Multivitamen

[Darcey14]

Hi all, it's me again. Feel like a nuisance but going to post anyway. I have a b12 jab every 12 weeks, being changed to 10 after my next one. I also take ferrous fumerate 2x daily and a 1000 bit d daily. Can I still take a multivitamen with this? As per the GP said I dint need to but I like to know I'm getting a bit of what I need. I dont eat meat or fish. Also I know I need to up my b12 by about week 6 or 7 but would rather have it included in a daily vitamin. Any help would be great thanks.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Please note this forum is for patients who have B12 absorption problems rather than dietary deficiencies. The treatment regimes are really quite different and the answer to your question will be quite different if your deficiency is dietary rather than down to an absorption problem. I say this because you mention that you don't eat meat or fish. If you eat dairy and eggs then the deficiency could be dietary but is more likely to be an absorption problem.

The best person to talk to for an answer to your question is probably going to be a pharmacist rather than your GP - particularly in relation to iron and vitamin D.

In theory a multivitamin isn't going to do any harm - at least not a supermarket type supplement., but please check this out with a pharmacist who can advise on potential interactions with any other medication you are taking.

If you have an absorption pro lem the amount of B12 in one of these supplements isn't going to make a difference and you will need to take upward of 1000mcg daily for high doseoral to stand a chance of working - and it doesn't work for everyone.

One vitamin to be aware of and avoid high doses of is B6 - you can overdose on supplements - leading to neurological problems - whist these tend to resolve when supplementation stops there have been cases where this hasn't happened.

[Nackapan]

Just to add:

I have an absorbtuon problem. However I seem to be able yo absorb some vitamins and minerals but not others.

I take a broad spectrum supermarket multivit that does contain 14mg of iron.

Ad you are on ferrous fumerate your bloods will be repeated 3-4 monthly .

Ask for vit d and folate along with the the iron if you can online next bloods.

I take 1000mcg of vit D daiky as a maintenence doses.

It's in small amounts in the multivit .

Go by your blood results where possible.

Although I was very low on b12 .my folate not a problem and went over the range with 400mcg folic acid.

So we all vary.

If yiu are able to absorb b12 in a tablet as a top up.

There will not be enough in a multivit.

So will need to be taken separately.

I'm assuming absorbtion must be a problem to remain on injections .

I wish yiu well.

[Darcey14]

I have been tested for PA but was negative I was also tested for h pylori which was negative. These are a tests that often throw up false results. I do eat eggs and lots of dairy. Including fortified cerals and milks. My b12 was 94 so extremely low. Vit d was 40 and ferritin was 25. These bloods were done a few weeks ago. B12 was last October time. I take no other meds apart from a chlophenamine when I need to. I also had ITP when I was younger. So that's why I was tested for PA. The multi vit is just for general use. So i know I'm getting a bit of everything else. I've got a cheap one and a seven seas with all the extra bits added. Was wanting to use the 7 seas one for omega.

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Darcey14]

should be okay but if you have questions the best person to ask is a dispensing chemist.

[Nackapan in reply to Darcey14]

Remember testing negative for PA does not rule it out.My b12 was very low too.

And vit d then ferritin.

All indicators of sn absorbtion problem.

As not on any medication and no other reason found.

I've upped my walnut and other nut intake. For omega 3 oils.

I tried fish oil capsules fir a while as very dry skin snd scalp.

( not vegetarian)

I didnt get on with them. I think caused nausea

As tried every other oil under the sun on my scalp broke one and put it on.

Not a good idea . I stank.

Had a trail of cats following me around.

Scalp liked it. 🤣But olive oil ,rosehip ,jojoba, almond oil will carry on being rotated. 🙄

Hate waste lol.

What ever you choose to take short term until next blood test I'm sure will not be a problem.

I used to over think vitamins as never really took them before a I believed id get everyone from my good diet.

Didnt consider absorbtion issues .

Wasn't even warned when at risk.(age and hormonal changes)

Some of the early symotons of b12 deficiency for me was indecisiveness ,worrying .

Just saying as might be affecting you too . T c

[deniseinmilden]

While not a pharmacist I do have training in nutrition and cannot see why, from what you say, trying an A-Z multivitamin and mineral supplements would be anything other than beneficial - as you say it will give you a background level of everything in the right balance.

The iron and vitamin D in these supplements is specifically set at at a low level and is almost always of a less bioavailable version than in targeted supplements that are designed to cure a deficiency due to a problem so they are unlikely to cause problems. You would have much more impact by missing a high dose tablet occasionally.

It is important that you get your blood tested if you are taking supplements to check that the dose is OK, and is remaining OK however. It might be that the right supplement makes everything work a bit better and therefore your absorption problem diminishes slightly so that you need less of something in the long run.

[Darcey14]

Thanks for the info. When you mention hormonal changes it got me thinking about when I stopped the combined pill after 11 years and felt worse for it even though I felt unsettled on it. I went through the phase of worrying about every single thing to the point where I think I've possibly left myself with health anxiety if that's a thing. I will maybe wait until my next bloods in a few weeks and see what's said then start my multivitamin. I feel like I'm dropping apart at 29.