Question about B-Complex

[NJPoet]

Admin note: poster has B12 absorption problems due to coeliacs

I have a question: I have been a strict vegan for over a decade now. Last year, I started suffering from neurological issues. After a bunch of tests & scans, I discovered my B12 was severely deficient. I have been on injections for about 5 months. I have also been taking all the recommended cofactors. My question is about taking a B Complex long term. I was taking it for 4 months, then switched to a B Complex without B6. I have been reading that one should take a break from taking a B Complex. However, since I am vegan and didn’t supplement all those years, I’m worried about stopping altogether. All advice is welcome.

[Nackapan]

Being a struct vegan I would think it important to get regular blood tests for nutritional status Then supplement on what is low.

You will probably have to pay for this.

As long the doses are not too high. Taking a standard RDA. Vit B complex I cant see why it's a problem carrying on with it

Just check whats in fortified foods if eaten.

[Sunshine1932]

I'm vegan and take vitamin B complex and wouldn't be without them. I get mine from togerher vitamins. They are vegan and plant based, so nothing synthetic about them. All my vitamins are from Together vitamins.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

NJPoet if the reason for your B12 deficiency was dietary deficiency because of your veganism then in theory you shouldn't need injections for life and you shouldn't need to fill up on a load of other micronutrients (like vitamins) because you should be able to get sufficient from your food. It is only B12 that is going to be missing from a vegan diet.

This forum is strictly speaking for people who have problems absorbing B12 from their food and the treatment of dietary deficiency is off-topic for this forum as the treatment is very different from that for absorption problems.

A problem absorbing B12 can also affect the absorption of other micro-nutrients but personally I would prefer to take those that I know are specifically being affected in me rather than using a B complex that may contain much higher doses of vitamins than I actually need.

Good that you have stopped using a complex with B6 as it is possible to overdose on B6 - it is also possible to have side effects from taking more than 1000mcg a day of B9.

Being vegan does not make you immune from having an absorption problem and if that is the case then please feel free to use this forum. If, however, your problem is just dietary then this forum is not the right place for you.

I am closing this post to further responses on the assumption that your deficiency is dietary