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Choosing a HealthyBrain B-Complex multivitamin formula
One of the most common questions we are asked is, "So how do I know which HealthyBrain vitamin product to choose?"
Excellent question! We’d love to give you a quick answer, but the fact is, it depends. Each person has several important health factors that can influence whether or not they could likely benefit from a customized vitamin repletion plan, including specific ingredients and doses. No two people will have exactly the same needs and therefore the best way to determine this would be to look at laboratory data and genetic data, like MTHFR, and take into account certain known risk factors which affect intake, demand, absorption, metabolism and/or excretion of certain nutrients. These can be things like particular medications, diet, alcohol use, smoking, and certain health conditions. Having all this information would be the most accurate way to assess your repletion need. As a vitamin company, we cannot order and interpret your baseline labs for you (bummer!), but we can at least get you started on a way to screen for some common health issues that can provide an initial estimate of whether you are more likely to be at an overall lower or higher risk for having common states of B vitamin deficiencies or insufficiencies. It doesn’t take the place of a complete assessment, but it’s at least a good evidence-based, risk-factor-based assessment. So basically, it’s a good place to start.
We’ve tried to take some of the guesswork out by creating the handy little checklist you can find below. It is important to note that the checklist is not meant to replace standard assessment and treatment services by a medical provider, nor does it constitute medical advice.
HealthyBrain (HB) B-Complex multivitamin formulas comparison:
No matter which one you choose, both HealthyBrain Immune Boost and HealthyBrain Immune + Mood Boost formulas provide:
…effects are currently being studied in several different international Covid-19 supplement-based research studies. [1, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21]
Okay, awesome! So now that we know what’s similar, let’s look at what’s different:
|
HealthyBrain Immune Boost |
HealthyBrain Immune + Mood Boost |
|
No MTHFR C677T or A1298C mutations |
1 or 2 MTHFR C677T or A1298C mutations |
|
Homocysteine (HCY) at an ideal brain health range (5-7 umol/L) or mildly elevated (7-10 umol/L) |
Homocysteine (HCY) at a moderately elevated (10-14 umol/L) or greater threshold range (>=14 umol/L) linked to doubling of dementia risk [b*][3, 19] |
|
Not taking any medications that can reduce folate (B9) levels |
Taking medications that can reduce folate (B9) levels like Depakote, Lamictal, Tegretol, Metformin, Methotrexate[e*], birth control [7], etc. (for a more complete list, check out our Vitamin B9 blogpost) |
|
Not taking any medications for heartburn, ulcers, and acid reflux (GERD) that can reduce folate (B9) and (B12) levels. |
Taking medications for heartburn, ulcers, and acid reflux (GERD) that can reduce folate (B9) and (B12) levels. |
|
No use of alcohol to occasional use of alcohol defined as 0 to < daily use |
Moderate to heavy use of alcohol defined as 1 drink of alcohol/day for women and 2 drinks of alcohol/day for men [6,11, 14] |
|
Non-smoker/non-vaper |
Smoking or vaping [12, 13, 14] |
|
No more than occasional mild problems with focus and concentration |
Moderate to severe problems with focus and concentration [d*] |
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No problems with memory |
Mild-to-Moderate memory concerns [c*] |
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Absent to occasional mild anxiety and/or mood symptoms |
Past and/or present (current) episodes of anxiety and/or depression and/or mood symptoms [d*][8,9] |
Hopefully now you have some idea which HealthyBrain B-Complex multivitamin formula might be a “good fit” for you, at least based on this brief health risk factor screening. This is a good place to start since having more of the health risk factors listed in the HealthyBrain Immune + Mood Boost column could also increase the potential for having more baseline B vitamin deficiencies in both number and/or severity. That said, this health screening only looks at risk factors and not actual laboratory or MTHFR results. For best results, HealthyBrain recommends you consult with your medical provider and ask for lab work to check for potential vitamin deficiencies, homocysteine level, and MTHFR polymorphisms. Follow-up lab draws can also help to assess for any changes in your vitamin and homocysteine levels over time and assist with fine-tuning vitamin doses. (Please see our “Important Screening Labs” blog post for more information).
Key:
a* – This HB product informational table is not meant to replace standard assessment and treatment services by a medical provider, nor does it constitute medical advice. While MTHFR mutations and/or B-vitamin deficiencies/insufficiencies are common in the general population, not everyone needs vitamin repletion support. Vitamin supplement products have great cost-effective health value for vitamin users to the extent that they are replenishing/repleting specific areas of vitamin deficiency/insufficiency. For best results, HealthyBrain recommends consultation and lab screening with a medical provider before starting any HB B-Complex product since these vitamins were specifically formulated to help replete and balance common MTHFR-related and B-deficiency/insufficiency states. MTHFR + related lab evaluations can help each vitamin user to establish the need for HB vitamin repletion, assess repletion outcomes, and fine-tune vitamin dosing over time.
b* – Multiple studies now report that dementia risk increases in relation to progressive increasing homocysteine (HCY) levels starting at a moderately elevated level of 10.8 umol/L. [3, 19] Dementia risk doubles at HCY levels equal to or greater than 14-15 umol/L [3, 19] and increases in a graded fashion thereafter associated with further HCY increases. Neurotoxic findings/outcomes linked to excessive HCY levels have included: neuronal cell death, increased rate of brain atrophy (shrinkage), neurofibrillary tangles, beta-amyloid plaques, weakened blood-brain barrier (bbb), and Alzheimer’s disease. [10]
c* – Memory concerns generally warrant a medical assessment. Sudden changes in memory may warrant an emergency medical assessment.
d* – Published studies indicate that several l-methylfolate (5-MTHF) and B-complex products have been able to provide treatment support (mostly adjunctive) in relation to depression, anxiety, and inattentive symptoms. We believe that our HB products may be able to yield at least comparable benefits, although it is important to note that these products have not yet been formally tests in clinical outcome studies. Also, notwithstanding potential benefits B-vitamin products are typically not expected to serve as a stand-alone intervention or replacement for psychiatric interventions such as therapy and/or medication treatment, but rather as an adjuvant (“booster”) treatment support. [1;5]
e* – Methotrexate is a medication used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis, and cancer. It is known to reduce the amount of folic acid in the body. If you take methotrexate for cancer, please do not start a HB without consulting first with your medical provider.
References:
Curt Sturos, MD and Melanie Kabot-Sturos, PMHNP-BC, cofounders of HealthyBrain. December 4, 2020.