Re: B-12 & B-6

[Guest guest]

Hello All! I hope you are all well and making it through this HOT summer!

I am not a doctor, by any means, just a woman with CMT & a science

background who likes to know what is good and/or bad for my health, so I do lots

of research & reading to find out what I need to know. Here is some info on

Vitamins B-12 and B-6 that I hope is helpful to those who may be a little

confused or just not sure.

Good Health & Many Blessings to You All,

Holly

***Vitamin B-12: There are 2 very important types of B12 (cyano-cobalamin and

methyl-cobalamin)that we need to be taking, and yes, it is not much more easily

& better absorbed & used by the body when injected intramuscularly than taken

orally. The injectable is the cyanocobalamin (a pink liquid), and my neuro

recommends I inject myself 1 to 2x/month with 1ml using a 25 gauge, 1-1/2 inch,

3ml syringe. I have to take the methylcobalamin in sublingual tablets (as far

as I know it is not in an injectable, but I'm not sure), because it is more

beneficial to use the 2 different types.

If you can't get the injectable, or do not want to do it or have it injected,

sublingual (under the tongue) is the next most effective method of b-12

absorption. A lot is lost in the digestive tract and urinated out if you just

swallow a pill.

You must get the injectable B12 with a prescription from your doctor, but the

syringes do not require one (not here, at least). Your doctor and/or their

nurse should demonstrate how and where is best for you to inject, and usually

the first couple times you inject yourself at your dr's office (to make sure

you're doing it correctly). Doc should give you the prescription when you

and they both feel completely comfortable with you doing it on your own.

The syringes cost me about 15 cents each at the pharmacy, and the b-12 is only

about $10.00 & comes in a 10ml bottle.

B-12 is essential for cell growth and particularly necessary for maintaining the

health of the insulation sheath (myelin sheath) that surrounds nerve cells.

This is EXTREMELY important for us with CMT, since the myelin sheath of the

nerves is what is targeted by the CMT gene, destroying it, which then causes the

nerve to die and then the muscles to lose functionality & atrophy.

*** Vit B-6 (aka pyridoxine hydrochloride & /or pyridoxal phosphate) can be very

bad for anyone with a neuromuscular disease, mostly at high levels, because it

actually acts as a neurotoxin, damaging the nerves & weakening your muscles,

exacerbating ones CMT and causing it to progress more quickly. The CMT docs,

my eurologist and all the research I've done over the years, it seems the

consensus is to be sure to take less than 20 mg per day (a " mega-dose " ). The RDA

(recommended daily allowance) of B6 is only 2mg, & a mega-dose is

defined as 10 x the RDA. They say it's best for us to take no more than

10mg/day in supplement form, because you're going to get plenty in your regular

diet anyway, more than likely.

You have to become a real label reader, especially when you buy

multivitamins & supplements, because they LOVE to put B6 in them for it's energy

benefits for folks without a N-M disease like CMT. I try my best to avoid B6

when buying multi-vitamins, but it's almost impossible. In fact, I just

stopped taking one that I'd gotten from my neurologist that had agreat mix of

lots of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients & antioxidants, but each serving of

6 capsules had a total of 50mg B6!! I was taking 3 caps, thinking I was only

getting

12.5mg B6, until I discovered it also contained both the pyridoxine AND the

pyridoxal form of B6, so I was really taking 25 mg!)!

I brought it to my dr's attention, he did some research himself, told me to

bring them in for a refund, & he's looking for a different multi-nutrient for

his patients. Whew!

I've found it's beneficial to keep oneself up to date on the latest

research, because the docs & " experts " aren't always in the loop!

Holly

**************Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget?

Read reviews on AOL Autos.

(http://autos.aol.com/cars-Volkswagen-Jetta-2009/expert-review?ncid=aolaut000300\

00000007 )

[Guest guest]

Thanks...another print out for my doc. Wonder if he will read it...

Geri