Not all B vitamins are the same. Learn how to choose the right one for you.

Do you have any of the following symptoms? 

•      Sensitivity to light, sound, or smell
•      Night sweats
•      Arms or legs "jump" while falling asleep
•      Burning feet
•      Redness of the hands or eyes
•      Cracks in the corners of your mouth
•      Red or swollen tongue
•      Glycemic problems
•      A general lack of energy

If you have any of these symptoms, it's likely that you need B vitamins.  Caveat emptor, not all B vitamins are the same.  Here are some tips to finding a good quality B vitamin supplement.
    
It should not be "high potency" (HP).  Most all HP B vitamins are synthetic and are toxic to the liver.  Studies have shown that decreased liver function is related to obesity and insulin resistance.  So...while you may think you are doing yourself some good, unknowingly, you could be making yourself worse.  B1 and B2 are the keys that need to be looked at to see if it is HP.  If either of these are above 5mg, it is HP and should be avoided.
    
Two of the B vitamins that can be taken in higher levels are niacin (B3) and B6.  The key here is, again, the type of B3 or B6.  Many people are aware of the "niacin flush".  This is where the body has a allergic-type response to niacin ingestion:  itching and tingling sensations, sweating and shallow breathing.  If you have noticed this flushing, use the niacinAMIDE form as this will usually not cause the flush.  In high levels, B3 can be toxic, so utilize the help of a doctor skilled in clinical nutrition protocols.
    
The type of B6 needed is also crucial.  Avoid pyridoxine hydrochloride forms and ONLY use the pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P-5-P) form.  Pyridoxidine Hydrochloride is a synthetically produced chemical, generally produced through the condensation of cyanoacetamide (a cyanide containing chemical) and when heated to decomposition it emits very toxic fumes.  Although this toxic decomposition may not occur in the human body after ingestion, it indicates just how synthetically produced vitamins act more like chemicals, and less like nutrients.  Large doses of B6 can inhibit pituitary function, so they should be used with caution by pregnant or lactating women.  However, most women are "estrogen dominant" and frequently need B6.  A sensitivity to monosodium glutamate (MSG) is also a good indicator of B6 need.
    
Along with B6, vitamin B12 is necessary to decrease blood levels of homocysteine.  Increased levels of homocysteine are related to increased risk of:  heart attack, stroke, arterial plaque formation, Alzheimer's, depression, and can even cause regional and whole brain atrophy.  So, you can see that the right type of B12 is crucial for good health.  Most commercial B12 is what's known as "cyanocobalamin".  Cyanocobalamin can be produced from three sources: 1) extracted from mammalian liver 2) as a metabolic product of bacterial fermentation 3) extracted from sewage sludge.  I am sure you can imagine what the cheapest way to produce B12 is.  Yep...you guessed it, sewer sludge.  This obviously can be a toxic situation.  Two types of B12 to look for are methylcobalamin and hydroxocobalamin and lingual absorption (in the mouth) has been proven to have better results.  So, it needs to be in lozenge form and dissolved (not chewed) in the mouth.  However, if you have mercury in your teeth, do not use the methyl form of B12 as this can "activate" the mercury and cause it to be absorbed. 
    
Just randomly taking any vitamin simply because you heard it was good for you can have potentially nasty side effects.  Changing your diet should be higher on your priority list than trying to take a vitamin to justify eating poorly.  When utilizing nutritional supplements, it is extremely important to work with a professional that is skilled in clinical nutrition protocols.

This is a factor in why our government wants to regulate the sales of all vitamin, mineral, and herbal supplements.  However, the government does not compare it to the more than 100,000 people that die every year from adverse reactions to drugs and surgery.  According to a 174-page report just published, the number of people killed in 2009 across America by vitamins, minerals, amino acids or herbal supplements is exactly zero.  Also consider the thousands of women harmed or killed by medically-unjustified cancer treatments following false positives from faulty mammograms. And don't forget about the more than 16,500 Americans killed each year from internal bleeding caused by over-the-counter painkillers.

When you look at the facts, who should have more regulations? 



   

Fluoride containing medications

As many of you know, I am big on dispelling "flat-earth" theories in health care.  Just because something is published in "peer-reviewed" articles means very little to me.  For anyone who takes that information at face-value, I urge you to read "Overdosed America" by Dr. John Abramson.  It is a fantastic look at some of the truths that go one behind the scenes of pharmaceutical research.

I have written several posts on thyroid function and have also posted an article about iodine on my facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Solutions-Integrative-Health-Care/167024840053867.  Iodine is fuel for your thyroid to function effficiently.  However, what I am going to write about this time, many people are completely unaware of; medications with fluoride in them.  Much has been written on the affect that fluoride has on thyroid metabolism, but not much has been said about medications that have an adverse affect on thyroid function; directly. 

This information came from the Fluoride Toxicity Research Collaborative.  I am only going to list what I consider to be the most common medications used, but for a full list see the FTRC website at http://www.slweb.org/ftrc.html. 

• Prevacid
• Cipro
• Levaquin
• Prozac
• Paxil
• Luvox
• Celexa
• Lexapro
• Diflucan
• Lipitor
• Vytorin
• Celebrex
• Advair
• Avodart

The medications in bold are more pertinent to our discussion here as what they are prescribed for what can be directly related to insufficient thyroid function.  Anxiety and depression are two very common symptoms related to thyroid disease.  Pathognomonic (meaning a particular sign whose presence means that a particular disease is present beyond any doubt) of hypothyroidism is an elevated cholesterol.  So, the medication used to lower blood cholesterol levels can actually cause thyroid disease directly, not just indirectly.

All this on top of the aspect of these medications inhibit the body's ability to convert thyroid hormone.

The very medications used to alleviate symptoms actually worsen the cause.

"Pregancy Brain" and Postpardum Depression

The term "pregnancy brain" or "mommy brain" gets thrown around a lot, and most moms-to-be are told that this is normal.  Just because something is common, does not mean it is normal. 

The brain of a pregnant female actually shrinks, especially in the third trimester.  Some neuroimaging studies show that the brain can shrink up to 8% and in some cases can take up to six months to return to its prior size.  On average how long does postpardum depression typically last?  If left untreated, postpartum depression can last for months or years.  The likelihood increases with subsequent pregnancies because some women haven't recovered from their prior pregnancy.

The brain and spinal cord begin to form by the 5th week of pregnancy.  Two thirds of the human brain is comprised of fat and to build brain cells you need fatty acids.

Two kinds of fatty acids are considered "essential," which means you must get these essential fatty acids (EFAs) from the food you eat. Your body cannot manufacture them.

The first essential fatty acid you need is Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). ALA is the foundation of the "omega-3" family of fatty acids. Food sources of omega-3 ALA include flax seeds, chia seeds, pecans, sea vegetables, green leafy vegetables, and cold water fish like salmon, sardines, mackerel, and trout.

The second essential fatty acid you need is Linoleic acid (LA). LA is the foundation of the "omega-6" family of fatty acids. Food sources of omega-6 LA include expeller cold-pressed sunflower, safflower, corn, and sesame oils as well as black currant seed oil.

DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is the most abundant fat in the brain. Loss in DHA concentrations in brain cell membranes correlates to a decline in structural and functional integrity of this tissue.

This is important, because the brain's ability to assemble these fatty acids can be compromised by stress, infections, alcohol, excess sugar, and vitamin or mineral deficiencies.

I have delved into the sugar issue in prior posts, so I will leave this alone for now.  White sugar intake actually decreases you white blood cell count and can increase the likelihood of infections.  What I do want to go into are the vitamin and mineral deficiencies; the most important of these being the B vitamins.  If a person is lacking riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3) or B6, they cannot breakdown EFAs to the usable forms of DHA and EPA.  Additionally, magnesium, zinc, and iron are needed for the same processes.  There are others, but these are the major players.

So what does all this mean?

Most women take their "pre-natal vitamins".  They are also told that these have plenty of DHA in them.  While this may be true, the "usablility" of these is slim at best and at times can actually create a toxic situation.  Synthetic vitamins should rarely, if ever, be consumed and whatever DHA may be in these vitamins is rancid from improper processing and shouldn't be used. 

What I am about to say here has helped many women from suffering the affects of "mommy brain".

Planning for your pregnancy is extemely important.  Taking a blend of good quality EFAs that are higher in omega 3 than 6 is crucial.  This can give you the "nuts and bolts" that your nervous system needs to function efficiently and on top of this needs to be a low potency B complex vitamin to increase the utilization of the oils.  Consumption of organic leafy greens should have enough minerals in them to suffice, however, extra may be needed.

If postpardum depression hits, the same reasons apply; brain atrophy.

To simplify; taking good quality oils and low potency B vitamins is crucial to helping pregnant females with "pregnancy brain".