Posted by Lao Tzu on September 4, 2011, at 14:26:45
In reply to sleeping better on b complex but......, posted by linkadge on August 19, 2011, at 21:44:15
If you are not taking megadoses of the B's, it probably isn't the B-complex; although I have heard of negative effects IN SOME people taking folic acid. Have you tried a multivitamin? That may work better for you. I've noticed an improvement in mood since starting with a multivitamin. I never had much success with B-complex vitamins, although some people swear by them. Instead, I take B1, B2, and B6 individually. Are you getting enough C, E, and selenium? These three can help with depression as well in people who need more antioxidants in their diet. If you are sleeping better, that's great!! It means that you probably need a small amount of B vitamins to function better. Do you take medication for depression? Certain supplements like a good multivitamin, fish oil, and a little medication can go a long way in improving depression. At one point, I had tried megadoses of B vitamins individually. First, I tried high dose Niacin and folic acid. Initially, it worked but as the days passed I would say these two interfered with my moods in a negative rather than positive way. I think some people can actually tolerate high doses of certain B vitamins. For instance, I did real well on a high dose of B12 for about 6 months, then no longer needed such a high dose. With B1, I need 200mg per day, and it helps with sleep. With B6, my target dose has always hovered around 150mg per day, but it all depends on your individual chemistry. Some people do well on a few milligrams. Others need 50mg or more of B6 per day. Now I'm putting stock in taking a good multivitamin everyday. Dr. Weil has a good multivitamin which includes 50mg of each of the B vitamins and 400mcg of folic acid. A good multi could serve you well theoretically, but like I said, everybody is different. You could try individual B vitamins, but I don't think this works for everybody. If you are sleeping better, it could be that one or more of the B's may be contributing to this. I have found that B1 in particular actually helps with my sleep. However, it is only a piece of the puzzle. Other vitamins and minerals may be necessary. Vitamins C, E, selenium, calcium, and magnesium are all important as well.
Lao
poster:Lao Tzu
thread:994352
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20110810/msgs/995834.html