I need vitamins (B12, D, Folate, etc) but I am extremely sensitive to anything wheat derived and artificial sugars etc (I break out in blisters within 20 minutes) and therefore have to avoid wheat derived things such as dextrose, maltodextrin etc - also artificial sugars like mannitol.
I've been buying my vitamins from a company called cytoplan as they have never before added these things and didn't react to them unlike many other brands but I've just gone to buy more and they all have it in now - grrrr - so frustrating.
Any suggestions for other companies with clean vitamins not full of this rubbish?
Many thanks, Sarah
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You need Vit K2-MK7 when taking D3 and this one only has linseed flour as an additive. It's 200mcg and we only need 100mcg for up to 10,000iu D3 so I take mine on alternate days.
Magnesium is another important cofactor of D3 and this one has no additives but only in the unflavoured variety, be aware that too much may cause loose bowels:
In regards to Vit d, I normally take one with K2 included to save money I shall take a look at these and see if they have any with it included.
I can't seem to take magnesium even though tried a number of times, always react badly and don't really help. My blood test results for magnesium always show either over range or just on or under top of range so assume this is why I don't seem to get on with them.
Do you know of a good B12? The one from cytoplan I normally take is a mix between methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin. I'm better at keeping my own levels up overall these days but still fall a little too low once a year-ish once my iron levels or perhaps Vit D levels fall and have left it far too long to monitor/address this time (nine months as just had one manic year) but can tell I'm low again - just waiting results. I find I have the same issue with B complex as magnesium when I'm trying to get folate/B12 levels back up (higher doses of other B vits seem to be an issue so perhaps some of my Bs are already adequate/high) so if I'm quite low, I normally take the B12 and folate to get levels up and then will often top up sporadically (not daily) with a less strong B complex thereafter. But again I haven't been taking anything for nine months so just too long this time. So suggestions for all three folate, B12 and b complex would be muchly appreciated.
I also need Vit C suggestion to go with iron and I also need a multi vit for my daughter - do you know any good ones of these?
Buying direct they use Evri to deliver and they are in such a mess since moving the warehouse, lots of parcels are delayed or lost. Amazon has their own delivery service which isn't affected by Royal Mail strikes.
What is your B12 level? If it's over 550ng/ml or 405pmol/L then a B Complex should be enough. Once folate is half way through range with this B12 level then you can stop the individual supplements and just take B Complex daily.
B Complex I take this one, mine is branded Vitablossom but this is the exact same one with a different branding (it is Vitablossom). It contains Phosphatidylcholine from non GMO Sunflower Lecitin, Glycerin capsule, Beeswax and Sunflower Oil. It's almost identical in active ingredient doses to Thorne Basic B.
or you can buy from here for the same price but they don't specify who delivers, I expect it's Royal Mail so buying from Amazon means you will get it quicker.
Folate I gave a suggestion above. I don't know of a B12 without doing some research as I've not had to take it.
For Vit C I use acerola cherry powder although they do the capsule form without additives. Look at the Vit C content of the different forms, 26% is their highest compared to some being 18%. 17-18% is about the norm for a lot of Vit C supplements.
Multivits aren't recommended here, there are no good multivitamins. They contain too little of anything to help low levels or deficiencies, tend to contain the cheapest, wrong form and least absorbable of active ingredients, often contain things we should test for first before supplementing, eg iron, iodine, calcium, Vit D. If it contains B12 and Vit C then the Vit C can stop the body absorbing the B12, they should be taken 2 hours apart. If it contains iron then this affects the absorption of everything else as iron needs to be taken 2 hours away from other supplements except Vit C.
The cherry powder type ones are the ones I've always used from cytoplan so this is near identical so perfect thanks.
I'm just waiting for results back to check how low and whether just need to complex it or target it first but it is the active B12 test with different ranges. By my symptoms, I'm sure I've let it go far too low this time! The problem is thorne basic B is one of the ones that has something in it that is too high a dose for me and need something with a slightly lower dose on the non folate/B12 stuff. Obviously I can't quite determine which of the other Bvits is too high as don't get them tested so a little tricky to determine specifically which but would hazard a guess at niacin. The super Bs are just too much for me.
The multivits I've used in the past from cytoplan don't have iron in so aware of that issue. I would never use them to correct typical deficiencies or ongoing problems with the more tested vitamins but my daughter has no indication of deficiencies since she also went gluten free aged 6 and her health issues corrected (she's now 12). However, I believe that some of the micro nutrients in the multivits are depleted/low in much food these days - more so recently going by the recent taste of fruit and veg (research on selenium/iodine levels in school kids etc) and I use them when either me or her start constantly foraging no matter how much we've just eaten a second ago and I just can't put my finger on what's missing/what we're looking for or incliniation as to what food we are craving (no images of bloody meat in mind or desperation for anything specific)/no test results to suggest anything obvious. Taking a multivit for a month has always quickly corrected this issue although I never know which of the micronutrients so think they have their uses for this purpose and therefore happy that the doses of whatever else in their are too low. She is foraging like crazy at the moment
Active B12 needs to be over 70 otherwise it might suggest B12 deficiency, we always suggest aiming for 100 plus.
Whether you use a multivitamin is up to you but be aware that Cytoplan's tend to contain iodine and we shouldn't take iodine unless tested and fund to be deficient.
Thank you We only ever take them for a month once in a blue moon under those specific circumstances so not too concerned about iodine for that length of time. I will keep it in mind though as we already eat quite a bit of fish
Wish I had the funds to buy organic but unfortunately, I don't.
Are there reliable tests for iodine now? There never used to be?
Iodine is an essential trace element, vital for healthy thyroid function. Adequate levels are required to enable the production of T3 and T4 thyroid hormones, whilst also being required in other areas of health.
Deficiencies can lead to impaired heat and energy production, mental function and slow metabolism. Urine iodine is one of the best measures of iodine status. This test is not performed as a loading test, but can be used to establish existing levels or to monitor iodine supplementation.
I bought magnesium malate from a company called "ethical nutrition". Their products are free of nasties and seem very pure. Don't know if their product range is any good for you apart from the magnesium or not. You can get a discount off your 1st order.
Probably not the cheapest option, but their products look as though they should be good quality.
The magnesium malate was on special offer when I bought it. Looks much more expensive now.
I use this company from time to time as their liquid products are excellent and without any nasties
They have a separate folate and B12 (methylcobalamin), both of which I’ve used in the past to very good effect. The larger the quantity bought the better the value. If memory serves, you can buy 100ml , 250, 500, etc. With the larger quantities they provide a 100ml glass bottle and dropper to decant into. There’s also a selection of liquid hydroxo/cyano/adenocobalamin
I swapped to Vitablossom about 8 months ago because it’s without additives and comprises of a good balance of b vits and includes folate. My last labs showed good levels have been maintained. I do however still add in the liquid folate separately sometimes
By my calculation a 100ml bottle @ £18.68, taking 10 drops/day, giving 865mcg would last 5 months at a cost of 12p/day. A 250ml bottle @ £31.92 = 8p/day
Thanks - interesting, they do seem very clean and are very clear about sources of derivatives where necessary. It's just hard to know how long liquid versions will last for tight budget lol.
Hi, I was just about to suggest Metabolics, as I use their methylcobalamin and methyltetrahydrofolate liquids. I don't buy the bigger bottles as the stuff is only supposed to be used for three months after opening, although sometimes I've gone a week or two over. The adenosylcobalamin is not grain free in production as I found out when I tried it! Worried now about what you've said about Cytoplan, as so far I've been ok with their methyl/adenosyl and hydroxo sublinguals, although I've noticed a few slight symptoms which make me wonder. I also use Lamberts B12 (methyl) 1000mcg tablets and they are also ok for me - on Micki Rose's Master List of truly grain free supplements (which I expect you have already). Cheers
Many thanks for the heads up and recommendations. I have called cytoplan and they said they would look into whether they can confirm if wheat or corn based - if they get a lot from america, it would likely be more corn based. They have been good at getting this info before - I think I had to ask them about their alpha-trocopherols which can be from grain too and they confirmed it was sunflowers at the time. Will let you know if they come back to me.
Hadn't seen the master list before (looked into it some time ago and have been using cytoplan for a number of years) so very helpful.
Yes, it's very frustrating to be as sensitive as you and me - no more sweets anymore and only a few chocolates left with no derivatives but at least I still have motezumas lol!!
My pleasure. Great that you have contacted them and I hope they can give you some useful information. I'm glad you have some chocolate! Green & Blacks 85% suits me, but no-one else's, and not even their 70%. Best wishes.
Oops I meant to say montezumas - have you tried these - they taste amazing and I can have pretty much all of them from milk and darker and many of the flavours - there's only a few I can't have
I remember them being good, but now don't have dairy, which has helped me rather a lot. Once I realised the G&B was ok for me but none available, I tried Lindt 85% and reacted, so I stick with the one I know! x
I continue to use the products beyond the alleged expiry. I keep them refrigerated and they seem to remain potent. I use the ionic iron as well as others and my ferritin way over range on last two labs
Thanks for that. I know my Dad has continued to use them past the date and the small bottles don't last that me that long anyway. I have shared a larger bottle with partner's mother to get better value! But I'll try extending the use of the others, like the B2 and B6, which I don't use all of. Useful to know the iron is helping you too. Not so many options for those of us who are grain free and my ferritin has been dire for years. Currently trying patches, so when these run out maybe I'll give the Metabolics one a try. Best wishes
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I shall take a look at these and see if they have any with it included.
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