Quote:
Originally Posted by mrsD
Yes, B12 has to be absorbed. If it is not hooked up to intrinsic factor, is has to be given in high dose and passively absorbed instead. That is why you should take it on an empty stomach, so food does not sponge it up and reduce this absorption.
Malabsorption can occur if you have Crohn's disease, removed intestines, or Celiac.
The only substance that I know that enhances absorption is Bioperine, and that is still pretty unresearched.
L-Glutamine is one thing the GI tract needs to stay healthy. If you are very low in this amino acid things suffer. It is recommended for Celiacs too. Having enough EFAs (Omega-3s) in the diet or thru supplements also enhance the lining of the GI tract to stay healthy. If you have infections or Candida of the GI tract you may have trouble.
This is one example:
http://www.thegreenpharmacy.com/Cata...er-360-gms.htm
There is a downside to excess glutamine--- it can lead to too much glutamate in the body.
http://mental-health.emedtv.com/glut...e-effects.html
Most high end whey powders have extra glutamine added.
That is one of the better ways to get it, along with the other amino acids in the whey.
One way you can test yourself to see if you are absorbing things, is to take a B-50 complex and time its appearance in your urine. High B intake changes the urine's color and odor. Most people excrete B's within 4 hrs or so. You can also take an OTC drug phenazopyridine, sold for bladder pain in most feminine hygiene departments. 99mg and time when it appears in your urine. AZO standard is one brand, but there are many. |
My stomach is still upset and I haven't taken my vitamins at all today. I've been trying to think back and I have always had loose stools. But then again sometimes I would get really constipated so I didn't make any connection. My wife would always buged me about it and would say it was the amount of diet soda I was drinking in a day. (2, 64oune mugs)
But now that I have been off soda for 3 months I still have loose stools and an upset stomach most of the time. Now I've been telling myself that it's all the new supplements I'm on so I'm going to go off them for a few days to see if it settles down. If not then I'm thinking I've had an absorption problem for many years and I just thought it was pretty normal. I would tell myself that since my blood test were coming back normal I was ok but there could be some damage going on here.
I'm not going to stop the b12 though. I take it about 4am and then I don't eat until 8:30am to give it the best chance.
I'm going to take a b complex right now, it's 12 noon. It will be a good test because I just eat lunch. But I have an upset stomach so I bet it's through me in 2 hours or less. I probably need to get my stomach under control and do the test. But what the heck lest see. Thanks