The 5 Best Over-the-Counter Supplements That Are Helping Me

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or a medical professional.  The information shared on The Flare-Free Life is a personal log of my own chronic illness journey and blood results.  Please always consult your own healthcare team before starting any new over-the counter supplements.

I take my over-the-counter supplements based on advice I received after reviewing my blood test results. I wanted to understand what my body might be missing and what could support me alongside the way I already eat and manage my health.

·       B12 Energy Patches

·       Quercetin

·       Vitamin D3

·       Methyl Folate

·       Vitamin B6

As with all supplements, I approach them carefully. What may be helpful for my lipedema can sometimes aggravate my MCAS, so I pay close attention to how my body responds.

I have never been a big supplement person, but when my body feels as though it is running on empty, I know I need to look a little deeper. I have learnt that my body does not always absorb all the nutrients it needs from food alone. My diet is mainly made up of meat and two vegetables, which suits me well and helps me feel my best, but my blood results showed me that I still needed extra support in certain areas.

Here is the list of the supplements I am currently taking, along with the reason behind each one.

B12 Energy Patches for Homocysteine Support

B12 can be a little tricky for me. It can sometimes cause problems for MCAS, but it may also be helpful for lipedema. Thankfully, I tolerate the patches well and have not experienced any side effects so far. I am taking B12 because my homocysteine level is high at 22.36 umol/L, when ideally it should be less than 12. Vitamin B12 is needed as a cofactor to help convert homocysteine into the amino acid methionine. When B12 is low, this process may not work as well, which can allow homocysteine to build up in the blood. High homocysteine can irritate and damage blood vessel walls and is linked with an increased risk of blood clots, atherosclerosis, heart attacks and strokes. It has also been associated with cognitive decline and neurological symptoms, some of which I experience. As I also have a family history of dementia, I want to do what I can to support my long-term health.

Quercetin as a Natural Mast Cell Stabiliser

Quercetin is one supplement I take because of its potential role in calming mast cells. It is often described as a natural mast cell stabiliser, which means it may help reduce the release of inflammatory mediators. For MCAS, this is important because mast cells can “degranulate”, releasing substances such as histamine and tryptase. When this happens, symptoms can flare. For lipedema, calming inflammation may also help with swelling, tenderness and pain, although everyone responds differently.

Vitamin D3 for Immune & Mast Cell Stability

I take Vitamin D3 because my levels are low, and because Vitamin D may play a role in both immune regulation and mast cell stability. Mast cells have Vitamin D receptors, and research suggests that Vitamin D may help reduce the release of pro-inflammatory mediators such as histamine. Low Vitamin D is also considered a possible, and sometimes overlooked, trigger for MCAS flares. It is also thought that people with lipedema may commonly have lower Vitamin D levels. My Vitamin D is currently 42.70 nmol/L, with the normal range being 50–200.

Methyl Folate for Complex Inflammation

Methyl folate is another supplement I take because of what showed up in my blood results. Lipedema and MCAS can both be associated with inflammation, and inflammation can affect how the body handles iron and nutrients. My ferritin is currently high at 288 ug/L, with the normal range being 13–150. My folate is also on the low side at 3.0 ug/L, with the normal range being greater than 3.0. The connection between ferritin, folate and inflammation is complex, and it can involve iron metabolism and tissue hypoxia, which means low oxygen levels in the tissues. It is worth noting that MCAS-related inflammation may distort ferritin readings. Ferritin can appear normal or elevated due to inflammation, even when usable iron may still be low.

Vitamin B6 for Histamine Breakdown

Vitamin B6 is important for the nervous system and for histamine breakdown. Certain enzymes that help break down histamine need B6 to work properly. If B6 is low, histamine may build up more quickly, which can make MCAS symptoms worse. For someone with lipedema, this may also contribute to inflammation, swelling and tenderness in the affected tissue. For that reason, B6 feels like an important part of my current supplement routine.

I hope this gives you a clear outline of why I take these supplements and why I currently class them as my five best over-the-counter supplements. They are the ones I can tolerate at this moment in time, and they are part of how I am learning to support my body in a careful and informed way.