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[xtine]

Hi all-- I was curious about the strong vertical ridges I have in my nails (all of them, so not due to specific injury of the nail bed or infection) so did a bit of internet searching, and came across some views (of un-checkable origin) that they're caused by Vitamin B12 deficiency.  I don't eat much meat (almost no red meat) and have also heard that feelings of cold feet and fingers may be related to this.

So... I take this with a big grain of salt but have started taking B complex vitamins, and the difference in my energy and feelings of warmth in my body (like a furnace has been revved up) are quite dramatic.  I'm posting this in the "Ask..." section because I wonder firstly, if anyone else has had changes in energy and body warmth from taking Vitamin B (in my case, again, a "balanced B" not just B 12 supplement)? And secondly: Whether anyone else has information/ views on the fingernail ridges question? 

Thanks for any input.

[VeganKitten]

Hi Xtine, I replied on the other thread you mentioned this, but which B-complex supplement are you taking now? (How high is the dose that is seeming to help you?)

Vitamin B3 -- Niacin -- can cause a warming flush. Is there much niacin in the supplement? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niacin

[Seth Roberts]

There may be a lot of Vitamin B deficiencies going around. Dennis Mangan's mother's Restless Leg Syndrome got instantly better when she started taking niacin (Vitamin B3). For a long time she was a vegetarian. RLS is common. Although niacin is not B12, you see the point: Perhaps long-term vegetarianism increases your risk of B vitamin deficiency. My discovery that pork fat improves my sleep is another sign that vegetarianism is dangerous in ways we don't fully understand.

[shovelqueen]

There may be a lot of Vitamin B deficiencies going around. Dennis Mangan's mother's Restless Leg Syndrome got instantly better when she started taking niacin (Vitamin B3). For a long time she was a vegetarian. RLS is common. Although niacin is not B12, you see the point: Perhaps long-term vegetarianism increases your risk of B vitamin deficiency. My discovery that pork fat improves my sleep is another sign that vegetarianism is dangerous in ways we don't fully understand.

I'd say that "dangerous" is a loaded word, and sure to upset some folks.  Perhaps "inadequate" might better describe the situation?

Humans are evolutionarily omnivores, after all. 

[m.c.]

hmmmm... I ate lamb last night and slept like a baby. And my restless legs were not as annoying as they often are.

[Pinkmug]

I'm glad for vegetarianism.. imagine all 6 billion people eating only meat on this earth. Soon we'd be eating one another.

[desHexle]

   
I am not an advocate of Vegetate diet. Our body is designed so that we are omnivores. Herbivores have 4 stomachs in the animal kingdom ... We have only one. Even our teeth structure is designed for omnivores ... I do not believe that God or Mother Nature ... depending on what you believe in, has made a mistake ...
with cracked nails, I recommend the Brewer's yeast is also available in capsule form. They're good for the skin, fingernails and hair.

[desHexle]

Brewer's yeast contains a wealth of essential amino acids, which are important for the functions of the body. Amino acids are ultimately nothing more than the constituents of proteins, the building materials for our cells.

But that's by no means everything, for this "anti-aging Supplement also contains more vitamins E, B, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9 and B12. In addition to the variety of vitamins and many minerals and trace elements such as zinc, sodium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur and copper are included, all of which are needed in a healthy body. 

 Brewer´s yeast had helped me. i  started taking this when i was pregnant, because  my nails were brittle and cracked, I also had white spots on the nails. since that time  my nails are ok.

[xtine]

Thanks all for the replies.  I will look into Brewers Yeast, that's a great tip and easy to incorporate.  I too have noticed restless legs decreasing at  night with the Vit B supplement.  VK I'm away from home and will look up doses when I return, it's just called "Balanced B 100".  I'm pretty sure I'm not getting that Niacin flush you describe (I read the link) because it's a general feeling of increased warmness, not a flush that happens and goes away... mostly I notice my hands and feet are warm for almost the first time.  Could be many things, of course.... but worth tracking to see if there's a relationship with increasing my Vit B. intake.

[karky]

I have been taking sublingual vitamin B12 for about 5 months.
I don't notice any difference in my body temperature, and I didn't have fingernail ridges.

I took some niacin once. I woke up in the middle of the night having hot flashes and I tingled all over.
Very disconcerting.  :shock:

And it takes about 6 months for your fingernails to grow completely out, give or take, so it would take some time to get rid of any fingernail issues caused by a deficiency, I would imagine.


http://www.cdc.gov/Features/VitaminB12/