[Solarismach5]

I'm currently taking multivitamin tablets combined with omega 3 but I was thinking about taking a B complex because I know how important the various B numbers are to the nervous system.

I've got a few questions:

1. In pure B1 tablets the amount is 7000% RDA....Is this normal? In my current multivitamins the amount is 100% as I would expect, in a vitamin B complex there are varying numbers up to about %4000 RDA......Is it safe to take vitamin B this much over the recommended daily amount?

2. Because Type 1 diabetics lose vitamin B1 75% faster than non diabetics should I take 2 vitamin B tablets, one in the morning and one at night to make sure I constantly have vitamin B in my system? and would the B complex with its %4000 RDA be too much for this?

3. I've read about a synthetic B supplement called Benfotiamine which is fat based rather than water based so it takes longer to absorb, I can't find it in any UK stores...I can find it online on dodgy looking sites but I don't want to trust my health with them, does anyone know a reputable dealer?

Maybe IM me if you do....I'm not really sure if this would class as advertising or not but I'd prefer to buy from somewhere I think I can trust.

Thanks for your help

[caswellhb]

Hmmmmm, you really don't need huge amounts like that.
How is your diet? What is a typical day's meals?
Vit B is great but only needed in RDA. Is there a reason you are looking to take more?

Heather.

[duck]

I pop about 600mg of Benfotiamine daily, along with Vitamin Shoppe's Vitamin B Stress Formula. I used to take NewChapter's Stress Support Multi, but I couldn't feel any difference/notice any difference between it and the synthetic stuff, so I couldn't justify the cost.

[Solarismach5]

My diet is cereal in the morning, whole grain sandwich for lunch, some kind of meat and mash potato for dinner

I had pins and needles and burning in my left arm yesterday and it scared me, its not half as bad today. I've been taking multivitamins for about a year but I want to know im doing everything I can to prevent damage, im trying to control my bloodsugar although its hard.

My old clinic were useless and offered me no help whatsoever so I've moved to a new clinic and just had my first appointment, they are performing tests on me and then hopefully will help me further, i'm reading a book about diabetes, i've stopped drinking altogether....I need some guidance from the clinic about my insulin and then I hope this will prevent any nerve damage and improve my quality of life.

I think i'll try and get some Benforiamine but the only brand I can find online is Doctor's Best, It suggests 1 a day and is 150mg per serving although a daily value isnt established.

Does this mean you (Duck) take approx 4 a day as well as other vitamin B? I think I might take a multivitamin in the morning and 1 Benforiamine at night

[MinimedPumper07]

solaris i got a question for u. do u see lots of floaters since u started using the multivitamin? i did so i stopped. i now use a b complex and it doesnt really give energy like it says. it worked for 1 day now i dont see a difference. and you will pee out what your body doesnt need so ignore the percentages.

[Solarismach5]

I've never seen any floaters, i've not really noticed any difference since taking multivitamins but im just hoping its doing things inside me that I dont notice

I think i'll get more B vitamins, theres only noticible side effects after 5000mg apparently and i'll be taking waaaaaay way below that!

[Evermont]

I can recommend "Taking Care Of Yourself" by Dr Andrew Weil. It explains many aspects of nutrition and health with a heavy dose on vitamins minerals and other nutrients. He explains who needs more or less than RDA and why.

RDA or Recommended Daily Allowance is a general recommendation for the average person. It is not a "maximum allowed" type of thing. Maximums 'doses' of vitamins are known as toxicity levels. Toxicity varies quite a bit from one vitamin to the next. It can also vary from one person to the next for various reasons such as your #2, age, body size, diet (there's vitamins in there too!).

[caswellhb]

Keith, you are right about the classifications but B vits can have some side effects in large amounts.
I would see a doc before taking anymore. Honestly, I think this may be something easily treatable.

Heather.

[slipperyelm]

Regarding side effects, I found this at Mayoclinic.com, which is a website of a mainstream highly respected hospital.

"Side Effects and Warnings:

Thiamin is generally considered safe and relatively nontoxic, even at high doses. No clear tolerable upper level (UL) of intake has been established. Doses up to 200mg daily for long-term periods or single doses of up to 8 grams [!]* have been reported as being nontoxic. Dermatitis or more serious hypersensitivity reactions occur rarely.

Large doses, greater than 100mg, may cause drowsiness or muscle relaxation. "

That is a good site for further, conservative info on B-1.

As I mentioned on another thread just yesterday, the B-1 I purchase comes in 100mg tablets, which supply 6667% RDA. That is HALF the long term daily dose Mayo Clinic mentions above. (I usually take 1/4 tablet (25 mg), sometimes a second 1/4 later in the evening.) My gosh that 8 gram single dose they mention is unbelievable, isn't it!? That would be 80X6667=533,360% RDA !

Sorry, I've never looked into the fat soluble source .

* Exclamation point my own.

[Solarismach5]

Thanks for the further info slippery

I think i'm going to split tablets too, sounds like a good idea

I've also decided I'm going to take 533,360% RDA out of curiosity, I believe I will become a being of pure energy*

* I'm not really

[slipperyelm]

Originally Posted by Solarismach5

I've also decided I'm going to take 533,360% RDA out of curiosity, I believe I will become a being of pure energy*

* I'm not really

Heh-heh-heh.
Truly, though, B-1 stinks so badly, I don't know how anyone could swallow that much.

[duck]

Originally Posted by Solarismach5

Does this mean you (Duck) take approx 4 a day as well as other vitamin B? I think I might take a multivitamin in the morning and 1 Benforiamine at night

I take one pill of a B-complex, either the "stress" variety or "B-complex" variety available from a health food store. Most of these provide much more than 100% of the RDA, but as noted B vitamins are shown to be safe at higher levels.

I have been trying to find my "source" for my 300-600mg of benfotiamine a day, and I cannot find it. Anyway, I started taking that after doing some research on it, after a posting by some of the Type II's here and its purported effects on neuropathy and holding off such nasty side effects.

[JasonJayhawk]

Originally Posted by Solarismach5

I've also decided I'm going to take 533,360% RDA out of curiosity, I believe I will become a being of pure energy*

* I'm not really

HAAHAAHAAA!!

Make sure to keep up the omega-3. It's good for a lot of reasons!

[LynnRut]

Are things like B vitamins the same regardless of the brand? I can understand why some things might be more complex, but how can you really mess up B vitamins? Just wondering. I have a friend trying to get me on a vitamin plan that will cost me $80/month! I need information to get her to leave me alone.

[morrisma]

My ex used to sell Shaklee vitamins and as part of that process, we learned some things you might want to consider.

As with all such advice it need some further investigation but here goes:

Some B's are cheap (ie riboflavin) and some are expensive (ie biotin) and the cheap ones tend to be provided in excess while the expensive ones less so. When you buy them, you want ALL the B's in generally the same % of RDA because if one is higher it tricks the body into thinking there's actually less of the others creating a false deficiency. Sounded good to me but your mileage may vary.
Mike