Assessing the Compatibility of Glutathione and Vitamin B12 Supplements
Explore whether taking glutathione and vitamin B12 on different days poses any risks. Learn how B12 supports glutathione's antioxidant properties and why consulting a healthcare provider is advisable when starting new supplements.
Taking Glutathione and B12 at the same time
Does anything negative happen when you take both these supplements? Not at the same time, but on different days.
There appear to be no significant negative interactions between glutathione and vitamin B12 when they are taken on different days. In fact, vitamin B12 may support the antioxidant activities of glutathione. A deficiency in vitamin B12 can lead to an accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), whereas sufficient levels help preserve cellular glutathione1. This suggests that both supplements may complement each other in terms of antioxidant support without causing harm.
If you are considering starting any new supplements, it's always a good idea to consult with a healthcare provider, especially if you have underlying health concerns or are taking other medications.
Footnotes
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Krzysztof Halczuk, "Vitamin B12—Multifaceted In Vivo Functions and In Vitro Applications," NCBI, 2023. ↩
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My multi has 1000mcg of B12 in it, how much of that is actually absorbed at a time? I take half the multi capsule in the mornings. I have a seperate B12 that's sublingual, also 1000mcg. I take one every few days. I am trying to best arrange it.
Vitamin B12 absorption can be somewhat complex. When taken orally, only a small percentage of a large dose is absorbed due to the limitations of the body's capacity to transport B12 across the intestinal wall. Typically, about 1-2% of a large dose (like 1000 mcg) of vitamin B12 is passively absorbed regardless of the presence of intrinsic factor, a protein needed for the active absorption process1. This means that from a 1000 mcg oral dose, approximately 10-20 mcg might be absorbed via passive diffusion.
Given that your multivitamin provides 1000 mcg of B12 and you're taking half, you're getting about 500 mcg per dose, which translates to an absorption of roughly 5-10 mcg via passive diffusion.
For the sublingual B12, which bypasses the digestive tract and can be directly absorbed into the bloodstream through tissues under the tongue, the absorption can be more efficient, but the exact absorption rates can vary based on formulation and other factors.
Here’s a suggestion on how to arrange your B12 intake:
- Multivitamin Half Dose in the Morning:
- Continue taking half your multivitamin in the morning, as this provides a baseline level of nutrition and B12 for the day.
- Sublingual B12 Every Few Days:
- Take the sublingual B12 separately, allowing a few hours between this and your multivitamin to potentially enhance absorption efficiency, although the passive absorption method would suggest it might not be critical to space them out significantly.
This arrangement should help you maintain adequate B12 levels, considering both absorption methods. However, individual needs can vary, so it's also a good idea to get periodic blood tests to monitor your B12 levels and adjust your regimen accordingly, especially if you have specific health goals or conditions.
Footnotes
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Krzysztof Halczuk, "Vitamin B12—Multifaceted In Vivo Functions and In Vitro Applications," NCBI, 2023. ↩
- Multivitamin Half Dose in the Morning: