Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Vitamin B12 is the only vitamin that is not known to have toxic effects even when taken in large doses. Patients with anemia have been given 1,000 mcg monthly injections to treat vitamin B12 deficiency without any side effects. However, for healthy individuals, large doses of vitamin B12 are not recommended. Healthy adults get enough of this vitamin from a balanced diet. Healthy adults are recommended to take one multivitamin daily that contains vitamin B12. Those at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency include the elderly and vegetarians. The elderly are at risk for atrophic gastritis, and vegetarians often need supplementation because vitamin B12 is found only in foods from animal products. A strict vegetarian diet which prohibits consumption of animal products can result in vitamin B12 deficiency.

Additional Supplementation

Patients with anemia cannot absorb vitamin B12 from food or oral supplements. Therefore, vitamin B12 injections are usually required to correct anemia and to prevent irreversible neurological damage. Patients who have had surgical removal of the stomach lack intrinsic factor which is produced in the stomach, so they cannot absorb vitamin B12 from food or supplements. Patients with resection of the small bowel may not be able to absorb vitamin B12 from food and supplements. Patients with a condition of food allergy to gluten that leads to atrophy of the small bowel lining may also not be able to absorb vitamin B12 from food and supplements. Also, some medications affect the absorption of vitamin B12 in the body. For example, medication used to control blood glucose levels with type II diabetes, treatment used to lower blood cholesterol levels, and also some medications used to control unexplained diarrhea have been known to inhibit the absorption of vitamin B12 from food.

General Overview of Vitamin B12 Injections

Vitamin B12 comes as a solution that can be injected into a muscle or just under the skin. Vitamin B12 is often administered by injection to treat or prevent deficiencies from numerous causes. Vitamin B12 is often administered several times as a test. This is in order to see how well the body undergoes the absorption of vitamin B12. Since vitamin B-12 can be injected straight into the blood stream, it can be used effectively to supply the vitamin in patients who are unable to absorb it through the intestine. In most cases the initial treatment is one injection a day for the first 6 to 7 days. Then, depending upon the absorption rate and the symptoms of the body, the frequency and dosage is increased or reduced accordingly.

Vitamin B12 Injections And Weight Loss

Vitamin B12 has been found to help weight loss by stimulating the thyroid gland. Also, vitamin B12 might sometimes reduce water retention in the body. Therefore, vitamin B12 is often used in weight reducing programs. Many weight loss clinics are providing their clients with vitamin B12 supplementation to increase energy levels, support thyroid function, and to enhance the over-all well being of the entire body.

About Vitamin B12 Supplementation

The importance of vitamin B12 can not be ignored. Even though vitamin B12 is required in very small amounts by the body, it is responsible for performing some vital and essential functions. Vitamin B12 is easily available in a balanced daily diet. However, due to the complex process involved in absorption, there may be a deficiency of this vitamin. A deficiency of vitamin B12 may give rise to numerous health problems and serious diseases of which anemia is most common. Different methods of supplementation of vitamin B12 exist. Some prominent methods that are practiced include oral intake, intravenous methods, and through injections also known as vitamin B12 shots.

Vitamin B12 Shots

Vitamin B12 helps in catalyzing the myriad bodily processes. Vitamin B12 should be consumed in appropriate levels in order to meet the various requirements of the body. Many times vitamin B12 is found to be deficient due to inappropriate absorption within the gastrointestinal tract. There are many over-the-counter medications for external supplementation of vitamin B12. However, some of these do not contain enough of the vitamin to effectively reduce the symptoms of deficiency. For this reason vitamin B12 shots are administered. Generally, the shots are given every 1 to 2 days for a period of about 2 weeks in the initial stages. The frequency of the shots can be increased or decreased according to need.

Vitamin B12

Until recently, it has been difficult to test for vitamin B12 deficiency. An inability to properly absorb vitamin B-12 causes pernicious anemia and leads to fatigue and neurological problems. Physicians lacked a safe and simple way to test their patients for poor vitamin B12 absorption. In humans, only two enzymatic reactions are dependent on vitamin B12. In the first reaction, methylmalonic acid is converted to succinyl-CoA by using vitamin B12 as a cofactor. Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to increased levels of serum methylmalonic acid. Homocysteine is converted to methionine by using vitamin B12 and folic acid as cofactors. A deficiency of vitamin B12 or folic acid may lead to increased homocysteine levels. An understanding of the vitamin B12 absorption cycle helps clarify the potential causes of deficiency. The acidic environment of the stomach helps to breakdown the vitamin B12 that is bound to food. The intrinsic factor that is released by parietal cells in the stomach binds to vitamin B12 in the duodenum.

New Test

Extensive research has resulted in a more accurate and safer test for vitamin B12 deficiency.The new test involves drinking a small amount of vitamin B12 labeled with radioactive carbon 14, and then extracting a drop of blood. The amount of carbon 14 labeled vitamin B12 in the blood sample is measured with an accelerator mass spectrometer that can count single atoms of carbon 14. The radiation dose involved is equivalent to that received on a cross-country flight.

The Need For Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is required for cell division and blood formation in the body. Neither plants nor animals can produce vitamin B12; it is produced by bacteria. Animals get the vitamin B12 they need by consuming food which contains the vitamin B12 producing bacteria. The plants we eat do not contain vitamin B12 unless the bacteria are present or vitamin B12 is added to them. Therefore, vegetarians need to look for fortified foods or supplements to get enough vitamin B12 in their diet. Though the daily amount of vitamin B12 needed is very small, vitamin B12 deficiency is a very serious problem that can lead eventually to anemia and irreversible nerve damage. Prudent vegetarians will include sources of vitamin B12 in their diet. Vitamin B12 is especially important during pregnancy and lactation, and for infants and children.

Sources of Vitamin B12 For Vegetarians

Some sources of vitamin B12 are vitamin B12 fortified soymilk, vitamin B12 fortified wheat gluten, and soybeans. These vegetarian products are often made to resemble meat, fish, or poultry. Also, there are vitamin supplements available that do not contain animal products. Vegetarians who choose to use a vitamin B12 supplement, either as a single supplement or in a multivitamin, must remember to use the supplements regularly for them to be effective. In order to meet the body’s needs, one should take a daily vitamin B12 supplement of approximately 5-10 micrograms, or a weekly vitamin B12 supplement of approximately 2000 micrograms. 

About Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disorder of the nervous system. It is characterized by muscle rigidity, tremor, and a slowing of physical movement. In extreme cases there is a loss of physical movement. The primary symptoms are caused by excessive muscle contraction. These contractions result from insufficient formation and action of dopamine, which is created in the dopaminergic neurons of the brain. Progressively, symptoms may result in high-level cognitive dysfunction and delicate language problems. Parkinsons disease is both chronic and progressive.

Deficiency of Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 deficiency is potentially serious and although it is common in the elderly, it can occur at any age. Vitamin B12 is essential for nervous system function and red blood cell production. When a deficiency is left untreated it can lead to mental status changes. Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause peripheral neuropathy and spinal cord disease. A deficiency of vitamin B12 is also related to higher risk for vascular events such as stroke and myocardial infarction. If vitamin B12 deficiency is not treated within six months of the onset of neurological symptoms, these symptoms can become permanent.

Importance Of Vitamin B12

The human body stores vitamin B12 for long periods, a nutritional deficiency of this vitamin is quite unusual. A deficiency can result from the body being unable to absorb vitamin B12. Inability to absorb vitamin B12 from the intestine can be caused by a disease known as pernicious anemia. Strict vegetarians who do not take in proper amounts of vitamin B12 by way of supplements are prone to deficiency. Low levels of vitamin B12 can cause anemia, numbness or tingling in the extremities and other neurological symptoms such as weakness and loss of balance.

Lack Of Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is a very important vitamin needed for maintaining healthy nerve cells, and also aids in the synthesis of DNA. In addition, Vitamin B12 works closely together with folic acid to regulate the formation of red blood cells and to help iron absorption in the body. Deficiencies of vitamin B12 are usually caused by a lack of intrinsic factor.  Intrinsic factor is a substance produced in the stomach that allows the body to absorb vitamin B12 from the digestive system. Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause a range of symptoms including fatigue, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nervousness, and numbness or tingling sensation in the fingers and toes. People with pernicious anemia do not produce enough intrinsic factor and must take supplementary doses of vitamin B12 to maintain their health. People who have had stomach surgery are at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency and pernicious anemia. They often require vitamin B12 injections after the surgery.

Vitamin B12 An Introduction

Vitamin B12 is a member of the B-complex vitamin family. One of the most active ingredients of vitamin B12 is cobalt, so it is also known as cobalamin. Vitamin B12 is only produced in nature by bacteria, and no other plant or organism can manufacture it. Vitamin B12 is found primarily in meat, eggs and dairy products. The main plant sources for vitamin B12 are fermented soy products, seaweeds, and various classes of algae such as spirula. But due to the complex nature of the absorption of vitamin B12 from plant sources, they are considered unreliable sources of the vitamin. Therefore, many vegetarian foods now available have been supplemented with vitamin B12. This is because vitamin B12 is one of the essential components required by the human body for the synthesis of red blood cells, maintenance of nervous system and growth and development in small children.

Nasal Vitamin B12

The latest innovation in vitamin supplementation is Nasal vitamin B12. This is an effective treatment for vitamin B12 deficiency. The vitamin is administered in the nose, usually once a week or as directed by a doctor. Nasal vitamin B12 is mainly aimed at those who have difficulty absorbing vitamin B12. Internal absorption of vitamin B12 takes place in the gastro-intestinal tract and depends on a special protein made in the stomach known as the intrinsic factor. Nasal vitamin B12 is an alternative for people with gastro-intestinal problems. It should not be used without the advice of a pharmacist or physician, as there are some side effects, and blood tests are needed to monitor the effect of the vitamin.

Importance of vitamin B12

Patients suffering from shingles may show an improvement in symptoms after receiving injections of vitamin B12. Some studies show that after three days of treatment using a 1 mg injection of vitamin B12 per day, the pain is relieved and the blisters disappear. These studies recommend using 1mg injections of vitamin B12 daily for six days and once weekly for six weeks to treat the pain connected with shingles. It is said that injections of vitamin B12 can shorten the duration of herpes outbreaks and reduce the pain as well.

Diagnosis Of Shingles

A diagnosis of shingles is not something to be taken lightly. This stubborn virus can cause illness for several weeks to months. The herpes virus can cause blindness if it affects the eyes. The herpes virus that causes shingles is called Varicella Zoster. It is the same virus that causes chicken pox. It is normally seen in people who are immune compromised, under too much stress or who have been exposed to the chickenpox virus.

This infection begins with fatigue and fever, and the affected skin may be very sensitive to the touch. Blisters on the skin begin to form around the fourth or fifth day of infection. The blisters occur on the upper body and chest. It is an extremely painful condition. The pain can be chronic and last from months to years. Patients diagnosed with shingles are prescribed a narcotic for pain relief and the antiviral drug acyclovir and sent home to endure the virus for six weeks. There are suggestions that alternative treatments for shingles can allow complete recovery in less than one week, with the blisters and pain disappearing in three days