B1 (thiamine) supplements

[Chickens44]

Has anyone tried adding in B1 to help with magnesium absorption. I can see Wizard6787 has been trialling with different doses. Anyone else, did it work?

[Jillymo]

Does B1 help absorb magnesium?

Yes, as B vitamins and magnesium don't compete for absorption inside your body. Indeed, many supplements combine them as a way of simplifying how you monitor your intake. Vitamin B and magnesium work in tandem to: promote normal function of the nervous system and normal psychological function.

[MindfulSquirrel]

Don’t know about magnesium but I think I likely had a simultaneous thiamine deficiency, or it was borderline and went over the edge every time I had anything more than one drink. It was adding 100mg B1 daily (half through a B-complex, half extra) to the B12 treatment that finally got rid of my “benign tremor”. I’m very slowly trying to decease my vitamin regime so now I’m just taking 50mg, and can’t see myself stopping completely any time soon.

[B12again]

I started taking Elemental Magnesium powder 400mg about 3 months ago. I had been suffering with regular intermittent headaches, especially if I overdid things. A GP on a B12D WhatsApp group recommended it as it got rid of his headaches. I will come to these recommendations a little sceptical as we are all different. I was pleasantly surprised that soon after starting with it I began to realise the headaches were not appearing, I haven’t had one since. So from this experience I’m happy that my body is absorbing it. I take mine mixed in Kefir along with a D3+K2 capsule about an hour before bed. The only other capsules I take (mornings) are a 20mg Gentle Iron daily and 5mg Methylfolate weekly. I don’t take any other B vitamins except EOD SI B12.

[Technoid]

Why would B1 help with Magnesium absorption? As far as I understand things that could help Magnesium absorption are pharmacological doses of vitamin D (not that I'd recommend that), Protein and to a small extent, Carbohydrates.

[Chickens44 in reply to Technoid]

I probably worded it wrong, it was suggested as an aid to stop magnesium supplements giving you tummy troubles, as I seem to get upset bowels when I take magnesium.

[Technoid in reply to Chickens44]

Are you still taking that very high dose magnesium powder? I think a reasonable supplement of 250mg at a time, in glycinate or taurate forms for example is much less likely to cause digestion issues.

I don't know of any mechanism by which B1 would prevent stomach upset caused by magnesium supplementation, where did you come across that?

[Chickens44 in reply to Technoid]

No I’m not taking the powder. I am taking about 150mg elemental mag Malate in the morning and was taking 240mg elemental mag glyncinate in the evening, but only took one 120mg mag glyc last night. Been doing this for 10 days. But still got uncomfortable guts today. Wish I could pin down what’s causing it. It only started after I had been on the magnesium for a couple of days.

[Technoid in reply to Chickens44]

Do you need that much? How about trying 120mg of the glycinate after meals (morning and evening)? might be easier on the digestion. I don't know why you would need malate unless you have constipation. If you're on a prescription to correct a deficiency I guess could be different.

[Chickens44 in reply to Technoid]

I was having symptoms that all pointed to magnesium deficiency, and as I had been having vitamin D 5000 -10000 iu per day, plus k2, for six weeks (on advice of my nutritionist) and I was advised it can quickly deplete magnesium, so added magnesium into the mix. It’s so frustrating as I want to get the balance right, but it seems to be eluding me.

[Chickens44 in reply to Technoid]

I was taking the magnesium to support the vitamin d+k supplements that I am taking, but think I am going to reduce those, and also reduce the magnesium, just taking the Malate in the morning.

[Technoid in reply to Chickens44]

If you were taking 10,000 IU of vitamin D like some of these "protocols" seem to recommend that is likely excessive unless on prescription for short term correction of a deficiency.

[Chickens44 in reply to Technoid]

I appear to have had a deficiency for years, below range, but was never really encouraged by GP to have supplements. I will try and post latest results!

[Myanna23 in reply to Chickens44]

same problem, when I stop or drop my vitamin d, it plummets, since around 2009 my levels were only 8! My GP didn't think to tell me also b12 very low, so all those years of such low levels doing aloe of damage. Don't stop your vit D, watch Dr John Cambell and you will understand. BEST WISHES.

[Chickens44 in reply to Myanna23]

I have watched John Campbell and although he discusses some interesting topics. I do think he needs to stress the importance of vitamin D doses based on age, weight and other factors, rather than just saying take higher doses. Also that it’s a good idea to take magnesium.

[Chickens44 in reply to Technoid]

this was August

Vitamin D

[Chickens44 in reply to Chickens44]

2020 result

Vitamin d

[Chickens44 in reply to Chickens44]

AND 2014

Vitamin d

[Technoid in reply to Chickens44]

Nothing wrong with your Vitamin D at the moment that I can see. GP's are no longer recommended to routinely test vitamin D (the test is relatively expensive) and the evidence base for improving health as a result of supplementation is sparse. Taking the RDA or up to 2,000IU over the winter is a sensible precaution. You might need more if absorption issues are present but I don't see anything to be concerned about or that would warrant a big increase in whatever dose you were on coming into August.

The new Endocrine Society 2024 guidelines for Vitamin D are quite interesting:

endocrine.org/news-and-advo...

In a June 2024 communication:

Vitamin D Insufficiency and Epistemic Humility: An Endocrine Society Guideline Communication

they made this statement:

"available clinical trial evidence does not permit the establishment of 25(OH)D thresholds that specifically predict meaningful benefit with vitamin D supplementation. The panel noted important limitations in the available evidence, and the panel's overall certainty in the available evidence was very low. Nonetheless, based on the GDP's analyses and judgments, the Endocrine Society no longer endorses its previously proposed definition of vitamin D “sufficiency” (ie, at least 30 ng/mL [75 nmol/L]) or its previously proposed definition of vitamin D “insufficiency” (ie, greater than 20 ng/mL [50 nmol/L] but lower than 30 ng/mL [75 nmol/L]).

from academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...

More or less admitting that previous guidelines had overstepped the evidence base.

Further background: news.immunologic.org/p/vita...

[B12life]

be careful very careful with b1 especially if high dosing. Small doses are best. B1 requires magnesium, potassium and other things for metabolism, thus high dosing b1 requires high levels of these other vitamins, and if not, will result in a magnesium depletion.

The other problem that can occur with b1 is over methylation.

I would say, b1 is good, just keep it low. Or if high dosing, really study the protocol for it to learn all of the supplements that are needed along with it, as well has how to prevent over methylation.

and be very strict about following that protocol or it will throw other things out of balance.

[B12life]

also I've never heard b1 helps with magnesium metabolism but the other way around.

[WIZARD6787]

I read this pjmhsonline.com/2013/july_s...

and then bought and utilized the protocols from thiamineprotocols.com/ to design my self treatment.

I did other study but these were my two main sources.

The result was that it was easier to be me and a valuable supplement for my healing.

I personally found the advice on this forum to be unhelpful in this case.

I have no issues sending anyone the PDF if I receive a e-mail address. I do not care what others believe about intellectual property rights and I control my behavior.