Lately I've been feeling not quite right and I think it may be due to lack of the B12 vitamin.  I went and got the vitamin yesterday and have taken 3 so far (lozenges under my tongue).  Does anyone know how long it will take for me to feel normal again if this is indeed the cause for the symptoms that I've been experiencing?  What can I eat to help get the vitamin into my body quickly? 

Thank you kindly.

Kristin

Hi Kristin,

Sorry you haven't been well. If you suspect that you are deficient in B-12 it would make sense to get a blood test. Most people are deficient not because their diet lacks it, but because they have trouble absorbing it.

If you have trouble absorbing it you may need a shot to get it in you.

The blood test is also important because B12 deficiency is only one possible explanation as why you feel poorly. You could be anemic for another reason entirely or maybe your levels are all fine. It makes sense to find out .

To try and answer your question, the time it would take to feel better for a person who has only recently become deficient due to a strict avoidance of all processed and animal based foods would be dependent on the degree of deficiency and the rate of absorption.

One or two weeks should have you starting to feel better. Don't use more then a few lozenges a day until you know if you really need them.

Isnt it ok to take a b12 every day :/ i take one tablet (1000 mcg) under tongue every day and got a lozenge for my kids too that i give them every day (500 mcg). This is bad?

1000 mcg, for sure? I get 50mcg a day in an vitamin B complex on prescription.

I think that anyone on a strict vegan diet without soy milk or other fortified foods should consider supplementation. B-12 deficiency is rare but should be avoided as it is nasty. On the other hand, it is possible to get too much B-12 from excessive supplementation and possibly cause an imbalance.

I worried that taking multiple large doses per day for many days could risk overdose. A small daily dose has no risks, a large dose may be needed but only a blood test can tell if it is.

B-12 is naturally found in nutritional yeast, like brewers yeast.

my experience is that is is VERY hard to get b12 into your system unless it is injected.  Sublingual supplements would be the next best thing, but even then if you truly have a deficiency they probably will not do the trick....go get a blood test and you doctor will hook you up with a shot if needed.  I do them every few years for a few weeks - once its in you, it stays in you for a few years.

Ann,

Lack of intrinsic factor will lead to malabsorption of B-12. The literature also described inhibited absorption as a side effect of several common medications including stomach acid blockers.

Justin,

I didn't mean MY personal experience is it is hard to get b12 into your system via conventional supplements, I meant my life experience as a practitioner dealing with patients and doctors over the years!  People tend to rely on supplements to correct imbalances they don't even know for sure exist, or if they do exist take the supplements not realizing that sometimes they will not be properly absorbed or utilized by the body.  A common instance that comes to mind as an example would be Calcium - people take a pill, not realizing that they also need other nutrients (specifically Magnesium) as a cofactor to properly absorb the calcium (among other things!).  

That is why the best way to get your nutrients is through whole foods, not isolated supplements you purchase.  And the best way to determine if you really are deficient to the point of needing supplementation is to get simple bloodwork done, not to take a guess and then start taking a pill - even if it is an over the counter vitamin.

Just because they are "natural" vitamins does not mean they are right for everyone in every situation.  Get blood work, engage with a knowledgeable nutritionist who can set up a realistic plan if you need supplementation.  And my guess is that anyone who has been vegan for just a few months is not deficient in B12 - it took me over 20 years of not eating any animal products before I even considered supplementation!    

Anne, I agree completely! - Justin

Try Emergen-C to quickly get your B12 levels back up to par. Since it's mixed in a liquid, it is quickly absorbed by the body. I was experiencing the same problem, and I'm right as rain now! Try taking it in the morning: it will give an energy boost!

whats a good vegan b12 supplement brand?

When working to "heal" your body naturally, it will always take a bit longer than other means. It is, by far, better, if you have the time available for it...such as not a terminal issue that really needs immediate attention first.

I go to a naturalist as regularly as possible, and he always reminds me that it can take up to 6 weeks to really start feeling the full effect of a supplemental change, although some change should be felt within a few weeks.

I know this post is older, but thought I would post anyway!