[AngstyLady]

I recently have gotten into taking vitamins for my moods, and I have to say it's been helping. I've heard Vitamin C, saint Johns Wort extract and Vitamin B is good in fighting depression. I decided to do some research more on vitamin B and it seems that more people have a vitamin B deficiency than those that know about it. Mostly because it's so sparse in one's daily diet- only a small percentage can be found in veggies and meats- thought it can be found in high quantities in organ meats, such as liver and intestines and cow brains- but seeing as most people don't eat that sort of thing anymore compared to centuries ago (whether because it's deemed 'gross' or for the fact that these 'meats' are high in cholesterol) it's commonly found in vitamin supplements. This article (Vitamin B12: The Mood and Energy Vitamin) talks about this as well as how people who had been documented with severe vitamin B deficiencies had a terrible istory of mental instability, bipolar, severe depression and anxiety disorders and the like and that how getting sufficient intake of vitamin B helped remedy there maladies. Very interesting read indeed.

[pain2much]

thanks for the tip, I'll increase my vitamin B intake. Saint johns wort cant be taken with antidepressants I'm pretty sure

[kiwi33]

AngstyLady, you might find the information in this site helpful in terms of what is known about Vitamin B12: What is vitamin B12 deficiency? What causes vitamin B12 deficiency? - Medical News Today .

In my opinion, people who eat in a healthy way (that means lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, whole-grain products, fish, red meat, dairy products and eggs (the latter three in moderation)) will have adequate dietary inputs of nutrients, including vitamins. For such people "vitamin pills" are not needed unless, of course, they have been recommended after a consultation with a clinical health professional.

It might help if you talked with a qualified dietitian. Dietitians are evidence-based health professionals. A dietitian will be able to review what you eat with you and (depending) suggest ways in what you eat could be changed to ensure that that your nutritional needs (including vitamins) can be met from dietary sources.

[Rose76]

From what I read, the best way to take Vitamin B12 (other than by shot) is to buy the drops that you put under your tongue. Walmart's has them for pretty cheap.

[hvert]

My iron supplement that I never remember to take has a lot of B12. I do feel a difference when I take it. Not sure if it is a placebo effect or not, but it really does seem specific to the iron/b12 supplement.

[sewdancemom]

Very interesting information. I'm going to try and read some more about this. My primary care doctor put me on vitamin c pills, and a childrens daily vitamin with iron.....mostly for the iron but not too much. I'm going to check and see how much of B and what type there is in the childrens. Thanks for sharing about this.

[AngstyLady]

Originally Posted by kiwi33

AngstyLady, you might find the information in this site helpful in terms of what is known about Vitamin B12: What is vitamin B12 deficiency? What causes vitamin B12 deficiency? - Medical News Today .

In my opinion, people who eat in a healthy way (that means lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, whole-grain products, fish, red meat, dairy products and eggs (the latter three in moderation)) will have adequate dietary inputs of nutrients, including vitamins. For such people "vitamin pills" are not needed unless, of course, they have been recommended after a consultation with a clinical health professional.

It might help if you talked with a qualified dietitian. Dietitians are evidence-based health professionals. A dietitian will be able to review what you eat with you and (depending) suggest ways in what you eat could be changed to ensure that that your nutritional needs (including vitamins) can be met from dietary sources.

Did you read the article link I included in my post? Vitamin B is only found in minute amounts in fruits and vegetables . . . .

[kiwi33]

Hi AngstyLady

I read the link that you provided. I mean no offense but I am sceptical about it because it is old (2000 and none of the references (#1 - #8) that Dr Kunin cited are in the link) and also because the homepage of that site includes a "Shop" in which visitors are invited to buy various vitamin products - it is in the commercial interests of the owner of that site to maximise purchases made through the "Shop".

In my opinion, people whose food intake includes fish, meat, eggs and dairy products are unlikely to be deficient in Vitamin B12.

There are a couple of exceptions to this - people who have chosen a vegan lifestyle will not get adequate Vitamin B12 levels from their food - talking with a qualified dietitian is a good plan for them.

Also, people with pernicious anemia (which is probably an auto-immune disease) and people who, for genetic reasons, can not make a protein called intrinsic factor may not be able to absorb Vitamin B12 from their food (low levels of intrinsic factor are also often part of the pathology of pernicious anemia). In both of these examples an evidence-based health professional will be able to carry out clinical investigations and suggest appropriate treatment.

[avlady]

i can not take iron, i'm allergic to it, so i take a vitamin supplment without iron. what should i be eating for iron?

[kiwi33]

Hi avlady

This evidence-based link will give you information about foods which are rich in iron: Top Iron-Rich Foods List

[Rose76]

Iron from animal source food is easiest to absorb. Beef is a good source.

[AngstyLady]

Originally Posted by kiwi33

Hi AngstyLady

I read the link that you provided. I mean no offense but I am sceptical about it because it is old (2000 and none of the references (#1 - #8) that Dr Kunin cited are in the link) and also because the homepage of that site includes a "Shop" in which visitors are invited to buy various vitamin products - it is in the commercial interests of the owner of that site to maximise purchases made through the "Shop".

In my opinion, people whose food intake includes fish, meat, eggs and dairy products are unlikely to be deficient in Vitamin B12.

There are a couple of exceptions to this - people who have chosen a vegan lifestyle will not get adequate Vitamin B12 levels from their food - talking with a qualified dietitian is a good plan for them.

Also, people with pernicious anemia (which is probably an auto-immune disease) and people who, for genetic reasons, can not make a protein called intrinsic factor may not be able to absorb Vitamin B12 from their food (low levels of intrinsic factor are also often part of the pathology of pernicious anemia). In both of these examples an evidence-based health professional will be able to carry out clinical investigations and suggest appropriate treatment.

No offense taken, I was a bit edgy yesterday is all. Yeah, I didn't notice the 'shop' part on the page- the article was very indepth- unless of course I looked up the wrong article link (i hope not)- I had already started taking vitamin b12 for energy and mood and decided to do more research- it is definitely helped improve my overall mental health. No anxiety or depression- my usual low self esteem us super boosted, it's pretty great actually. :-) I've been taking about 3000mg of vitamin c and about 7500mcg of vitamin b12 daily