Met and B12??

mommy1 · 12-03-2006, 12:45 PM

I have read a bit about Metformin causing fatigue. I'm currently taking a prenatal vitamin but am still feeling tired all the time! It's gotten worse in the last couple of weeks when my RE increased my Met from 1500mg to 2000mg. Would adding B12 help?? I need to get to the gym and work out regularily but can't seem to find the energy to do much of anything at all! It's really bothering me. Can you recommend anything at all? Or is this all in my mind?

Eva37 · 12-03-2006, 01:08 PM

hi

i get my blood tested about 2 times a year, and i get tested for b12 and folate levels, too.
eva

Carinachichi · 12-03-2006, 01:33 PM

I take specific vitamins for diabetics that contain the whole range of B-Vitamins, Vitamin C, Folic Acid, Chromium, Selenium, Zinc, Coenzyme Q10, alpah-lipoic acid. Metformin did not have any effect on my energy.

Amy2006 · 12-03-2006, 08:17 PM

Hi!
I am glad you brought this up because I am having the same problem!! I am going to call my DR tomorrow and see what they say about taking a b6 and b12 on top of my prenatals. Ill let you know what they say.

mommy1 · 12-03-2006, 11:07 PM

Thank you Amy! I'll keep checking this thread to see your response when you get one.

Thank you Eva and Carinachichi!

Amy2006 · 12-04-2006, 08:53 PM

My DR is out on maternity leave, so I will have to wait until next Monday. I will leave a post after my apointment. Have a great week.

mommy1 · 12-04-2006, 09:39 PM

Hi Amy! Thank you for the update, I appreciate it! I'll check back next week. Take care!!

ellesmama25 · 12-04-2006, 10:30 PM

I added extra B12 to my prenatal. I can't remember what the mcg or mg is...I'll have to check at work tomorrow, the bottle is there. I do know that it doesn't make a major difference for me. But if I don't take it, I can't get myself out of bed in the morning. So, I am saying for me, it helps, but doesn't give me a major boost of energy.

catsnack · 12-06-2006, 06:34 PM

I've started taking B12 and a multi vitamin as well with 2000mg Met. While I don't feel a boost, I think I feel slightly worse when I don't take the B12. I still feel pretty draggy though. I've been on Met a year and at this point I don't know if it's the medication or just me!

mommy1 · 12-07-2006, 10:23 AM

Thank you all for your help! These past few days I've been feeling more like myself. Perhaps it just took some time for my body to adjust to the increase in Metformin. If I start feeling that way again I'm going to add a B12. Thanx again!!

Eva37 · 12-07-2006, 01:42 PM

glad you are starting to feel a bit better

eva

Amy2006 · 12-11-2006, 02:45 PM

Mommy1,
My Ob said it was fine to take b12 or a complex b vitamin with Met. She said that our bodies will not absorb what they dont need. I hope this helps.

lachicarubia · 12-11-2006, 03:46 PM

The best kinds of vitamins to take are "whole food" vitamins, or vitamins that are extracted from REAL foods.
Most of the vitamin supplements available these days are synthetic, they are made in a lab. The body can only absorb about 20% of synthetic vitamins. So you would have to take 5 times the RDA's to actually absorb the minimum amount that is recommended. Synthetic vitamins are also very difficult for the body to eliminate. They can cause a harmful build-up in your system. So if you are taking supplements with megadoses of synthetic vitamins so you can absorb at least the RDA's that you are also getting megadoses of harmful synthetic build-up. Vitamins from real foods, are easily eliminated if the body doesn't need all that is ingested.

If the supplement doesn't say "whole foods" or list the food sources of the vitamins, you have to assume that they are synthetic. Most "fortified" or "enriched" foods are fortified with synthetic vitamins.

The best source of vitamins, including B12, is real, nutrient packed foods. B12 can be found in animal products, including eggs, and milk, and a grain/seed called Quinoa. Quinoa sprouts have a higher amount of B12, and also folate, than the quinoa seeds.
B12 is easily destroyed by microwave cooking.

It is VERY important to remember that in order to absorb B12, there must be enough stomach acid, and pepsin enzymes in the body to release the B12 from the food source, and there must be intrinsic factor to bind to the B12 and carry it through the intistinal wall into the blood stream.
If you are taking anything to treat heartburn or reflux, like prilosec, prevacid, zantac, or tums, you might not have enough stomach acid for B12 absorption.
The body can reabsorb and reuse B12, so most people don't have a B12 deficiency because of poor nutrition, but rather because of poor absorption, or a genetic disorder that results in the lack of intrinsic factor.

B12 relies on folate to be activated and used by the body. The folate also relies on the B12 to be activated and used by the body, so you need to make sure that you are getting enough folate and B12 together. The best food sources of folate (more than 100 mcg/serving) include black-eyes peas, Lentils, Okra, asparagus, garbanzo beans, pinto beans, navy beans, and spinach.

mommy1 · 12-17-2006, 10:13 AM

Thank you ladies! I'm actually going to be calling my dr Monday to get an appt asap. For almost a month now I've been suffering with cracking of the corners of my mouth! It's sooo annoying and finally last night I did a google search and Vitamin B deficiency was one of the causes (the other was a yeast infection of the mouth~ how on earth you get that I don't know?!! I've never even had a yeast infection). I haven't taken any extra B vitamins but will see my dr and find out what is going on. I kind of hope it's just from Vit B and I can take a supplement and eat more foods with Vit B in it! Will keep you posted!