Posted on 04/09/2024 6:51:24 AM PDT by Omnivore-Dan
I recently learned where and how vitamin B12 is made. Moat of it is in the form of cyanocobalamin which is used to make synthetic B12. Cyanocobalamin is derived from sewage or milorganite which it is reffered to. Milorganite is also used for fertilizer. Worse, 2/3 of the stuff is manufactured in China. It is in all kinds of cereals, vitamnins, breads, etc. A more healthy option is methylcobalamin. Check it out, many sources available. It may be safe (cyanocobalamin) but it's disgusting never the less.
Of course I do not trust China. The problem is there are many medicines that are solely coming from China.
Just FYI, my cyanocobalamin is manufactured in India. Sanofi and EUROAPI are suppliers in France. Transo-Pharm, Rochem Internation, Parm-RX in the US. And of course China with Basic Nutrition and Hebei Yuxing Bio-Engineering supply it.
This specific drug is not, fortunately, solely sourced in China. If the point is to use Methyl in place of cyanocobalamin because of where it is produced, I believe in this case that would not be the best reason.
This product comes pretty close to the one your wife tatkes, that they are out of stock of ...
https://jarrow.com/products/b-right-100-veggie-caps
It’s made by Jarrow, who I trust for quality supplements.
Now I’m wondering what their D3 is made from...🙄
Thanks for the link, but as a former analytical chemist I can tell you that the quantities are significantly different.
NOTE: 1 mg = 1000 mcg
Vitamin B6 has 35 mg for yours and 10 mg for the other, so yours has 3.5 times as much B6.
Yours has 680 mcg of Folate compared to 10 mg in the other. The other has 15 times more Folate.
Yours has 100 mcg of B12. The other has 1 mg of B12, or ten times more than yours.
I am glad I went through that analysis. I just saw that mine requires 3 capsules for a full dose, so my numbers are 1/3rd of what I said.
My wife is only taking one capsule though, and it is working for her.
.
Looks like red meat, cheese and eggs are good sources. Since those are my primary foods...
:-)
I have another source of B12 that I like.
2/3 of it is produced in China. Like I said, it may be perfectly safe, but I would rather not speculate where my vitamins are from. Remember, it’s in cereals, breads, lot’s of things. not just vitamin supplements.
A good diet means everything.
Amen!
Not where it is produced, but how. Cyanocobalamin is synthetic, methylcobalamin is natural. One is produced from sewage, the other (methyl) is not. From the many sources I’ve read anyway. I’m no bio-chemist for sure, just careful what I eat, and try to leverage who and what to believe.
Food is disgusting? Ok, life can be, but food? I am a very good cook if I may brag a bit. I love good food, and it makes my life less miserable. Have to be careful what and where it comes from though.
For openers, I learned of B 12 sort of by accident.
As I reviewed my literature on the drug omeprazole I learned that one possible side effect is that it inhibits the absorption of naturally produced vitamin B 12. In the past I experienced acid indigestion and pretty bad acid reflux. The solution was physician prescribed Omeprazole. It turns out that such Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI) as Prilosec and Prevised are B 12 inhibitors.
So, I ceased the omeprazole and began B12 and a miracle happened........ I became “normal” again
I learned a long time ago that the daily recommended dosage is not really a reliable guide. Large vitamin doses are most effective. For me at least, large doses do no harm. My doctors will not suggest large vitamin doses and may not really understand the fact that such can be very beneficial. I don’t know.
I learned that Walmart has good and very widely used vitamin products. Walmart sells what the customers consistently buy. In the specific case of B 12, that is a 5,000 iu tablet that dissolves under the tongue. I take it in the morning. There are several makers of the same or similar products. I lack the knowledge to distinguish between them as better or worse.
I learned from a friend that a 1,000 iu extended release tablet also taken in the morning was beneficial into the afternoon. From a friend who advised that B 12 might be effective against neuropathy or leg and foot numbness, I began taking the 1,000 iu extended release tablet at bed time. The numbness and tingling in the lower leg and feet was very significantly reduced. It seems that did not work for my friend but did for his wife. So it apparently is not a cure all for everybody’s neuropathy experienced as numbness in feet and legs.
I have two friends for whom doctors prescribed B 12 in the 5,000 iu dosage. I learned by accident and by experiment. In the absence of specific recommendation I tried, experimented, with dosage. I arrived at a workable regimen that is very effective. That is, in my experience it is ok to try a dosage and see if over a week or so it is effective. You can always quit.
This business of vitamin consumption is ubiquitous at another, different level. If you go to the drinks section of a large gas station store, there are tons of different “energy” drinks. At the counter there small vials of expensive “5 hour energy supplements”. Both and all are actually vitamins. Red Bull and Monster are vitamin laden liquids. B 12 is one of the vitamins included. Such dosage is very expensive compared to pills from Walmart.
So my testimony is that daily large doses of vitamin B 12 has allowed me to abandon the lethargic blahs and long naps and achieve a “normal” functionality. The change is very real and dramatic. At 82, age is likely a problem that the heavy dosage overcomes. I can’t say with certainty. But........ miraculously, it works.
Thank you much, fellow FReeper. I appreciate the info. I find the Omeprazole thoughts especially interesting. Thanks.
A damn shame our fearless leaders let this happen. Not only vitamins and supplements, but antibiotics, analgesic, cosmetics and God only knows what else and where and how it’s made.
For about a decade I’ve taken 1/4 of a 5,000 mcg B12, thinking 50,000% of the MDA would be enough, but I didn’t notice any difference. I get B12 at Costco, especially when it’s reduced in the monthly booklet.
Here’s an article on Vitamin B12 is Key for Optimal Tissue Regeneration. Other B vitamins are mentioned as well. Mercola also includes good info on B12 in this article.
That’s a great article.
Here’s a pertinent quote......
“the rate of vitamin B12 deficiency in the U.S. is close to 20% in those older than 60.”
This business of age is difficult in so many disparate ways.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.