Thanks for your response! Interesting about the P5P reverting back. Another reason not to take a single B Complex pill in capsule form (even the coenzyme kind). Also, for me, I experienced finger tingling when combining P5P w/ B complex. I've read where my levels aren't high enough to cause toxicity, but I have to go with my own experience. Also, as I've not experienced the tingling when using P5P by itself, I doubt its the nerves turning on.

Don't get me wrong. I'm going to be combining the P5P with other Bs (I've heard that just taking one can result in deficiencies in the rest), just not in a single pill.

As for the Pyroluria: You know it's funny. When I read the article to which you referred, I thought I should get the test. But when I took the Pyroluria quiz, from naturopathyonline.com, I didn't even come close to matching the symptoms. Also I don't have white specs/lines in my fingernails. MrsD, have you found/heard much on people w/ pyroluria who don't match those classic symptoms? From the parts I've read on the site, you seem very knowledgeable and active, so I really appreciate your input. Thanks!

Everyone gets those white flecks occasionally on nails. They can come from hitting the hand against things, minor trauma.

Zinc levels have to be really low before they would show up in pyrolurics. I think the main symptom is mood instability, craving for alcohol and self medicating with it, or wanting tranquilizers.

Males lose zinc in their semen regularly and would show low symptoms before women. Women need zinc too, but we don't lose it often like men do. We lose iron instead. Some drugs cause women to lose hair, and this is corrected by adding zinc. Also acne. So low zinc in women may show up cosmetically first.

A new study from Brazil shows women however, low in essential fatty acids... omega-3's... have more severe PMS symptoms and cramps.

Thanks MrsD. What you say is always interesting and helpful.

Dear Mrs. D,

I am excited to be a member of this board. I find your information on vitamins and supplements to be very valuable. I'm truly amazed at how learned you are, and so willing to help others, thank you for that.

About 6 months ago, I read something about too much B6 causing neuropathy so I stopped taking B complex and my multivitamin because it also contained B6. In the B category I was only taking sublingual B12 and Benfotiamine (B1). I don't understand everything that's posted here but I think I should start taking my multi again with 3mg of B6 because the burning pain from my neuropathy seems to have gotten worse. I will go for blood work and check my B6 and zinc (zinc was low at one time). Should I take the P5P along with my multi or should I get a B complex?

I spoke with you in another forum about aspirin which I discontinued and will now heed your advice about taking Alka Seltzer with aspirin. My neuropathy is idiopathic, and I truly believe it could be caused by vitamin deficiences. Thank you sooo much for your expertise and your time.....Rosie xo

Hello, Rosie....

supplements with 3 mg of B6 are not likely to cause toxicity.

However, if you do NOT convert that to active P5P, yes, you will still be deficient.

Continue with your conservative supplement. If you see NO results in another month or two, consider changing over to the activated form called P5P.. NOW company makes a nice one.

It takes alot of B6 to get the toxic form of neuropathy. It is not likely at these doses.

Hi Rosie, I had neuropathy severely last year and didn't know what to do. Doctors just say all test results were fine. However, the neurologist called and informed me that my B6 was elevated and to stop taking supplemental vits. Any how, to make story short, I stopped my centrum vits, vegetable juicing. I realize as months went by that I was getting too much vits from my veg. juicing that my clotting factors were elevated. So now I'm watching what I'm eating. I still don't take my centrum vit. only my calcium w/ Vit.D and eat very little veg. especially the dark green veg. The burning sensation on my extremities eventually went away. Sometimes, I feel a mild pain on and off. I make sure I drink plenty of water and balance my meals. good luck and take care. Rainforest

I am looking for a compound of B12, B6 and Folic acid, but as the problem is also to do with overmethyation whch gives low histamine I need these supplements not to be methyl contained.

Welcome to NeuroTalk:

Tricia, I'd have to ask how you came to decide this?

The methylation theory from Pfeiffer Institute is not accepted by all doctors. It seems mainly in the orthomolecular psychiatry and alternative areas.

I found an interesting useful table with tests to have done to see if one could benefit from methylation manipulation:

http://www.nutritional-healing.com.a...cal%20Subtypes

Also a link for those who over-methylate:

http://www.custommedicine.com.au/unc...r-methylation/

The use of methylated folate and B12 was originally for people who have the DNA mutation MTHFR which cannot activate these vitamins in the body. I do not think that normal people without this mutation would suffer anything negative by taking the methyl versions.

B6 is not included in methylation directly because its activation is phosphorylation. But it does work with folate and B12 to make SAMe in the end. So it is only somewhat involved. SAMe then carries methyl groups where needed. But that means, the receiving end must have the enzymes ready to use a methyl group.

Now in Bipolar disorder, it is thought that overmethylation of certain parts of DNA in the genome, results in expression of Bipolar symptoms. That is a different type of methylation.
http://www.nature.com/mp/journal/v13.../4002001a.html

In fact methylation occurs in many areas of the body, and failure of this may lead to cancer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylation

So you see the answer to your question is pretty complex...and almost impossible to answer.

Pfeiffer's recommendations for over-methylated patients:
Folate and B12 are indicated therefore. B3 is niacin.
By contrast under methylated people should avoid excess B6 and folate.




I would get the whole cell testing offered by Pfeiffer Institute to see exactly where you are to answer this question.

Also I have to say, that their recommendations are based on experience. Not every doctor embraces them. Trying to medicate according to over or under methylation without testing for it, seems iffy to me, because symptoms can be hard to interpret.

Any one else get neuropathy in the first place from b-6 toxicity? I was low on b-6 with nerve pain in female areas. Given b-6 and my body processed it to 4x , toxic levels. Horrible 3 inch needles poking my entire body day & night for about a year. SLowly went down to just evenings, nights in my face & the sometimes trunk area, crawly, itchy. Given Methylfolate for a genetic vascular defect which was supposed to help the neuropathy too & now it is back more with a vengence! Any one have anyideas?? Seen this before?
hollyleaf

Hello Holly and welcome to NeuroTalk...

Do you know what your B12 level is? B12/folate/B6 work together in the body for some actions.

Please check this out, and see what your reading is. Don't accept "normal" from your doctor, as lab ranges in US go down very low.

Also get a Vit D test, and use D3 supplement if you need to improve that. Low D creates Low calcium issues, which have paresthesias (odd skin sensations) as a symptom.