Surprisingly, My PCP Agreed With Me On B-12 & Folic Acid

[tex]

Hi All,

I saw my PCP yesterday, for a routine visit, (to follow up on the arm numbness that I had been having a problem with, a couple of months ago), and while I was there, we reviewed the meds and supplements that I'm taking, (to update his files). I've been taking a prescription mix of high dosage rates of vitamins B-12, B-9, and B-6 for almost 2 years now, (to treat peripheral neuropathy caused by years of untreated gluten-sensitivity). The product is called Metanx, and it's targeted at diabetics who have peripheral neuropathy issues. When he initially wrote the prescription for me, my doctor mentioned that he takes it himself, to improve memory, cognizance, etc, (he's well up in his 70's). I asked him if he thought there might be any risk of a folic acid overdose, and he thought that maybe we should check that out, the next time we do a fasting blood test, (CBC), though he doubted it, since I don't seem to be having any problems that might suggest that issue.

Anyway, to get to the point of this post, I mentioned that I have noticed that during the past year, my allergy symptoms have been much milder than normal. In fact, I haven't needed to take any antihistamines for about a year and a half, now. Surprisingly, he said that he had noticed the same thing, in himself. He pointed out that he hasn't noticed any medical research articles that have verified such a connection, but he personally believes that high doses of folic acid definitely seem to suppress classic hay fever reactions. That's one of his best attributes - he has an open mind, so we get along pretty well, together.

So now I'm wondering if maybe there's also an epidemic of folic acid deficiency, (along with the epidemics of vitamin D deficiency, and magnesium deficiency), in this country. Since folic acid and B-12 need to be in a balanced relationship, to work properly, they should be taken together, in proportional doses. I take all three supplements, (Metanx, vitamin D, and magnesium, in addition to a good multivitamin), and my lifelong problems with asthma/hayfever seem to have disappeared, now that I have been taking those supplements for a while. Of course, that might simply be evidence that I had a nutrient malabsorption issue for most/all of my life.

Tex

[deltawolf]

Wow very interesting Tex, next time I am in to see my PCP I may have him check my levels.

Any update on the arm numbness, is that constant or just while sleeping. Sorry you may have mentioned that in other threads, but I have not yet come across that. I have had numbness in arms and legs at times when I sleep. Arm numbness is every night, and has gotten worse since I was diagnosed with CD. And now with the LC maybe I am missing on out certain things my body needs.

[tex]

Amy,

The numbness in my left arm has disappeared during the past couple of months, and all that remains is a very slight feeling of numbness at my fingertips, which seems to be permanent. For a while, a few months ago, I would often wake up during the night, (or at daybreak), and that arm would be "asleep", and it would be very reluctant to "wake up", (sometimes it refused to completely return to normal, for hours). A few times, it remained about "half-numb" for most of the day. It never affected my strength, or muscle coordination, it just seemed to be plain old paresthesia. It didn't happen very often during the day, but I can recall a few occasions when it would happen while I was sitting, working at a computer. It may just be a coincidence, but the only change that I can think of, is that I started taking a daily magnesium supplement a couple of months ago, (250mg).

CD/gluten-sensitivity definitely causes neurological issues for some of us.

Tex

[Zizzle]

I was just reading an article about someones Alzheimer's vastly improving when they started taking coconut oil daily. The Medium Chain Triglicerides in coconut oil were presumed to be why, because they cause the body to produce more ketones, which feed damaged parts of the brain better than glucose. Any validity to this theory?

Coconut oil and other MCTs increase your body’s production of compounds called ketones. You may have heard of ketones if you’ve ever been on the Atkins diet. Quite simply, ketones are compounds that are created when body fat is broken down for energy.

When your body is starved of carbs, it starts burning your fat stores to create energy. That’s why people on low-carb diets lose weight. It’s also why people on low-carb diets produce more ketones.

Why is this important? Well, it turns out that ketones are a powerful fuel for the brain. Especially when the brain is injured or impaired.

For example, scientists have known for years that one of the best ways to stop seizures is to put a patient on a low-carb, high-fat diet. Normally, brain cells prefer to get their fuel from glucose. But impaired brain cells, such as cells that are causing seizures, cannot metabolize glucose well. They need another source of fuel. And that source is ketones.

Mary didn’t know this at the time, but there are over 20 different studies on the effect of ketones on the brain. These studies are published in obscure journals that most doctors don’t read. Nonetheless, the findings of the studies are important:

• One study found that when the brain uses ketones, it produces 25% more energy than when it uses glucose.

• Another study found that a ketone-producing diet results in a 39% increase in blood flow to the brain.

• And still another study found that mice put on a ketone-producing diet had fewer brain plaques than mice fed a standard diet.

[tex]

I'm totally unfamiliar with that theory. My initial observation would be that if ketones are the ideal food for the brain, then why does the body normally feed it glucose, instead? Usually, nature goes about it's business in the most practical manner, but I could be all wet.

Tex