Although the problem can arise for anyone B12 deficiency is extremely prevalent in 2 specific groups – individuals aged over 65 who often have a compromised digestive process for the B12 and those who do not consume meat/animal products. The choice to become a vegetarian or a vegan is more often than not a noble decision, with the intent to avoid causing harm. Of course at that point a very delicate balance must then be maintained in terms of nutrition. This becomes a more prominent issue for women who are either pregnant or have recently given birth and are breastfeeding. 

Pregnancy takes a fairly heavy toll on the body of the woman. Although most advice about supplementation during pregnancy concerns calcium intake, all vitamins and minerals ingested become shared property, which is why it is so very important to eat plenty of foods with high nutritional value. However, with the chemical changes the body experiences, and with the needs of the baby, most women experience a slight B12 deficiency. In cases of vegetarians this can become a serious issue.

In vitro the baby uses the stores of vitamins and nutrients that the mother has, so much so that when he or she is born the vitamin levels in their blood are higher than the mother’s. In case of B12 and veganism this can cause a severe deficiency for the mother despite supplementation, as the vitamin is not as readily absorbed from sources other than animal products. But what’s worse is the effect a B12 deficiency would have on the developing fetus and the young baby.

Research reports that it a B12 deficiency in a developing fetus can cause severe birth defects (including neural tube defects which are usually associated with folic acid deficiency). Another complication arises when the B12 deficiency is missed, as most women take folic acid during pregnancy which tends to mask some of the signs of a vitamin B12 deficiency.

Some research shows that a B12 deficiency can increase the chances of infertility for a woman, and can be causal of miscarriages and preterm births. However most pre-natal vitamins do provide some B12 and your doctor should instruct you further if you feel like you are lacking B12. The issue also can arise during breastfeeding.

At this point some women may stop supplementing the B12 and this will have absolutely detrimental effects on the developing of the baby. A report confirmed a case of 2 women who did not take in animal products in their diet when breast feeding and were not supplementing the vitamin properly. Due to the absence of the B12 in the breast milk the children reportedly developed brain and growth abnormalities. Fortunately once this problem was noted and supplemented the children were able to develop normally.

It is of utmost importance however to point out that breastfeeding your child is extremely important and beneficial as well. Children who are breastfed show a stronger immune system, a higher IQ and a better understanding of social relationships than children the same age who were bottle fed. The mother however must remember that she is truly doing the work for 2 human beings, so supplementation should be well balanced and constant. The B12 patch may be an excellent source of B12 for a new mother who does not desire to get B12 injections. If you are a practicing vegetarian or vegan research seems to indicate that food and oral supplementation alone will not be able to give you sufficient levels of the vitamin in your system

For many vegetarians and especially vegans finding food which can replace other foods nutritionally is still a fair feat. To locate food which tastes like something you had to give up due to your convictions is an even greater experience. However as the world begins to accommodate the lifestyle/dietary choices of all individuals more and more products become available which not only taste like the old times, but as well provide the proper nutritional value.

Nutritional Yeast is one of these wonderful food replacements. It is an inactive yeast which is said to have a strong nutty, pungent smell reminiscent of parmesan cheese. This item is used mostly by vegans as a cheese replacement when can be added to pasta, soups, and even popcorn for a great cheesy flavouring. However, this is just the surface benefits of this yeast.

Nutritional Yeast is a complex source of nutrition, and just happens to contain a full B-complex in its makeup and also happens to be a complete protein, bearing great nutritional value. It is low in fat and sodium and is extremely beneficial for the health of the GI tract and absorption. Currently most brands of nutritional yeast fortify the yeast product with vitamin B12 produced by special bacteria and then added to the mix. The resulting product becomes not just a cheese substitute in flavour, but one in function, as it provides the much needed nutrients normally found only in animal products.

B12 acts as an incredibly important nutrient in our diets. With its depletion and malabsorption several issues arise, however it is very rarely used as a singular form of therapy for any disorder. Recently research has shown that B12 may have an incredible effect on the treatment progress of Bell’s Palsy – a form of paralysis that affects the facial nerve.

Bell’s palsy affects one in four thousand people and generally clears up in a number of weeks although for 10% of individuals it is a recurring situation, and a few suffer it for an indefinite period. The risk factors for developing Bell’s Palsy are tick and mite bites, diabetics with high blood pressure, as well as pregnant women who are more likely to be affected by the disorder than the general population.

Traditionally, Bell’s Palsy has and is beening treated with steroid drugs. They are used for their influence in reducing the inflammation of the nerve and help the muscles of the face regain their strength. Some suggest an anti-viral medication as it is believed that the nerve inflammation is actually caused by a viral infection. B12 vitamin however is known for its powerful anti-inflammatory properties and as a way to reduce nerve irritants whihch can be toxic. When utilized in treatment of Bell’s palsy seemed to show a better effect on the individual than typical steroidal treatment. In fact some studies found the steroid treatment of palsy completely ineffective.

A study showed that in comparison of B12 therapy to steroidal therapy, the B12 patients recovered in about 2 weeks whereas the typically treated palsy required a minimum of 10 weeks of threatment

Strawberry Kefir Whips

150ml Kefir (To help keep a healthy GI Tract)
150g of strawberries (preferably fresh and seasonal as they pack the most nutrient power that way)
plain or vanilla sugar to taste
50ml whipped cream

cinnamon, if you would like some, to taste (rich antioxidant)

Crush strawberries well with sugar and let them sit for about 10-15 minutes until you see juice start to pool in the bowl. Add Kefir and stir quickly, in a whipping motion, with the strawberries. At this point you may add cinnamon. Gently fold in the whipped cream for more solid and fluffy texture.

This whip will act as a gastrointestinal booster, repopulating and nourishing the good bacteria in your gut with aiding with absorption of all nutrients. This whip can be placed on top of pancakes, or used as a sweet dipping sauce. Alternatively you may want to pour it into a small cup and enjoy it like a creamy and fluffy pudding.

You may replace the strawberries with other fruit such as raspberries, peaches and plums. Canned fruit contains too much liquid and too little nutritional value  to be used in this recipe.

Gastric Bypass Surgery has gained much notoriety in recent years as a fairly safe and efficient way to deal with weight issues which are difficult to manage. For many people the operation became a life-saving step, totally transforming their existence. However Gastric Bypass Surgery has its own setbacks, and it can and does affect the ability to absorb nutrients well from the foods ingested. It can also inhibit the effect of oral supplementation of vitamins. Gastric Bypass can affect B12 and other nutrient absorption on several levels.

1.  The daily food intake is a bariatric patient is often greatly reduced, as the procedure prevents one from ingesting large portions.

2. The new stomach structure is made to bypass a portion of the digestive portion of the tract where most of the absorption of many vitamins and minerals occurs.

3. The gastric pouch is so reduced in size that it produces negligible amounts of the enzymes needed for the complete digestion and absorption of many foods.

4. The new digestive system prevents normal levels of production of gastric acid and intrinsic factor which are necessary for the proper absorption of vitamin B12

We will now discuss these points to clarify exactly how bariatric surgery hampers with the proper absorption of B12 vitamin and other nutrients. Firstly, as mentioned above, much of the absorption of vitamins and minerals from food occurs within the small intestine.  Although only a small portion of the intestine is actually affected by the surgery (specifically in the hopes of avoiding problems with malabsorption), issues with intake of minerals and vitamins still arise. Many bariatric patients are told in post-treatment that it may be optimal for them to begin B12 injection therapy, and some doctors suggest that this 1000 mcg injection be administered daily, as the effect of surgery on the intrinsic factor could be damaging.

The surgery heavily affects the production of the intrinsic factor and gastric juices, which can end up causing a severe B12 deficiency in a matter of weeks (to read more about the importance of the intrinsic factor for B12 absorption click here). With the functions of intrinsic factor unable to properly bind to the vitamin and be reabsorbed in the small intestine, the individual is at high risk for developing the symptoms of the deficiency. It will also poorly influence the general wellbeing of the individual just recovering from surgery.

The B12 patch may be the optimal precaution and therapy for the bariatric patient as it provides as much B12 as an intravenous shot without the inconvenience of locating a doctor and the experience of pain on a weekly or even daily basis. The blood serum levels of B12 remain supported by the patch as the transdermal application avoids all possible roadblocks associated with absorption in the digestive tract and in the oral cavity.  

Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia is the most common type of age related cognitive disorder, which usually begins affecting individuals over the age of 65. The illness systematically destroys the brain tissue of the individual, until he/she is no longer able to function on his/her own, robbing one not only of their lifelong memories but as well of their freedom. An estimated 26.6 million individuals worldwide and 2.3 million Americans are currently suffering from Alzheimer’s and the prevalence of it continues to double every five years after the age of 60 – the likelihood of developing the disorder increases from 1% among those 60 to 64 up to 40% among those aged 85 years and older.

Although this disorder has been described in the medical community for over a century, the direct cause behind it remains unknown. Some scientists however take the approach that the origin of the degeneration is multi-causal and can even be related to diet and lifestyle. When a meta-analysis of over 500 studies was conducted some very interesting and promising trends were noted.

Firstly it seemed that the more time the individual devoted to their cognitive health throughout their lifetime, the more likely were they to avoid developing the dementia or suffering from more advanced forms of Alzheimer’s. Consuming a Mediterranean diet and having a semi-active lifestyle also seems to act as a preventative measure. Very importantly some studies uncovered that vitamin and mineral deficiencies may be at fault for the developing and progression of the cognitive disorder.   

A  Swedish study of persons 75-years-old and older found that more than half (46 out of 78) of those diagnosed with dementia had both low levels of vitamin B12 or folate and Alzheimer’s type dementia. Several other studies have examined the effect of vitamin supplementation on Alzheimer’s disease. It appeared that the degeneration could result from too-low serum levels of vitamin B12. According to the scientists who conducted these studies repleting B12 vitamin could reverse up to 75% of the related dementias if the condition is uncovered early enough.

All mammals, including humans, are born with natural serum levels of B12 at about 2,000 pg/ml. These levels are noted to decline throughout the lifespan, often due to the ramifications of modern lifestyle choices. According to John V. Dommisse in his 1991 reports in “Medical Hypotheses” a staggering number of Alzheimer’s dementia cases are in actuality undiagnosed B12 deficiency. This common misdiagnosis occurs due to the fact that the accepted clinical sets for “normal in low-range B12 serum levels” are in fact much too low for most of the population, who eventually begin to suffer the effects of the deficiency

Dommisse writes that almost all of his patients have had B12 levels in the lowest one-third of the “normal range”, levels that he currently regards as deficient and inadequate for healthy cognitive functions. According to Dommisse when the levels of B12 were raised to the highest third of the “normal” range every single patient reported feeling better. Some patients came out of their depression or mood disorder, despite the fact that this was the only new or different therapy that they had received. In subsequent instances when B12 levels had again dropped their affective disorder apparently worsened. Dommisse is now wishing to calculate the proportion of cases of mood-disorder which may be caused or seriously affected by a B12-deficiency and what percentage remain idiopathic

Another theory suggests that vitamin B12 or folate deficiencies affect Alzheimer’s disease by influencing neurotransmitters or the levels of homocysteine in the body (this would also explain why depression is one of the emergent symptoms).  Either vitamin B12 or folate deficiency can increase the levels of homocysteine in the body. Homocysteine is required in the metabolic functions of the body, but when too much of it accumulates in the bloodstream it begins to act as a neurotoxin, the effect of which causes cell death and possibly neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. The effect of B12 deficiency on homocysteine and the body will be discussed in future posts.

Today we will continue to discuss B12 friendly foods and how we can modify recipes even more to reap the most nutritional benefits from our meals and snacks. This coconut cake is already fortified with b12 in some sense, but a few adjustments to the ingredients used will cause each bite of this cake  to boost your B12 levels in the best way possible and how had nature intended: by drawing it from your food.

You will need these ingredients 

• 1⁄2 cup plain flour (replaceable with whole, unbleached and nutrients fortified flour - this type of flour will help with the absorption of the nutrients in the GI tract)
• 3⁄4 cup castor sugar (you can grind regular sugar in your blender for a few minutes to get the fine grain of castor sugar. This can be replaced by unrefined cane sugar which possesses healthy yeast which will further help you digest and absorb the vitamins in this cake)
• 1 cup dry coconut  
• 4 eggs
• 100 g butter, melted (butter, as a milk product is rich in B12. However it can be replaced with margarine if needed but this is not advised)
• 2 cups of milk ( replace with kefir, creme fresh or any cultured milk product to reap full benefits. Kefir is VERY rich in the vitamin and helps the digestion through its powerful combinations of amino acids, probiotics and healthy bacteria cultures. If needed these can be replaced with fortified soy milk or even coconut milk. Recently a new type of vitamin fortified coconut milk, So Delicious Coconut Milk Beverage, has been available on the market which professes to provide 50% of your daily recommended value of B12)

Instructions:

1. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl.
2. Combine eggs, butter and milk in a separate bowl. Gradually add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients while whisking.
3. Pour into a lightly greased ovenproof dish.
5. Bake at moderate heat (around 180°C) for 45 minutes or until set.

When serving this and any other sweet food always add fresh fruits and kefir/cream whips (recipe for these to follow in another post) to powerfully increase your nutritional intake, and possibly your metabolism, mood and of course overall health. This particular cake goes very well with passion fruit, lychees, raspberries and star fruit (carambola). Enjoy this light cake knowing that it provides you with incredible nutrition.

• 1 to 2 Whole Beaten Eggs
• Instead of refined bread: Whole wheat 7+ grain bread – somewhat stale
• instead of regular milk:  milk mixed with a bit of kefir, creme fresh, soured cream or even cultured yoghurt
• a tiny pinch of salt
• and sugar to taste – these can be both sweet and savoury