[mrsD]

There has been some evidence that folic acid supplements work better than food.

Here is a recent article about vitamins vs food:

http://www.healthnewswebsite.com/nut...pplements.html

For example, the absorption of the synthetic form of folic acid found in supplements or fortified foods is considerably better than that of food folate. In another example, the Institute of Medicine advises adults over age 50 to obtain vitamin B12 mainly from fortified foods or supplements containing B12. This is because age-related loss of stomach acid in some older individuals may reduce the availability of B12 from food sources.

Some people cannot methylate B12 from the commercial cyanocobalamin type of B12. This is why methylcobalamin is a better choice to use. Since MethylB12 is so inexpensive, there is no reason NOT to use it.

[since95]

How long should you wait to eat after taking B12 in the morning on a empty stomach?

[mrsD]

At least 1/2 hr , but 1 hr is better.

The micrograms of B12 can be lost in food. Microgram dosing of drugs has been found to be severely impacted by presence of food. Esp fiber foods that breakfast often has. Micrograms is a very very tiny amount of anything. Because I know this from my training...I push the empty stomach factor. I have not seen any of the OTC websites picking this fact up for B12...and it has been over 5 yrs now since it was known for drugs. That just illustrates how medical info can get walled into little niches and not applied to other situations!

I had a patient in a clinic once whose doctor kept raising her thyroid dose. She was at .225mg which is really high.. and getting no response. Turns out she was taking it with Oatmeal!
She was a young woman with an intact thyroid...no Hashimoto's either. She ended up well, finally at .1mg where she belonged, after I intervened.

[MelodyL]

Originally Posted by mrsD

At least 1/2 hr , but 1 hr is better.

The micrograms of B12 can be lost in food. Microgram dosing of drugs has been found to be severely impacted by presence of food. Esp fiber foods that breakfast often has. Micrograms is a very very tiny amount of anything. Because I know this from my training...I push the empty stomach factor. I have not seen any of the OTC websites picking this fact up for B12...and it has been over 5 yrs now since it was known for drugs. That just illustrates how medical info can get walled into little niches and not applied to other situations!

I had a patient in a clinic once whose doctor kept raising her thyroid dose. She was at .225mg which is really high.. and getting no response. Turns out she was taking it with Oatmeal!
She was a young woman with an intact thyroid...no Hashimoto's either. She ended up well, finally at .1mg where she belonged, after I intervened.

Hi Mrs. D.

You probably saved that woman's life.

I take the Methyl B-12 as soon as I get up in the morning. Under my tongue. Around 8:15 a.m. By the time I take my walk to my local little breakfast nook where I have my one egg (or egg white), with my sliced tomatoes ( I bring a cup of my sprouts), and sprinkle on top). Well, it's about one hour after I do the Methyl B-12 that I have my breakfast.

For me, it works just fine.

I take 5000 each and every day. So far, no side effects, just good energy and no pins and needles and tingling.

Oh, on an interesting note, last night Alan said "my feet don't burn, they just tingle". I said "what do you mean your feet don't burn, I thought that's what they've been doing for 18 years because your neuro diagnosed you with small fiber (I think large fiber too, but I'm not sure).

He said 'what exactly do you mean when you say BURNING".

So I said "well, in my case when the weather is not cooperating, my whole foot burns for two seconds. NOTHING COMPARED to what it did when I was first diagnosed with Diabetic Neuropathy two years ago.

I immediately went on the Methyl B-12 and the rest is history. He tried it but nothing happened.

So I do get very few episodes of slight burning, but it's NOTHING. Maybe they are healing? Who knows. I certainly can live with it because I dont' get the zipping zapping, etc.

Alan, on the other hand explained that what I thought was BURNING in his case, turned out to be EXTREME TINGLING. So when Alan says to me "My feet are doing a dance", now I know he means TINGLING and not burning.

God only knows, I would have spent the next 18 years thinking this guy's feet were on fire, and they were REALLY TINGLING LIKE CRAZY.

Neuropathy is a very weird disorder.

Melody

[sydeshowbob]

This is my first time on this forum. Not sure I'm doing this correctly, but here goes.
Have been dx with peripheral neuropathy in my feet. Saw a neurologist who tested my Vit B12 and Vit 6 levels. Both were very high so she told me to get off both which I did. My symptoms are getting worse to the point where walking is extremely painful. Have a hx of Lyme disease as well so believe it is the cause of my symptoms (this is a autoimmune disease).
Since my Vit B12 and Vit B6 levels were too high, figure I should not be taking these supplements. Is this a correct assumption?
Have read a number of entries but am not sure which supplements might be helpful for me. Would appreciate any input on this issue. Thanks.

[mrsD]

Welcome to NeuroTalk:

First thing you must do is get the NUMBERS of both tests.

Doctors are notorious for not giving accurate interpretation of test results with vitamins/nutrients.

Get those numbers and post them here and then we can go further if necessary in what ever other path is needed or not.

[MelodyL]

Originally Posted by sydeshowbob

This is my first time on this forum. Not sure I'm doing this correctly, but here goes.
Have been dx with peripheral neuropathy in my feet. Saw a neurologist who tested my Vit B12 and Vit 6 levels. Both were very high so she told me to get off both which I did. My symptoms are getting worse to the point where walking is extremely painful. Have a hx of Lyme disease as well so believe it is the cause of my symptoms (this is a autoimmune disease).
Since my Vit B12 and Vit B6 levels were too high, figure I should not be taking these supplements. Is this a correct assumption?
Have read a number of entries but am not sure which supplements might be helpful for me. Would appreciate any input on this issue. Thanks.

That's the first thing I thought of and Mrs. D beat me to it. Also too much B-6 can CAUSE Peripheral Neuropathy.

Get those numbers and then come back here.

Melody

[eluna]

A few months back, I was reading the forums and stumbled across a set of ranges for iron, folate, and b12. These ranges were the optimal to "feel" the best with pernicious anemia. (Hope that makes sense).

I have Ben looking for those ranges as I go back to get my levels next Monday and would lie to have them handy.


Also, I have been getting shot since Feburary. But I still can not go more than a week without feeling anemic again. I am on iron supplements and that has helped some, but I was wondering if I am missing something else here.


Thanks

[eluna]

Originally Posted by eluna

A few months back, I was reading the forums and stumbled across a set of ranges for iron, folate, and b12. These ranges were the optimal to "feel" the best with pernicious anemia. (Hope that makes sense).

I have Ben looking for those ranges as I go back to get my levels next Monday and would lie to have them handy.


Also, I have been getting shot since Feburary. But I still can not go more than a week without feeling anemic again. I am on iron supplements and that has helped some, but I was wondering if I am missing something else here.


Thanks

I got some of my numbers yesterday.

B-12 1024 (up from 286 in February)
Was told my MMA was now reading on the low end of the scale indicating adequate supplementation.

Ferratin 25 (was just above 12 in February)
Folate was "fine" (no number given)


My PCP told me I could stop the Iron pills I have been taking. I told her that I really wanted my Ferratin levels to a minimum of 50 because I felt like crap when I was not taking it. She told me her main concern was the possibility of iron deposits on my organs, but I could continue taking the iron with supervision.

So what do you think? Good? Bad?

[mrsD]

I think your doctor is correct. Ferritin is stored iron, not the iron in your red blood cells.

The risk from iron overload is real. That is why I don't recommend iron on these boards, and always refer people to
their physician.