There was a new study published last August (2017) in Journal of Clinical Oncology regarding B vitamins and it’s produced some uneasiness. B complex is thought to boost energy reserve, support metabolism and adrenal function and protect your nerves from fraying.
The study suggests that two B vitamins from the whole “B complex” family are potentially harmful; it infers that taking B vitamins can increase the risk of lung cancer. But let’s take a closer look before we hang B6 and B12:
Folic acid is synthetic, whereas methylfolate (5-MTHF) is natural and you can get this from eating salads and sautéed greens. It’s the methylated form of folate which is biologically active and understood by the body, especially your methylation cycle.
This is all confusing, isn’t it? In summary:
- Don’t trust headlines, they are intended to be sensational in order to get you to read!
- Don’t trust the interpretation of scientists who use synthetic, potentially harmful compounds in their studies.
- B6 and B12 sold in most dietary supplements are unfortunately synthetic, and could essentially be useless, or harmful. Buy high-quality vitamins or don’t buy them at all.
- Don’t smoke, it will hasten your demise even if you’re taking a multivitamin or a high-quality B complex.
- Smoking is a “drug mugger” of vitamin C. So if you are trying to improve your health (while chewing or smoking) then take a high quality C, or eat citrus fruits. That is more of a friend to your body than a B vitamin.
A licensed pharmacist for over 22 years Suzy Cohen shares the pros and cons of medication use as well as natural substitutions for most any of your health concerns. Visit Suzy's website at www.dearpharmacist.com.