My blood tests showed me in the normal range for vitamin B (I think it was 300 but I do not know what that means) Anyway because of what I have read here about taking supplements I have decided to take one a day of Zinc 15mg & B12, 500 ug & Dolomite (calcium & magnesium) 600 mg.

Does this sound about right? Rose, if you are there I would be interested in your comments on the B 12 as I know that you are very knowledgeable about this.
Thanks

Lup...

If the 300 # was for B12 it is low----based on my limited knowledge from the experts on these forums. I'm sure others will offer advice.

Best regards....

Hi Lupin, " franceunderpants " love the name anyway that is spot on, it is very low if its B12 your talking about.
Can you get Methylcobalamin in UK ?, if you can i would use 1 to 5 mg daily taking seperatly to a good quality multi B [ you need the multi B to help the b12 work better]
I take a Multi B in the morning and the B12 some other time of the day.
If you can't get Methylcobalamin, Cynocobalamin will also do the job but Methl is the prefered B12 as its the active form of b12, doesn't have to be converted by your liver like Cyno has to.
good luck
Brian

Your B12 level is low, no matter what the "normal" range is on the test protocol. You need high levels of B12 to cope with or heal from neuropathy. There's a lot of research behind that statement. You can check for yourself by Googling "methylcobalamin peripheral neuropathy": http://www.google.com/search?q=methy...en-US:official . Give less credence to sites trying to sell you something.

If you're over 50, or vegan, or take an acid neutralizer you are not getting enough B12 and need to supplement, preferably with 1 mg (that's 1000 mcg) daily. If you're under 50, a carrion eater, and have the stomach of steel, you aren't absorbing the B12 you're eating, so you need to supplement. Oral B12 builds blood levels of B12 as efficiently as injected B12. Retest results in a few months should have a level above 1200, else you have something wrong with your B12 processing, possibly liver based. Read Rose's postings in the "Sticky" section for the most authoritative word on the subject in these forums.

Why are you supplementing with dolomite? It has the Ca and Mg in the wrong ratio, 1 to 1. The correct ration is 2 to 1. Also as a deep mined mineral, dolomite is often contaminated with lead, arsenic, etc. Again, look to the "Sticky" section for more information on supplements. People tend to be low on both calcium and magnesium, especially as we age, so some supplementation is a good idea. Be sure to supplement with at least 400 iu. of vitamin D daily so that your body can utilize the calcium it takes in.

Why are you supplementing with zinc? The multivitamin should have all you need.

Good diet is as important as exercise, a positive mental outlook, and dealing with other medical issues (such as diabetes, chronic infections, cigarette or alcohol addiction). See the "Sticky" section for diet recommendations.

Even with a good diet, some supplementation can be useful for most of us. I take a load of supplements, probably most of which aren't really needed. If I had to pick only a few, B12 and B-complex would head the list, followed by absorbable Ca-Mg complex, vitamin D, and fish oil. I eat a really good diet, but I'm 64, and take a daily acid blocker (Aciphex) so I'm probably not absorbing or digesting optimally.

Dolomite is not recommended for supplements anymore.
Various dolomite sources can be contaminated with lead.

Also oyster shell calcium can be contaminated with mercury and/or cadmium.

So do be careful.

for your responses, there is a lot to take in. First off I will see if I can get Methylcobalamin in UK, I am sure that I can or at least I should be able to buy it on the internet.

The dolomite says it is Calcium 130 mg and magnesium 78 mg, but given what you have said about contamination I am not going to take this. The zinc is supposed to be good for the immune system that is why I thought I would give it a go.

Should I maybe stick to a multivitamin and the b12 replacing this with the Methylcobalamin if I can get hold of it?

There is so much to learn about this and my brain is still in a fog trying to take in the fact that I have PN

Soo many aspects to try and understand, learn a new language almost, re-learn all the chemistry you'd ever had in school [then promptly forgot], not to mention what the meds and pain do to you.... Keep plugging, you WILL GET THERE! I did, tho it was doubtful for a while, I got there! - j