[Andrew11]

I have been using jarrow 5000mcg daily on empty stomach. Can someone tell me how I should add the r lipoic acid into the b12. I take the b12 in the morning and wait an hour then eat. Also how much r lipoic acid should I take. I am going to use these supplments for a burning skin sensation throughout my entire body that I have had for 5 years with many doctors and many medications that havent even relieved the burning .1 percent. For the first time however the b12 has relieved some of the burning so I hope if I add the lipoic acid It will help speed along the healing of the nerves. Any other supplments I should consider?
Thanks

[Dr. Smith]

You should be taking the B12 on an empty stomach, 1-2 hours before eating or drinking (water is OK) -- early morning is good. Then you can take the R-Lipoic Acid (RLA) with the rest of your supplements. 100 mg of stabilized RLA per day should be fine. If it doesn't help with the first bottle, it likely won't.

You can find other supplements for PN discussed in the PN Tips, Resources, Supplements & Other Treatments Sub-Forum.

Doc

[mrsD]

For best absorption, the lipoic should be on an empty stomach too. That is less critical than the B12, but some reduction in absorption may occur with food. That was the recommendation for ALA--the racemic older form. But it may be true for the stabilized form as well.

Do the lipoic in addition for a month, and if you then want to add in another try Benfotiamine 300mg a day. Many here get some results from it as well. If the benfotiamine works, look at the possibility you have Candida overgrowth in your bowel. I'd try Kefir daily (similar to yogurt but BETTER with more strains of beneficial probiotic bacteria.) Lifeway kefir is in many stores now and is not expensive and very delicious. Yeasts like Candida make aldehydes as byproducts of metabolism, which can cause paresthesias in some people.

[Andrew11]

Originally Posted by mrsD

For best absorption, the lipoic should be on an empty stomach too. That is less critical than the B12, but some reduction in absorption may occur with food. That was the recommendation for ALA--the racemic older form. But it may be true for the stabilized form as well.

Do the lipoic in addition for a month, and if you then want to add in another try Benfotiamine 300mg a day. Many here get some results from it as well. If the benfotiamine works, look at the possibility you have Candida overgrowth in your bowel. I'd try Kefir daily (similar to yogurt but BETTER with more strains of beneficial probiotic bacteria.) Lifeway kefir is in many stores now and is not expensive and very delicious. Yeasts like Candida make aldehydes as byproducts of metabolism, which can cause paresthesias in some people.

My plan is continue taking the b12 in the morning on an empty stomach and not eat or drink for an hour. I will take this for a minimum of 3 months and a maximum of 6 months. I will also add RLA after I take the b12 and see if I feel anything within a month. Does this sound like a good plan? Thanks a lot.

[mrsD]

Yes, you should see something within a month on lipoic acid.

Some people have reported fast results with high dose B12-- but I think it takes more time with it to show benefits. A lot of each dose of B12 is stored, or goes to the bone marrow to make new
red cells, so it takes a while to saturate those 2 places so they won't burden the dose and then the B12 can get to other needful tissues.