH better now.

[cassP]

Hypochloridia can prevent absorption of Vitamin D and B12 from foods we eat. I was also diagnosed with hypochloridia after years of symptoms of low stomach acid. I was also rather low on Vitamin D and had a low white blood cell count on a recent blood test. Low WBC can be caused by B12 and/or folate deficiency and compromise immunity so that you are vulnerable to chronic infections. (I had 8 gastro infections during 4 years plus many colds.) More recently, I had cold symptoms for over 3 months before my doc started me on LDN to stimulate WBC production and arabinogalactin to fight viral infections. Taking extra B12 helped (as shown by my last blood test), but I also opted for a B12 injection, which made me feel even better. However, one B12 injection was enough while my LDN and arabinogalactin resolved my other immune problems. I also took 6000IU daily of Vitamin D for several months. I'm doing MUCH better now.

hey sue - my last B12 test was pretty good (641)

but im getting my D tested next month-> can low D cause muscle spasms??