maggee Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 hi all....just a quick question, as i see many refer to B12....but i can't ascertain...in the posts...if B-12 is helpful....or harmful to our systems with POTS, ETC....???KNOW some B-vitamins can be agravating to us...like niacin...but would appreciate feedback on B-12...and any other vitamin 'goods--and bads'....!thanks so much!hoping all having a fairly 'decent day'......:0)Maggee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lukkychrm42 Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 From what I've seen here, a lot of us tend to have deficiencies in vitamin B-12. This is called pernicious anemia, and can cause neurological problems, though by the time you develop neurological problems you're usually dangerously deficient in it. I take B-12 as a supplement because I'm vegan and frankly don't always feel like eating fortified foods. My levels of B-12 are perfectly normal, though. I've never seen B-12 as being a treatment of POTS, though, even though I've seen evidence on the board of some people thinking it helps. I wouldn't think of it as being harmful, except maybe in huge amounts it might be...I also take iron and folic acid, and folate, because they're supposed to help with energy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunfish Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 i get B-12 shots due to B-12 deficiency. for me the deficiency is thought to be b/c of malabsorption...thus the shots rather than "just" supplements. when my levels were the lowest (before knowing i was deficient) i did have a major flare-up of neuropathy symptoms (tingling, shooting pain, etc). after 4 shots this returned to my "baseline" (in terms of numbness/tingling stuff) but not beyond that. my neuro also has me taking sublingual though now to get my levels higher. i'm also in the process of a potential mitochondrial disease diagnosis wherein B12 is also known to be used more by the body & thus needed in larger quantities.fyi, though, a B-12 deficiency is NOT automatically the same as pernicious anemia. often it is, but not always.obviously i can't speak for everyone's individual situation but my neuro (autonomic specialist) said to me that i can't get too much B12.my overall take on things is that low B12 isn't the cause of my problems but at times it certainly hasn't helped things... melissa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DancingLight Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 What is considered a goal for your levels to be? Do you know numbers Sunfish??? Sorry....don't go looking for this information and wear yourself out. Just wondering if you had it fresh in your mind what 'low normal' was--this is where I seem to teeter, but didn't know when the numbers were considered out of the 'low normal' range.Em Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lukkychrm42 Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 fyi, though, a B-12 deficiency is NOT automatically the same as pernicious anemia. often it is, but not always.Yeah- I know there's a difference, but I'm not sure where they draw the line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DancingLight Posted May 4, 2006 Report Share Posted May 4, 2006 I always thought B12 shots were kind of a 'can't hurt, might help' thing? Am I off on that? They have been used for a long time for people with CFS and I don't think it is necessarily if people have low B12...Gosh, I'm getting rusty on this stuff... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunfish Posted May 5, 2006 Report Share Posted May 5, 2006 em -i think the "cut-off" for low versus normal is somewhere from 200 to 250....depending on the lab, doc's interpretation, etc. don't quote me as i'm going off of memory (per your mandate) but i'm pretty sure that's right. melissa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DancingLight Posted May 5, 2006 Report Share Posted May 5, 2006 thanks chica....i appreciate it...em Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lthomas521 Posted May 5, 2006 Report Share Posted May 5, 2006 There's an interesting theory that extra B-12 might be beneficial for people with CFS or fibromyalgia, because the B-12 acts as a nitric oxide scavenger. http://molecular.biosciences.wsu.edu/facul...ll/pall_cfs.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clairefmartin Posted May 5, 2006 Report Share Posted May 5, 2006 Just a sidenote - B12 is water soluble, so you can't get too much - your body will flush whatever it doesn't need. My hubby and I market organic suppliments and an energy drink with 4900% B12 used for athletic training (and everyday energy), so we had to attend classes on this stuff.Hope that helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lukkychrm42 Posted May 5, 2006 Report Share Posted May 5, 2006 So does that mean that it might help with energy, if such a huge amount was necessary or whatever in an energy drink? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DancingLight Posted May 5, 2006 Report Share Posted May 5, 2006 I just checked my levels--they have been hovering about 340--and my POTS doc considered this low normal.I just got them checked again and I don't think they were much different--I have been taking 500 mcg daily for about a year.I will have to check with him next time we are in touch whether he thinks I need more or whatever.Em Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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