Time release B12

[helvella]

Does anyone have a view on whether time release B12 is better or worse than the nearest equivalent non-time release form? Or indistinguishable!

I am very much not convinced that the extra cost of time release forms can be justified. Further, I suspect they could actually end up being significantly less-well absorbed.

[poing]

I didn't know there was such a thing.

I'm not sure I can see why a time release version would be beneficial.

It's not like a painkiller where you want the effects to be steady over a period of time. In the normal run of things, if you were able to get B12 from your food, you would be getting it intermittently from meals not as a continuous infusion.

Also, I gather that B12 is only absorbed in a very specific part of the bowel. Anything released after that point is wasted.

[helvella in reply to poing]

Agreed.

Furthermore, as gut absorption in those with no, or inadequate, IF depends on diffusion, it seems highly desirable that the entire dose hits the gut together in order to achieve a high concentration. Rather than a continuous lower dose which might never reach sufficient level to adequately diffuse.

I cannot help but think it is a marketing thing with little or no benefit except to some company's bank balance - for it is more expensive than "ordinary" B12. However, I felt it worth asking rather than falling into a false assumption.

Thanks.

[poing in reply to helvella]

Oh I had already assumed that this wouldn't be suitable for people with true PA, because they won't absorb it however it reaches the gut. I thought this was a product for people with reduced but not broken absorbtion.

You can't patent vitamins, but you can try to make more money from them.

Of course I've not been to medical school so my opinions are worth diddly squat - my GP certainly seems to think so at the moment.