Monday, March 4, 2013

Is it possible to treat vit B12 deficiency without taking suppliments, ie. only through dietary changes?

Q. I have been a vegetarian for last 10 years and an occasional drinker. Lately i am experiencing many b12 deficiency symptoms - tingling in hands/legs, chapped lips, canker sores, fatigue, drowsiness etc. I have started eating 2 eggs and drinking one litre milk daily. Is it possible to treat it this way or should I get vitamin capsules?

A. Go to the doctors first and ask for a blood test to confirm you are deficient in B12. The most reliable sources of B12 can be found in yeast extract, nutritional yeast flakes (e.g Engevital) fortified soya products such as dairy free margarine and dairy free milks and breakfast cereals.
It is a misconception that vegans cannot get B12 from their diet, i have never needed to take supplements but some vegans choose to take a 10 microgram B12 supplement daily.


Is it safe to take a multivitamin and vitamin E in one day?
Q. the multivitamin contains 30 IU and the vitamin E 400 IU.
Is it too much for one day?

A. No, not at all, remember that the "suggested daily dose" or whatever is just enough to keep from getting severe deficiency symptoms like scurvy, not necessarily enough for your optimum health. With vitamin there's lots of room.
That's true about niacin, never overdue it!


What are the effects of taking a lot of vitamin c supplements?
Q. I have these jars with 150 tabs of vitamin c, 500mg each. I take several at a time throughout the day because it makes me feel really good and happy and tastes really good. It's like a drug to me. Is taking extreme amounts of vitamin c supplements bad for you?

A. Yes potentially.
I would seriously advise against doing so.
As a maintenance dose then 250-500mg is really a maximum ideal to aim for.
If you have a cold or flu then that can be increased temporarily to 1000mg but should be reduced back down to a maintenance dose after recovery.

Though vitamin C is not stored, in high doses it is not without its potential problems, which may include: gingivitis (inflammation of the gums), bleeding gums, decreased wound-healing, easy bruising, nosebleeds, weakened tooth enamel, swollen and painful joints, anaemia**, a decreased ability to fight an infection, a slowing of the metabolism that may lead to weight gain, rough, dry, scaly skin and/ or splitting hair.
[from ref: Medline Plus, link: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002404.htm ]

** regarding anaemia however, if one was to supplement with iron, one may have the opposite scenario.....i.e. too much iron stored, which could be a problem, particularly in anyone with haemochromatosis [an iron storage disease] or with a genetic tendency towards it [i.e. it was in the family].

There is also a risk of kidney stone formation in those with a tendency.

So basically, toxic levels of vitamin C in the blood over time [that may occur from taking mega doses regularly] could lead to symptoms ordinarily characteristic of a vitamin C deficiency. Such symptoms may also become apparent [even if you did not have these symptoms when taking high doses] if you were to stop taking it suddenly.

Wean yourself off the high doses in stages so you don't display scurvy symptoms. And after this, take no more than 250-500mg a day as a maintenance dose.

Be safe, be well....insha'Allah.
Best wishes.


Can deficiency of vitamin B cause symptoms similar to angina?
Q. Can deficiency of vitamin B cause symptoms similar to angina?
e.g tingling like feeling at the left arm.

A. Yea long term deficiency of vit B1(thiamine) leads to a condition called "wet beri- beri", which in turn is characterized by symptoms similar to angina( breathlesnes, palpitations).





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