While we are on the B subject...

I am trying to find out which is the best B complex for my needs (for example, folate and B12 are often low in hypothyroidism).

The prices are those on the Dolphin Fitness site, but if anyone knows of a batter deal...? Solgar and Jarrow have been recommended on here, and look pretty good, so I did a comparison table.

Any thoughts? There doesn't seem to be all that much difference in price, but there are quite a few differences in ingredients.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Not the Solgar B100. It's not balanced when there's the same amount of everything. 100mg B6 is a large amount. Long term high dose B6 can cause neurological damage, recommended dose for regular use is 10mg. It also contains B12 as cyanocobalamin and the recommended form is methylcobalamin, also contains folic acid and the recommended form is methylfolate.

Jarrows contains the correct forms but 35mg B6. Some members have had an adverse reaction to Jarrows B Right, others get on fine with it.

Personally I wouldn't use either of those.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

Which would you use?

And thanks for the information, especially about B6, which I had no idea of

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

I did very well with Thorne Basic B when I had very low Folate.

Now my Folate and B12 are optimal, and because our B12 store lasts for about 2 years, I only need a small amount of B12 so I use a food based B Complex, either Naturelo or Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw B Complex and they suit my current needs.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks, will have a look. My folate was OK when last tested, but that was after regular supplementing

[dbrowning02 in reply to SeasideSusie]

With the food based B complex is there less of a chance of being over supplemented and doing damage?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to dbrowning02]

B vitamins are water soluble so any excess should be excreted.

I don't think it matters which form you take, if you are taking too much you're taking too much. The food based ones give the amount of each vitamin and the % of NRV (nutrition reference value) just like the synthetic ones so I can't see there being a difference.

[Hidden]

The picture is too small and simple cut and paste don't work because of the

Solgar, £16.95/100

Thiamin (B1): 100 mg

Riboflavin (B2): 100 mg

Choline bitartrate, (“B4”) 20 mg

Niacin (B3): 100 mg NE

Pantothenic Acid (B5): 100 mg

B6 (pyridoxine) 100 mg

Biotin (B7) 100 mcg

Folic Acid (B9) 400 mcg

B12: 100 mcg

Inositol (B8) 100 mg

Jarrow £17.05/100

Thiamin (B1): 25 mg

Riboflavin (B2): 25 mg

Choline bitartrate, (“B4”) 50 mg

Niacin (B3): (Nicotinic Acid): 25 mg

(Nicotinamide): 100 mg

Pantothenic Acid (B5): Vitamin B5 (Calcium D-Pantothenate): 100 mg

Pantethine (Vitamin B5 Derivative): 25 mg

B6 (pyridoxine) (Pyridoxine HCl): 25 mg

(Pyridoxal 5-Phosphate): 10 mg

Biotin (B7) 300 mcg

Folic Acid (B9) Folate (Quatrefolic (6S)-5-Methyltetrahydrofolic Acid

Glucosamine Salt): 400 mcg DFE

B12: Methylcobalamin): 100 mcg

Inositol (B8) 50 mg

[Caroline888]

Hi Jnetti

Based on recommendations on the forum i have been taking Igennus Super B-Complex for the last four months. I only take two tablets a week (Monday and Friday) as they are very high strength. My folate and B12 levels have just been tested by Medichecks and found to be optimal, i.e. both towards the top of their respective ranges, despite the fact that I am a vegetarian. I do also take a multivitamin containing much lower levels of the B vitamins on the other five days a week.

The Igennus tub of pills does show the instruction to take two tablets a day which seems excessive to me but of course everyone is different and has different requirements. I think SeasideSusie suggests starting with one tablet a day instead of two.

I hope you find a brand that suits you well.

Best wishes

Caroline

[Jeppy]

I think I'm insensitive as I would t know wbich is suiting me necessarily

Please tell me how you know?🙃

[Caroline888 in reply to Jeppy]

Hi Jeppy,

When I mentioned a suitable brand, I meant one that is the right strength for you and provides an effective form of B12 and of folate. After a few months, a fingerprick blood test would show you if your folate and B12 levels are on the way to being optimal and would allow you to adjust the dosage if they are not.

A bit like monitoring our thyroid conditions I guess!

Best wishes

Caroline

[Jeppy in reply to Caroline888]

Thankyou x

[Jeppy in reply to Caroline888]

...i find there is so much going on to consider its hard knowing whats what i guess

[Hidden]

Hi jnetti

I take an Asda Multi B-Vit as all of the B vitamins are there

At exactly 100% of the daily recommended amount

I've seen many with up to 4000% of the daily amount!

Good luck!

Alps Holiday

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, sounds good, and likely to be cheaper than specialist products

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

Jnetti

See my reply below about this supplement.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

Is that the one that costs £1 for 90 tablets?

Cheap for a reason I'm afraid. It contains folic acid and methylfolate is the recommended form and cyanocobalamin whereas methylcobalamin is the recommended form.

If anyone has low B12 then the 2.5mcg it contains would be useless.

Much better to use a good quality one with the active form of ingredients.