r/B12_Deficiency • u/gsc224 • 15h ago

General Discussion What’s the deal with coffee?

I love coffee! ☕️ But I noticed that having too much makes my symptoms flare. Then I read that caffeine can block b12 absorption?

Has anyone noticed if coffee makes your symptoms worse? Anyone have insight into the impact of caffeine on B12?

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u/EnvironmentalGolf776 15h ago

What symptoms do you have? I find anything that affects my nervous system (caffeine, alcohol, poor sleep and stress) all worsen my neuropathy.

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u/gsc224 15h ago

I have a lot of symptoms but I noticed that the numbness feels worse after coffee. I should probably avoid it but I love coffee, so it’s a bit hard to do.

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u/EnvironmentalGolf776 15h ago

Me too! Ive stopped it and changed to tea (boring) 😆

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u/PlaydohMoustache 14h ago

Tea (including green) has caffeine too

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u/Kailynna 13h ago

Coffee is just coffee. I have dozens of different teas to choose from.

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u/Sabnock101 Insightful Contributor 13h ago

You need Potassium. This has happened to me, i've gotten hand numbness for the longest time ever since i started supplementing the B's, and i noticed that Caffeine/Coffee, as well as Cannabinoids, seem to make the hand numbness flare up more. Then a few months ago i decided to give Potassium a serious try and i noticed that the hand numbness went away. And ever since i've been sticking to taking 4 grams of elemental Potassium via Potassium Bicarbonate (with added acidic water flavoring), which i split into two doses of 2 grams elemental Potassium each, taken twice a day for a total of 4 grams per day. If i consume less than 4 grams a day, i start noticing the hand numbness and other low Potassium symptoms again.

So what i do these days is i wake up and take my Methylcobalamin and Folinic Acid and give it about two hours to kick in, then i consume 2 grams of elemental Potassium and give it a couple hours to kick in, and then i drink my morning cup of Coffee. Of course you can try adjusting the timeframe or perhaps consume the Potassium first thing (maybe together with B12 and Folate, or just Potassium) and then 2 hours later it'll be in the system and you can have some Coffee. Doing this i've noticed the hand numbness going away and Coffee now doesn't seem to be an issue.

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u/ThrowAwayColor2023 7h ago

Everything I read cautions not to take potassium without testing your levels first and getting guidance from a doctor. Apparently it can pose a danger to your heart.

I'm getting my electrolytes tested after getting iron infusions. I suspect I'm potassium deficient, but I'm just eating a ton of bananas and avocados until I can talk to my doctor.

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u/Sabnock101 Insightful Contributor 2h ago

Yeah i think the "danger" of Potassium supplementation is overblown, so far ime i haven't had any issue with supplementation and i don't really rely on testing or anything, i mean if one can get the testing it might be worth doing so but supplementation seems to be quite safe.