B12 result 253, GP has prescribed 50 mcg cyanocobalamin tablets. Methylcobalamine 5000 mcg better?

[seamail57]

Title says it all really!

Also what is a good make of Vitamin B complex to supplement this?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Yes Methylcobalamin is the one to get. Solgar or Jarrows sublingual.

I use Thorne Basic B Complex. It has folate (natural) instead of folic acid (synthetic).

[seamail57 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks Susie , have ordered some Thorne B complex

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

The British National Formulary says this about low-dose B12 such as the 50 microgram product you have had prescribed:

Apart from dietary deficiency, all other causes of vitamin B12 deficiency are attributable to malabsorption. There is little place for the use of low-dose vitamin B12 orally and none for vitamin B12 intrinsic factor complexes given by mouth. Vitamin B12 in larger oral doses of 1–2 mg daily [unlicensed] may be effective.

evidence.nhs.uk/formulary/b...

There are indeed differences between methylcobalamin, cyanocobalamin and hydroxocobalamin - but it certainly isn't as simply as methylcobalamin always being better.

Nor is it necessarily better to take 5000 micrograms of any of them.

Keep away from any B-50 or B-100 type of formulation which uses a neat "50 of everything" approach. That is junk formulation.

I suggest you hop across to the PAS:

healthunlocked.com/pasoc

[seamail57 in reply to helvella]

Thanks for the info, I'll certainly have a look in the PA forum

[Jazzw]

50mcg of B12 won't raise your B12 in a year of Sundays, possibly a decade of 'em.

So yes, 5000mcg methylcobalamin is a much better idea.

[seamail57 in reply to Jazzw]

This is what I thought - total waste of time! The GP hadn't even heard of methylcobalamine !

[Angel_of_the_North]

50 mcg cyanocobalamin is pretty useless, esp if you have to pay for it. Go for 5000iu Jarrows sublingual methycobalamin to start with. Most of the prescription vitamins seem to be low quality, low dose, full of fillers and other nasties that decent supplement companies wouldn't use.

[seamail57 in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Thanks, have ordered some.