“What is vitamin B12,” you ask? Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, is a member of the B-complex vitamins.  A water-soluble vitamin, B12 is stored in your liver and is necessary for avoiding vitamin B12 deficiency.

What are the benefits of vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 wears many hats.  It is essential for a vast number of important bodily functions.

• Red blood cells! Vitamin B12 helps your body produce plenty of red blood cells that are required for carrying oxygen throughout your body.  With enough B12, you would suffer pernicious anemia.
• Memory! Vitamin B12 assists in cognitive skills such as memory, concentration, and comprehension.  Without enough B12, you would suffer early onset dementia, short-terms memory loss, depression, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating.
• Heart health! Vitamin B12 controls the level of homocysteine in your blood, a protein associated with heart attack and stroke.  Without enough B12, you are at a higher risk of dying of heart disease or stoke.
• Bone health! Scientists have found a high correlation between B12 deficiency and osteoporosis- loss of bone mass- in elderly individuals.  Without enough B12, you would suffer from brittle, easily broken bones in your hipbones and spine.
• Senses! Vitamin B12 keeps communication flowing between your brain and various nerve sites, such as your fingers, toes, mouth, eyes, and ears.  Without enough B12, you would suffer neurological damage such as tingling, numbness or pain in your hands, feet, and tongue.
• Nervous system! Vitamin B12 protects the myelin sheathe of your nervous system.  Without enough B12, you would have difficulty controlling your muscles in your arms and legs.
• DNA! Vitamin B12 promotes DNA synthesis.  Without enough B12, you would suffer abnormal cell growth, possibly leading to cancer.
• Metabolism! Vitamin B12 boosts energy.  Without enough B12, you would feel sluggish, confused, chronically fatigued, and be more prone to weight gain.

What foods have vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 occurs naturally in animal-based proteins.  The following food sources have the highest levels of vitamin B12:

• Meat! Beef, particularly lean beefsteak and beef organs, such as liver and heart
• Chicken! Poultry, including lean chicken, turkey, and duck
• Fish! Seafood, including tuna, halibut, salmon, crab meat, clams, and oysters
• Eggs! Don’t skip the yolks- they are extremely high in this B vitamin
• Milk! Dairy products, including milk, hard cheese, yogurt, and kefir

But I eat plenty of protein, and I take vitamin supplements.

Even if you eat plenty of foods with vitamin B12, you are not immune to B12 deficiency.  Many multivitamins and B-complex pills include vitamin B12, but not in sufficient amounts to prevent vitamin B12 deficiency in individuals who are at risk.

The only way to get enough B12 is by taking vitamin B12 supplements. Some popular B12 supplements are vitamin B12 sublingual pills, prescribed vitamin B12 shots, and vitamin B12 patches.

Read more about vitamin B12:

I was Blinded by B12 Deficiency, says Vitamin B12 Patch Fan

What are the Symptoms of Pernicious Anemia- B12 deficiency?

Can Elevated Homocysteine (Low B12) cause Mental Illness?

Sources:

Vitamin B12- Mayo Clinic

What Is Vitamin B12 Deficiency? What Causes Vitamin B12 Deficiency?

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ostephy, imelenchon, jzlomek, chamomile, clarita

Vitamin B12 patch users swear by the increased energy and reduction of B12 deficiency symptoms they have encountered since switching to a B12 patch.

Read what one Vita Sciences B12 patch fan has to say:

Blinded by B12 deficiency…or Multiple Sclerosis?

“Nine months ago, I woke up blind in my right eye. I can’t even explain the terror and trauma if this has never happened to you…after 4 hours at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary ER with an amazing and attentive team of doctors, nurses, and technicians, I was given the new and tentative diagnosis of optic neuritis, and referred to a neuro-opthamalogist who confirmed this diagnosis.  I was told from the very beginning that there was a good chance it was caused by Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Multiple Sclerosis and Vitamin B12 Deficiency

In the meantime, things got worse…

“An MRI confirmed demyelination - but if you know much about neuro problems, it’s another hint at MS and not a confirmation.  However, not long after that, my symptoms took a turn for the worst. I was deteriorating fast – far faster than one would from the Relapsing/Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) that I was on the path to being diagnosed with.

“I was getting severe headaches that felt like my brain was cannibalizing itself, severe burning, tingling pains all over my body, severe muscle spasms that were almost constant, ghost itches that I couldn’t even find to scratch.  I had trouble falling asleep at night because my head would keep jerking violently and my legs would kick.  A few times, I lost control of my faculties in my sleep and regularly fell over when I got out of bed in the morning.  Sometimes when I woke up I wouldn’t be able to tell where my limbs were.

Top Ten Signs of a Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Oh no, you didn’t just say the “H” word…

“I had, after all, spent 10 years getting called a hypochondriac by multiple healthcare professionals, until I finally got diagnosed with insulin resistance by the best endocrinologist ever who actually took me seriously.  I was sure I didn’t have ten years to waste arguing without dire consequences.

Paging Dr. Wikipedia…

“I asked my doctor if I could be tested for a B12 deficiency.  ‘No,’ she told me.  ‘I’m sorry, you have MS.’

“Okay, the internet is my BFF and from the massive amount of research I did online, reading abstracts, reading full articles, reading the blogs of people with MS, and talking to real life victims… this was not MS.

The Aha! Moment

“I looked deeper into the B12 deficiency to discover that I had been on three medications that inhibit B12 absorption for extended periods (Paxil, Metformin, and Omeprazole).  I had suffered stomach problems since infancy without successful diagnosis, and I am a semi-vegetarian (eat meat a couple of times a year and turn a blind eye – no pun intended – when soups are made with beef or chicken broth).

These are all things that lead to a B12 deficiency.

Vitamin B12 pills are a lost cause

I started taking sublingual B12 tablets while trying to build my case to confront my doctor with my evidence…no change.

“…sublingual pills are like putting a handful of grain into a silo – you will never fill it up just like you will never re-fill your B12 stores with sublingual pills.”

Skeptical, but ready to try the B12 patch

“I did some more research and discovered the B12 patch.  I was a skeptic and was already planning to spend my life getting B12 shots after I won the battle with my doctor, but I was desperate. I could barely work anymore, I was suffering anxiety attacks, and I was so sick and so tired all of the time and didn’t feel like I had the time to fight it out with my doctor.

A very important package arrives

“I got my B12 patches in the mail almost two weeks ago and I am now almost symptom free, except for some tingling, which seems fair enough since my myelin sheaths probably need to heal.  I expect that takes time.  I’m not fully convinced even now that the B12 patch stopped this dead in its tracks- It seems too crazy.  I’m in a watch and wait mode; I will still be following up with my doctor and deciding if the shots are a better option, but for now, I’m just happy to have my life back.

“Problems I didn’t even realize could be caused by a B12 deficiency also seem to be improving; my stomach, my acne, my insulin resistance.  Who knows if it will last- I can only hope.

“I talk about my symptoms in past tense in my post, but up until only a week and a half ago, it was my daily reality.”

Use it or lose it

“To be honest, for the people who don’t have trouble absorbing B12 you probably won’t feel a difference using this product.  But I would use it, just to be sure that you’re getting your B12, because the medical community is apparently not inclined to diagnose a B12 deficiency.

“And if you go down that path, you could get misdiagnosed with MS, psychosis, Alzheimer’s, ALS, and much, much, more.  And it’s not worth losing your quality of life over, if it’s as simple as sticking a patch on your neck, or getting a shot every month – especially since damage can be irreversible if it isn’t caught early enough.

“Please harass your doctor into giving you the appropriate tests.  There is plenty of info out there on B12 deficiencies so you can go to an appointment well informed.  Just visit my BFF, the internet.”

One year later…

“Update – 1 year later: Still using the patches.  My symptoms aren’t 100% gone in the long term, but they are about a quarter as severe as a year ago… maybe less…Still thrilled.”

Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms:

Balance your B12, Balance your Nerves

Benefits and Sources of Vitamin B12, and How to Avoid Deficiency

“I’ve heard of the X Factor and Fear Factor…But what’s Intrinsic Factor?”

Sources:

Amazon review

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Photostock, graur razvan ionut, anankkml

The elderly need to increase their intake of vitamin B12, in order to avoid memory loss from B12 deficiency.  Brain loss caused by Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia is a part of the aging process, but by getting enough vitamin B12 in your blood, you can prevent suffering the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency.

Chicago study links low levels of vitamin B12 with memory loss

A 2011 study that focused on 121 community-dwelling participants of the Chicago Health and Aging Project found a strong correlation between vitamin B12 deficiency and memory loss.  Scientists measured methylmalonate levels to determine vitamin B12 deficiency.

• They found a direct relationship between low levels of vitamin B12, reduced brain volume, and decreased cognitive skills, such as loss of short-term memory.
• Scientists noted poorer memory skills, slower thinking processes, and impaired comprehension skills as attributes associated with elevated methylmalonate levels- an indicator of vitamin B12 deficiency.
• Also considered were plasma homocysteine levels, which scientists also connected with loss of brain mass.  High levels of homocysteine are common in vitamin B12 deficiency.
• Scientists concluded that methylmalonate, an indicator of vitamin B12 deficiency, has a direct impact on brain volume, and that vitamin B12 has multiple benefits on brain chemistry beyond just memory skills.
• In 2008, a UK study conducted by the University of Oxford produced similar results; namely, that vitamin B12 deficiency is a likely cause of brain atrophy, dementia, and short-term memory loss among the elderly.

How to keep Vitamin B12 Deficiency from Shrinking your Brain

For the elderly, eating foods with vitamin B12 isn’t enough

Eating plenty of foods rich in vitamin B12 is always a good idea; such foods include protein sources like beef, chicken, fish, eggs, milk, and cheese. But for the elderly, the problem isn’t really eating enough sources of vitamin B12, but rather digesting them.  Part of the aging process involves making less stomach acids that are necessary for absorbing vitamin B12 from foods.  As a result, many elderly individuals who include meat in their diet still run a high risk for getting B12 deficiency.

Unless blood tests indicate healthy levels of vitamin B12, senior citizens must supplement with vitamin B-12 (cobalamin) with a routine prescribed B12 shot in order to avoid the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency.  Another popular option is adding a vitamin B12 patch.

Memory loss in B12 deficiency for the young and old

It isn’t just the elderly who should be concerned with memory loss- short-term memory loss is one of many symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, regardless of age.

Vitamin B12- How much do you need?

Other symptoms of dangerously low B12 levels are:

• Chronic fatigue
• Depression
• Difficulty concentrating
• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Aggressive behavior
• Hallucinations
• Balance problems
• Poor muscular control
• Numbness or tingling in hands, arms, feet, and legs
• Sore, red swollen tongue
• Altered taste perception

Long-term exposure to vitamin B12 deficiency could result in severe neurological damage, pernicious anemia, increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and cancer, and osteoporosis.

Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency and memory loss:

12 Ways to Avoid Alzheimer’s Disease

FDA Approves Brain Scan to Detect Alzheimer’s Disease

Adult ADHD Could Lead to Dementia

Sources:

Low Vitamin B12 Linked to Smaller Brains and Cognitive Decline

Vitamin B12 Levels Linked to Memory Skills and Brain Size

Low Vitamin B12 May Speed Brain Shrinkage

Low Vitamin B12 Linked to Smaller Brain Size

Elevated Plasma Homocysteine Is Associated with Increased Brain Atrophy Rates in Older Subjects with Mild Hypertension

Vitamin B12, cognition, and brain MRI measures- A cross-sectional examination

Vitamin B12 status and rate of brain volume loss in community-dwelling elderly

Image credits, from top:

Was a bee, Sean.lewis29, Ambro, photostock

Numerous studies linking elevated homocysteine with mental illness prove that symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency caused by low B12 (cyanocobalamin) in the blood are often mistaken for mental health issues, such as depression, dementia, and schizophrenia.

What is homocysteine?

Homocysteine is an amino acid that your body makes when you eat meat products.  Having too much homocysteine in your blood supply causes damage to your arteries and increases your risk for heart disease and stroke.

B-Gone, Heart Disease

What is B12, and how does it regulate homocysteine?

Vitamin B12 is a nutrient that occurs exclusively in animal-based foods such as beef, chicken, fish, eggs, and milk products.  Some of the riches sources of vitamin B12 are organ meats (liver, heart), oysters, and clams.

Together with vitamin B6 and folic acid, vitamin B12 helps break down homocysteine and keep them at a safe, healthy level.  Without sufficient stores of these essential vitamins, homocysteine levels would escalate, leaving you at a high risk for developing diseases associated with elevated homocysteine levels, such as pernicious anemia, neurological damage, and cardiovascular disease.

Elevated homocysteine plasma levels are one of many symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency.

B Vitamins prevent Cardiovascular Disease- B6, B12 and Folate

What are symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency?

Typical early signs of B12 deficiency are:

• Constant fatigue
• Depression
• Disorientation
• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Memory loss
• Frequent numbness or tingling, “pins and needles”
• Legs or arms constantly “falling asleep”
• Loss of balance
• Weakened muscular control
• Altered taste perception
• Red, swollen tongue

B12 Deficiency: Don’t Ignore the Symptoms

What illnesses are associated with elevated plasma homocysteine levels?

Scientists believe that homocysteine is behind a wide variety of conditions and illnesses, from visual problems and eating disorders, to heart disease and schizophrenia. Currently, most scientists agree that elevated homocysteine levels share a significant correlation with the following diseases:

• Atherosclerosis (hardening and narrowing of the arteries)
• Increased risk of heart attacks
• Increased risk of strokes
• Blood clots
• Alzheimer’s disease

How many studies link elevated plasma homocysteine levels with mental illness?

A growing number of scientific studies prove a significant correlation between vitamin B12 deficiency, homocysteine levels, and mental health problems, such as schizophrenia, depression, chronic fatigue, dementia, and even eating disorders in women.

1- In Beersheva, Israel, a study focused on treating patients of Alzheimer’s and cerebrovascular disease with folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 supplements.  In this randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, scientists of Ben Gurion University noted a marked decrease of schizophrenia symptoms in patients who received the vitamin supplements.

2- In Boston, Massachusetts, a Tufts University study linking low vitamin B12 and cognitive impairment in the elderly noted a direct correlation between vitamin B12 deficiency and anemia, macrocytosis, and cognitive problems such as dementia.

3- In another study by Ben Gurion University, scientists measured plasma homocysteine levels in females with eating disorders. They found a significantly high level of homocysteine in females between the ages of 16-20 who had eating disorders.

4- Elevated plasma levels of homocysteine in females with eating disorders were also the focus of this German study that linked excessive homocysteine with depression, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

5- A Swedish study on older patients with mental illness concluded that age and plasma homocysteine levels more accurately predict cognitive functioning skills than brain imaging, as measured by the Mini mental state examination (MMSE).

Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency and mental illness:

Teen Mental Illness: Unnoticed, Undiagnosed in America

Worried about Low B12 Lab Results?

The Many Benefits of Vitamin B12…

Sources:

Homocysteine Blood Test Information on MedicineNet.com

Effects of dietary supplements on depressive symptoms in older patients: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial- PubMed NCBI

Homocysteine-reducing strategies improve symptoms in chronic schizophrenic patients with hyperhomocysteinemia- PubMed NCBI

Folate and vitamin B-12 status in relation to anemia, macrocytosis, and cognitive impairment in older Americans in the age of folic acid fortification- PubMed NCBI

Plasma homocysteine levels in female patients with eating disorders- PubMed NCBI

Plasma homocysteine, brain imaging and cognition in older patients with mental illness- PubMed NCBI

Depressive symptoms may explain elevated plasma levels of homocysteine in females with eating disorders- PubMed NCBI

Public health significance of elevated homocysteine- PubMed NCBI

Image credits, from top:

digitalart, Suat Eman, jscreationzs, ponsulak

Difficulty absorbing B12 leads to pernicious anemia, chronic fatigue, and other symptoms of vitamin deficiency.  In order to test absorption of vitamin B12, a blood test (the Shilling test) is required, in addition to other B12 blood tests.

What is vitamin B12 deficiency?

Vitamin B12 is a mineral that we absorb from animal products like meat, chicken, fish, eggs, and milk.  Vitamin B12 is essential for your nervous system, red blood cell production, DNA synthesis, and cognitive functioning.  Without it, you might experience symptoms like fatigue, memory loss, depression, tingling in the hands and feet, altered sense of taste, difficulty walking steadily, and decreased motor control. (Absorbing Vitamin B12, a Metabolic Gastrointestinal Journey)

Who is at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency?

Most people will never experience vitamin B12 deficiency.  That is because generous amounts of B12 are stored in your liver.  However, an increasing number of people are falling victim to low B12 levels- individuals who are unable to absorb vitamin B12 naturally from foods.

People who cannot absorb vitamin B12 are:

• Individuals who cannot produce intrinsic factor, a protein required for vitamin B12 absorption.
• Individuals who have had the part of the small intestine responsible for making intrinsic factor removed, as is common procedure in bariatric surgeries (gastric bypass) and gastrointestinal surgeries for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease.
• Anybody who is unable to produce enough stomach acids in order to absorb vitamin B12- these include the elderly, sufferers of gastric autoimmune diseases, diabetes patients who take metformin, and people who take strong antacid medications for acid reflux, such as heartburn (GERD) sufferers or pregnant mothers.

What if I am not tested for vitamin B12 absorption?

Left untreated, vitamin B12 deficiency could result in pernicious anemia, the inability to produce sufficient levels of red blood cells. Other dangerous side effects that stem from being unable to absorb vitamin B12 are elevated risk for heart attack and stroke, neurological damage, and dementia.

If you suspect you might have vitamin B12 deficiency…

• if you notice symptoms like being tired all the time, talking in slow, unpronounced speech, more difficulty remembering things than normal,
• if you’ve been diagnosed with comorbid conditions like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, Crohn’s disease, Celiac disease, or hypothyroidism, or
• if you’ve had weight loss surgery or another types of gastrointestinal procedure…

…then it’s crucial that you request a B12 blood test for vitamin B12 levels, in addition to a Schilling test that measures your ability to absorb B12.

(Gastrointestinal Surgery for Crohn’s (IBD) and B12 Warnings)

The vitamin B12 absorption Schilling test

The Schilling test is more than just a test for B12 levels.  While the standard test for vitamin deficiency checks vitamin B12 levels, the Schilling test determines the reason for your problem with absorption of vitamin B12.

There are four stages of the Schilling test for B12:

• In stage one, you take two doses of vitamin B12; one is an oral radioactive dose of cobalamin, and the other is a vitamin B12 injection. A urine test determines your absorption of B12
• In stage two, you take another radioactive dose of vitamin B12- this time, with intrinsic factor.
• Before going on to stage three, you are required to take antibiotics for two weeks.  Next, a lab technician determines if bacterial growth is the cause of your lack of B12 absorption.
• Finally, stage four determines if your vitamin B12 deficiency results from a pancreatic disorder.  You will take pancreatic enzymes for a few days, followed by another radioactive dose of vitamin B12.

Read more about vitamin B12 absorption:

Cruising for a Bruising? Choose Vitamin B12 Shots or Anemia

Balance your B12, Balance your Nerves

6 Degrees of Vitamin B12- B12 Deficiency and Autoimmune Disease

Sources:

Schilling test: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

Schilling Test- What is a Schilling Test? (PDF)

The Schilling Test & B12- LIVESTRONG.COM

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zhouxuan12345678, Genista,  Hey Paul, Horia Varlan

If you’re having trouble finding balance, B12 deficiency might be the culprit.  Symptoms of vitamin B-12 deficiency- dizziness and nerve damage like ataxia (unsteady gait, difficulty keeping balance), and numbness or tingling in hands and feet require B12 supplements.

Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms

Vitamin B12 occurs naturally in all meat, cheese, and egg products, but if you are one of millions of people who cannot absorb B12 efficiently, then you will start feeling symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency.  Some common emotional and cognitive signs of B12 deficiency are:

• Chronic fatigue, sleepiness
• Memory loss
• Confusion
• Difficulty concentrating
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Aggressiveness
• Paranoia
• Psychoses
• Dementia

Nerve damage caused by B12 deficiency

In addition to psychiatric symptoms, vitamin B12 deficiency causes severe damage to your nerves, notably subacute combined degeneration (SCD) of the spinal cord- a severe neurological disorder caused by B-12 deficiency.  SCD causes damage in your spinal cord, brain, and peripheral nerves, beginning with the myelin sheathe.

1- The myelin sheathe- your nervous system’s “ozone layer”
The myelin sheath is a protective covering that surrounds many of your nerves, providing a shield from potential danger.  The myelin sheathe also accelerates communication between your nerves and your many bodily sensors (hands, feet, tongue, nose, eyes).  Vitamin B12 aids your body in maintaining this essential protective mechanism, and low levels of B12 often result in a breakdown of the myelin sheathe.  

2- Communication breakdown

The nerves of your spinal cord rely on a steady inflow of information from your nerve sensors throughout your body.  Messages from the nerves in your legs, for example, flow along the spinal cord and to the brain, thus controlling movements like running, walking, skipping, and tapping your feet.  Nerve damage causes these signals to become misinterpreted, resulting in poor coordination, or gait ataxia.

3- Gait ataxia- taking the spring out of your step

A typical sign of abnormal neurological behavior resulting from B12 deficiency is gait ataxia, which is difficulty walking.  Gait ataxia is also one of the symptoms of pernicious anemia, red blood cell disease associated with prolonged vitamin B-12 deficiency.  Symptoms of gait ataxia are:

• Unsteady gait, difficulty walking without stumbling
• Difficulty staying balanced on one leg
• Trembling awkward movements, clumsiness
• Muscular weakness in the legs and arms
• Spasticity
• Hypotension (low blood pressure)
• Vision problems, blurriness

4- Paresthesias- “pins and needles” and numbness sensations

An early sign of nerve damage related to vitamin B12 cobalamin deficiency is paresthesias, resulting in numbness and tingling in the hands and feet.  Paresthesias is a kind of peripheral neuropathy that affects the peripheral nerves that run along your spinal cord and to your extremities, thus causing that pins and needles sensation that you often feel in your hands and feet.

Do you have vitamin B12 deficiency?  Go ask a hematologist.

The only way to determine if you are indeed suffering from vitamin B12 deficiency is by getting a blood test.  If a physician diagnoses you with dangerously low levels of B12, then he may recommend B12 injections, which will require a prescription.  There are non-prescription b12 patches, which are painless and easily administered in the convenience of your own home.

Read more about supplementing with the vitamin B12 patch:

• Vitamin B12- How much do you need?
• The Vitamin B12 Patch for Energy
• Absorbing Vitamin B12, a Metabolic Gastrointestinal Journey

Sources:

• Vitamin B12- Evidence- Mayo Clinic
• Vitamin B12 Deficiency & Ataxia- LIVESTRONG.COM
• B12 and Gait Ataxia
• B12 Deficiency and Dizziness
• Neurologic aspects of cobalamin deficiency- PubMed NCBI
• Subacute Combined Degeneration – Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment of Subacute Combined Degeneration – NY Times Health Information

Image credits, from top:

• Stuart Miles
• Ambro
• anankkml
• Jeroen van Oostrom
• graur codrin

Vitamin B12 is essential for your nervous system;  Find out how Vitamin B12 supplements like the B12 Patch can help you live a healthier lifestyle.

What is vitamin B12?

Vitamin B-12, or Cobalamin, is an essential nutrient that occurs naturally in protein food sources, such as beef, poultry, fish, eggs, and milk.  The B12 vitamin is one of the B-complex vitamins.  Other B vitamins are vitamin B9 (folate) and vitamin B3 (niacin).

B12 Benefits

Vitamin B12 is important for many bodily functions.  B12 helps your body produce red blood cells, regulates your nervous system, boosts your immunity, and protects cognitive functioning.  Some other benefits of vitamin B12 include lowering your risk for heart attack, stroke, cancer, and toxic reactions.

B12 Deficiency: Don’t Ignore the Symptoms

Folic acid and B12

Vitamin B12 and vitamin B9, in addition to vitamin B3 are necessary for breaking down and regulating DNA.  According to the Linus Pauling Institute, damaged DNA is one of the many risk factors associated with cancer.  In case studies, women with the lowest amount of vitamin B12 were twice as likely to get breast cancer as women who had healthy B12 levels.

Low B12 and cancer risks

Previous studies examining the effect of alcoholism on breast cancer noted that low folate levels, combined with B12 deficiency, raise one’s risk of getting cancer.  Likewise, female alcoholics who had high levels of vitamin B12 and folate were less likely to suffer from breast cancer than test subjects who were deficient in B vitamins. One such case study conducted by the Institute of Public Health in Mexico concluded that high vitamin B12 levels among female Mexican participants accounted for a 68% lower risk for breast cancer than those who suffered from vitamin B12 deficiency.

What is the best way to get vitamin B12?

The best way to get enough vitamin B12 in your diet is by eating plenty of lean meats, chicken, fish, eggs, and dairy products. Foods that have the highest levels of vitamin B12 are clams, oysters, beef liver, and halibut.  However, eating B12-rich foods does not guarantee against vitamin B12 deficiency.  Some people are unable to digest B12 naturally from foods, and must take B12 supplements in order to avoid symptoms of malnourishment, such as fatigue, depression, irritability, numbness in hands and feet, memory loss, and difficulty concentrating.

Most physicians prescribe vitamin B12 shots, sublingual B12, or b12 vitamins after diagnosing B12 deficiency.  Another popular option is to supplement with nonprescription vitamin B12 patches, which are painless and more convenient.  The B12 patch contains a similar 1000 mcg dosage of vitamin B12 as B12 injections.

Read more about vitamin B12 benefits:

Vitamin B12- How much do you need?

Cruising for a Bruising? Choose Vitamin B12 Shots or Anemia

Signs and Symptoms of 6 Types of Anemia Blood Disease

Sources:

Vitamin B Supplements: Can You Prevent Cancer With Vitamins?

Benefits Of Taking Vitamin B12- LIVESTRONG.COM

Vitamins that Protect and Repair DNA to Prevent Cancer and Slow Aging

Alcohol and risk of breast cancer in Mexican women

Folate, vitamin B12 and postmenopausal breast cancer in a prospective study of French women

Image credits, from top:

jscreationzs, Maggie Smith, Idea go, Paul, Suat Eman

The many benefits of Vitamin B12 Patch are awesome.  Vitamin B12 contains cobalamin, a water-soluble protein-based nutrient that provides energy and boosts cognitive skills.  B12 wears many hats, protecting you from pernicious anemia, early-onset dementia, heart disease, and chronic fatigue.

A weekly Vitamin B-12 patch helps your body produce red blood cells for oxygen, aids in skin renewal, and regulates your nervous system.  Without sufficient B12 levels, you would feel worn down, lacking in energy, depressed, and disoriented.  These are all common side effects of vitamin B-12 deficiency.

Vitamin Deficiencies can drive you Crazy- Seriously! Part 1

Low energy levels could signal vitamin B12 deficiency

The National Institutes of Health Medical Encyclopedia lists “lack of energy” as one of the symptoms of B12 deficiency.  Other low B-12 symptoms are:

• Chronic fatigue
• Depression
• Dementia
• Short-term memory loss
• Difficulty concentrating
• Numbness or tingling sensations in hands and feet
• Loss of balance

Why vitamin B12 is the “energy vitamin”

The B12 vitamin has gained a lot of media attention over the years as a popular energy booster, the miracle vitamin that provides mental clarity, vitality, and promotes athletic endurance.  These claims are all true- if you happen to be among millions of sufferers of B-12 deficiency.

“Due to its role in energy metabolism, vitamin B12 is frequently promoted as an energy enhancer and an athletic performance and endurance booster.” -National Institutes of Health

How can I be sure that I’m getting enough vitamin B12?

The real question isn’t if you consume enough vitamin B12- unless you’re a vegan, then you probably eat enough meat, dairy, and fish meals that are packed with vitamin B12. The problem for many sufferers of B12 deficiency is that they are unable to digest vitamin B12 from dietary sources.  The liver stores vitamin B12 for a while, but unless you constantly replenish your supply with a B12 patch, you will start to feel the symptoms of B12 deficiency, which can lead to pernicious anemia and increased risk for heart attack or stroke.

Get a blood test.

The only way to find out if you have vitamin B12 deficiency is to visit your doctor and request a B12 blood screening.  If you are low in B12, then you have the option of taking B12 supplements.  A weekly B12 injection might be prescribed, but you may opt to supplement with a weekly B12 patch as a more cost-friendly, convenient, and pain-free alternative.

Related reading:

6 Degrees of Vitamin B12- B12 Deficiency and Autoimmune Disease

Cruising for a Bruising? Choose Vitamin B12 Shots or Anemia

Sources:

Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin B12

Best Vitamins for Energy

Vitamin B: A Key to Energy- Psychology Today

The Health and Beauty Benefits Of Vitamin B12

A Lack of Energy & Low B-12

Anemia – B12 deficiency: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

Images:

Young Woman Dancing

Elderly Couple Dancing

Dancing Young woman

Vitamin B-12 (Cobalamin) originates in most protein foods, but even meat-eaters can get vitamin B12 deficiency. Absorbing vitamin B12 is a tricky process, and people who lack the intrinsic factor protein are unable to digest B12 from natural sources.  Learning about B12 supplement absorption is essential for avoiding B-12 deficiency symptoms.

Vitamin B12- What is it?

Vitamin B12, a member of the B-complex family of vitamins, is a water-soluble protein.  Most of the vitamin B12 that you eat comes from meat sources, as animal microorganisms produce it. Beef, liver, chicken, fish, and shellfish are some of the richest sources of vitamin B-12, in addition to eggs, cheese, and other dairy products.  The only widely confirmed vegan form of B12 occurs in brewer’s yeast.

This is your Body on B12

The benefits of vitamin B12 for your body are expansive.

• Vitamin B12 assists in producing oxygen-spreading red blood cells.
• Vitamin B12 also protects the myelin sheathe, which protects your nervous system.
• Vitamin B12 reinforces cognitive functioning- sufficient levels of B12 help to prevent symptoms of autism, and to delay the onset of dementia.
• Supplementing with vitamin B12 renews energy, memory, mental clarity, and feelings of well-being in individuals who suffer from vitamin B12 deficiency.
• Long-term vitamin B12 deficiency causes depression, anxiety, fatigue, memory loss, numbness, and tingling.  Untreated, it can lead to pernicious anemia, stroke, heart attack, or osteoporosis. (B12 Deficiency: Don’t Ignore the Symptoms)

Most People Digest B12 like this…

Vitamin B12’s journey through your body is a complicated, tricky procedure, and many things can go wrong.

• 1. When you consume dietary vitamin B12 (from food), it immediately clings to hydrochloric acid and pepsin, a gastric enzyme that your body makes- except for when it doesn’t. (More on this later.)
• 2. In your stomach, digestive acids separate vitamin B12 (cobalamin) from its protein part.  Also in your stomach, gastric parietal cells produce a substance called intrinsic factor- a necessary glycoprotein for digesting B12.
• 3. Vitamin B12 combines with “R protein,” thus becoming B-complex.  B complex, along with intrinsic factor, travels to the small intestine.
• 4. In the small intestine, R protein and B-complex separate.  B12 then attaches itself to intrinsic factor.
• 5. The B12/intrinsic factor complex travels through the small intestine, finally arriving at the very bottom, where it reaches the terminal ileum.  The ileum then absorbs the vitamin B12 and distributes it into your bloodstream, where it is then stored in the liver.

Things that can go wrong with vitamin B12 Absorption

Some people are unable to digest vitamin B12 properly from food, and must instead supplement with vitamin B12 injections or B12 patches, which go directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the need for digestion.

You might need a B12 patch if…

• You don’t have intrinsic factor. Lack of intrinsic factor is an autoimmune response, in which autoantibodies destroy intrinsic factor proteins produced in the stomach.  Since intrinsic factor is required in order to digest B12, the only way to avoid B12 deficiency is to bypass digestion by taking vitamin B12 supplements.
• You are among the elderly. The majority of senior citizens don’t produce the amount of stomach acids needed to break down B12 for digestion.  Even the minimum amount of vitamin B12 recommended by physicians is not enough to avoid dementia caused by B12 deficiency, so elderly individuals are a high-risk group.  To prevent early-onset Alzheimer’s disease or neurological damage, transdermal vitamin B12 is advisable.
• You take heartburn medication. As with the elderly, people who have GERD, or others who frequently take medicine for acid-reflux, including pregnant women, are susceptible to B12 deficiency.
• You have had your ileum removed. Gastric bypass patients are at high risk for developing vitamin B12 deficiency, as are other patients of gastrointestinal surgery, such as sufferers of Crohn’s disease.  Unfortunately, many surgeons neglect to warn their patients about complications regarding vitamin B12 deficiency, and many bariatric surgery patients don’t find out about it until the symptoms- depression, fatigue, brain fog- become too hard to ignore.
• You are a vegan. The vegan diet is largely devoid of B-12 sources, so unless you are a vegetarian who eats eggs, fish, or dairy, then you must take regular vitamin B12 supplements in order to avoid B12 deficiency.
• You are diabetic. Metformin, a diabetes drug, interferes with the absorption of vitamin B12.
• You have an autoimmune disease. Many autoimmune diseases such as celiac disease, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome are highly correlated with B12 deficiency.  Scientists are unsure as to the exact cause, but they have noted a decrease in symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, and depression with the inclusion of vitamin B12 supplements.

Related:

Getting Enough Vitamin B12? Three Reasons Why You Might Not Be

Vitamin Deficiencies can drive you Crazy- Seriously! Part 1

Parasitic Worms for Crohn’s Disease- Friendly Gut Bugs

Sources:

The Importance of Vitamin B12 for Your Body

Where is b12 absorbed in the body?

How Is Vitamin B12 Absorbed by the Body?

What Do You Know About Vitamin B12 Deficiency?

Low Vitamin B12 Level in Elderly May Spur Dementia

myelin sheath (anatomy) — Britannica Online Encyclopedia

Images: Wikimedia Commons, Free Digital Photos

Do you Heart Vitamin B12?  You should…

Free Digital Photos

B vitamins may prevent cardiovascular disease and stroke, say experts.  Vitamin B12 deficiency often leads to elevated levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that causes symptoms of heart disease. By taking vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin), vitamin B6 and folate, you significantly reduce your risk of dying prematurely of stroke or congestive heart failure.

Homocysteine is not your friend

According to the American Heart Association…

• An elevated level of homocysteine, an amino acid known to contribute to heart disease symptoms, is “hyperhomocysteinemia.”
• Having too much homocysteine in your blood increases your chances of developing “coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.”
• Homocysteine damages the inner linings of your arteries and causes blood clots.
• B vitamins, such as vitamin B12, vitamin B6 and folate help your body control the amount of homocysteine in your blood, keeping it at a healthy minimum.
• People with high vitamin B12 levels have the lowest concentration of homocysteine levels.
• People with vitamin B12 deficiency or folic acid deficiency are more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease symptoms and stroke.
• People with a family history of heart disease should check their homocysteine levels routinely, in addition to including B vitamins in their diet, or at least supplementing with vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and folate.

B-Gone, Heart Disease

Get your B Vitamins ASAP

• Vitamin B12 occurs naturally in beef, chicken, fish, eggs, dairy products, and brewer’s yeast.  However, if you lack intrinsic factor, or if you have had bariatric surgery, then your body is not able to digest vitamin B12 naturally from food.  Your only course of action in order to avoid vitamin B12 deficiency is to supplement with Vitamin B12.
• Like B12, vitamin B6 sources also include protein foods, such as liver, fish, and other meats, in addition to fortified cereals.
• Folate is a B vitamin that occurs in fruits, vegetables, legumes, and fortified cereals.

Free Digital Photos

Related reading:

Vitamin B12 and Heart Disease

B12 Deficiency: Don’t Ignore the Symptoms

Benefits and Sources of Vitamin B12, and How to Avoid Deficiency

Folic Acid and B12: Your Nerves Need Both to Thrive

Vegan Dieters at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease, After All

Sources:

Homocysteine, Folic Acid and Cardiovascular Disease

B-Vitamins Help Protect Against Stroke, Heart Disease

Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin B12

High Homocysteine Levels Predict Heart Attacks: B12 will Lower Homocysteine

Heart failure- PubMed Health

Diet High in B Vitamins Lowers Heart Risks in Japanese Study