i posted a couple of days ago regarding having issues with taking supplements and them triggering all sorts of symptoms and i now intend to explore a number of suggestions made by people kind enough to reply but in the interim i wonder if it might be worth attempting to supplement with sprays instead of the usual tablet or capsule via the usual digestion process and see if that makes any difference whatsoever.
I need to increase Vitamin D, am i correct in thinking i need one with K2 as it is better absortion? Also, as i am reacting am i better to start with a really low dose, say 400 iu to try or is that basically a waste of time as that is perhaps more a maintenance dose.
I have included a couple of recent blood tests showing my B12 levels, one by Medi Checks which is the "Active" and one by the NHS, the Medi Checks and NHS both say i am fine, however, i may be fine as far as their particular ranges are concerned but that doesnt mean to say that my result is actually fine for me and that i may benefit from supplementing as some of the symptoms i am experiencing do mirror B12 deficiency. I am a little confused as i have read on numerous occasions on here that people with a similar reading to my NHS result have been advised that its too low and should increase it ??
Any advice or comments very much appreciated...Thank you
Medi Checks
Active B12 135pmol/L (range 37.5 - 188)
Vitamin D 42.6nmol/L (range 50 - 175)
NHS
B12 366ng/L (range 160 - 820)
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I need to increase Vitamin D, am i correct in thinking i need one with K2 as it is better absortion?
K2 doesn't aid absorption of D3, it's magnesium that does that.
D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and Vit K2-MK7 directs the calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems such as hardening of the arteries, kidney stones, etc.
D3 and K2 are fat soluble so should be taken with the fattiest meal of the day, D3 four hours away from thyroid meds if taking D3 as tablets/capsules/softgels, no necessity if using an oral spray.
Magnesium helps D3 to work. We need Magnesium so that the body utilises D3, it's required to convert Vit D into it's active form. So it's important we ensure we take magnesium when supplementing with D3.
Magnesium comes in different forms, check to see which would suit you best and as it's calming it's best taken in the evening, four hours away from thyroid meds if taking magnesium as tablets/capsules, no necessity if using topical forms of magnesium.
Also, be aware that the spray versions of vitamins contain quite a lot of excipients, something to take into consideration if you think they may be a problem. If not then as the sprays are absorbed through the mucous membranes in the oral cavity then they bypass the stomach so there should, theoretically, be no gut issues.
I am a little confused as i have read on numerous occasions on here that people with a similar reading to my NHS result have been advised that its too low and should increase it ??
With B12, the NHS has measured the Total B12, which is bound to proteins and unbound (free/active). It's the Active B12 that tells us how much is available for the cells to use. You can have a good level of Total B12 and a poor level of Active B12, similarly I expect it's possible to have a low Total B12 but a good level of Active B12. I would always take the Active B12 result as the more accurate one and your test is showing a good level of Active B12, whether it's being taken up by the cells is another thing.
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