I am hoping someone out there can give me some guidance. I tried to post this in another thread but not sure if it worked. I am not tech savvy.

Any and all B12 supplements (methyl, cyan, hdroxo, etc,) make me terribly anxious, scattered, stressed. Heart palpitations. I loose weight. My bowels shut down. I could go on and on. But my body is begging me to stop taking these B12 vitamins. I've tried every imaginable dose, and for short and long periods of time. Many different brands.

Could it be what i hear about ......my body having a screwed of methylation factor gene, or something like that? Does food based B12 depend of a proper methylation process going on in body?

Could someone please offer why my body "might be" reacting this way?

Should I just start eating foods high in B12? (most of these have high iron as well, shutting my bowels down).

Any help is greatly appreciated. I'm exhausted from this and my B12 levels are low. Intrinsic factor is fine.

THanks for support.

This link describes various imbalances in some metabolic systems and how they make people feel.
http://www.alternativementalhealth.c...s/pfeiffer.htm

When people get very constipated as you describe, that suggests low serotonin. Taking B6 may help you along with zinc.
Pyroluria is what causes very low B6 and zinc in the body.

Try P5P for your B6 if you can find it. One a day
http://www.amazon.com/Vegetarian-P-5.../dp/B0009P3DT6

You could also go to a naturopath or integrative doctor and have some testing, for a precise answer. But when the neurotransmitter synthesis gets imbalanced, people report all
sorts of uncomfortable type symptoms. Serotonin is the main neurotransmitter in the GI tract. Too much causes fast transit and diarrhea (often a side effect of SSRI antidepressants) and too little causes slow movement and chronic constipation.

A good zinc supplement is OptiZinc. Not expensive...and do
one a day for 2 weeks. If these moderate doses help you, then you need to find a doctor who understands pyroluria and can dose you appropriately --usually higher than what I suggested.

Do you know what your B12 test was before you started B12?

Some B12 will mobilize heavy metals, from storage in the body.
If you have a mercury load, then taking methylcobalamin may cause side effects as the mercury is excreted. This is really not
common, but you can get tested for heavy metal toxicity.

Soaking in an epsom salt bath will also be calming if you are low in magnesium. Magnesium and B6 are the cofactors your body uses to make serotonin. So if you find epsom salts baths
helpful, then taking a good magnesium supplement like SlowMag will help provide those cofactors so you can improve your serotonin status.

What is happening to you is complex, and perhaps seeing a doctor who understands these types of metabolic systems, will be of help for you.

thank you so much.

i'll read through the links.

Is there something to be said for the idea that supplements are destroying our bodies natural ability (and need!) to absorb all nutrients from food?....that a lifetime of popping vitamin pills has suppressed and or detrimentally altered innate functions in the body?

No not in a general sense.

I think much of what is "anti-supplement" is propaganda from drug companies. They don't want you to feel better, they want you to buy their drugs instead.

Very high doses of some supplements can cause vitamin dependency. This was found with Vit C when people took it is massively high doses. When suddenly stopped those people developed signs of scurvy. But this is not a documented situation for most people.

The oral B12 is very absorbed in very small amounts. 1000mcg dose will provide only 13mcg to the blood stream. The injections are far more massive than oral.

Our foods are deteriorating quite a bit. Storage before sale...lowers the natural nutrients those whole foods contain.
Our soils are becoming depleted, as well.

People gobbling up acid blocking drugs OTC for long periods of time are resulting in low

B12
folate
calcium
zinc
iron
magnesium
and some of the trace minerals also (newest information).

When you take these drugs and lower stomach acid, protein is not digested properly and hence amino acids, are not absorbed as they should be. The bacteria in the bowel ferment them instead, and they get the benefits.

As the genome is explored, it is thought that genetic aberrations that people have, are causing nutrient errors. We already know that MTHFR mutation, prevents methylation of B12 and folic acid in the body. 10-30% of people have this DNA error. It is thought that other errors may exist, in the B complex family as well. We know that some Asians, for example cannot tolerate alcohol and cannot metabolize it properly. That is a B1 mutation.

You mention.... "We already know that MTHFR mutation, prevents methylation of B12 and folic acid in the body. 10-30% of people have this DNA error"


Does this mean that people with this MTHR mutation can not take methylcobalamin B12? I'm I understanding correctly that there body won't even absorb the B12? Are these sort of people left to ingest their B12 from food (meat, fish, eggs, milk)? And, does this MTHR mutation also apply to the B12 naturally in these animal based foods (as in, does the body not absorb this B12 as well)?

What is means is that people using cyanocobalamin commercial form will not be able to convert it properly, if they have methylation errors.

The methyl form bypasses any potential errors.

The cobalamin in food I believe has to be methylated too, at least some of it.

more here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_B12

I grew up on a farm and know how this all happens. Our soils are not depleted. They are replenished through organic farming, crop rotation, fertilizer, etc. Just like a garden. Some interesting facts about farmers.

http://www.americasfarmers.com/about...-you-know.aspx

Just one site. There are a number of them.

Kitt--that was very intresting reading --thanks for sending the link.

heatherelsie,

It is great to have you come and be with us. You will fine a great number of dear friends to listen when you are in need of ears. You will find out we are supportive and relaxing place.

Please keep us up to date on your situation. Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

My thanks to everyone who offered their time and efforts on my first
day online here.