Vitamin B12 is a key component of several body functions. Vitamin B12 plays a key role in the manufacturing of red blood cells, keeps the nervous system working correctly and is key in brain functions.

Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

The symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency ranges from virtually unnoticeable to dementia. Obviously the variable is the extent of time that the deficiency has been present. Normally a person will begin by feeling a bit run down. The first visit to the doctor normally results in being misdiagnosed. Maybe anemia will be diagnosed. Maybe nothing will be diagnosed, unless a blood test is specifically run to determine if the proper levels of Vitamin B12 is apparent than the factor will remain unknown, and usually this is not a common part of a blood panel work up, it has to be requested by the health care provider specifically.

As time passes and the condition is not treated, the symptoms will become much more complex. The complexity of the symptoms will also range from headaches to light headedness to forget fullness and the energy level will be way down. There can be some lasting damage is the condition is not caught and treated by this stage.

Host of Increased Health Problems

The risks of Vitamin B12 deficiency range from Vitamin B12 deficiency based anemia to stroke. The risks include neuropsychiatry disorders. Depression can sometimes be attributed to Vitamin B12 deficiency as can memory loss, dementia and at its worse psychosis. With these neurological disorders simply increasing the dosage of Vitamin B12 to cure the deficiency does not necessarily cure the disorders, because the nervous system, by the time these symptoms present themselves may have been permanently damaged. The incidence of neurological illness is prevalent in the older members of society primarily effecting those sixty two years and older when the body’s natural ability to absorb Vitamin B12 is already naturally declining. Many of whom are misdiagnosed over and over upon the initial consult, complaining of fatigue it is attributed to old age.

Cardiovascular risk factors also increase in cases of prolonged Vitamin B12 deficiency. The increase of myocardial infarction and stroke increase dramatically when there is a prolonged Vitamin B12 deficiency. This heart damage may also be irreversible. Stroke is also increased as a result of prolonged deficiency.

There are also some connections between Vitamin B12 deficiency and Alzheimer’s disease. The research is still in its earliest phases and no conclusions have been made yet, but it is hypothesized with strong anecdotal evidence to support the theory that Vitamin B12 deficiency may play a strong role in the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. The theory is that Vitamin B12 deficiency when prolonged damages the dendrites in the brain and causes sections of the nervous system to die out, resulting in an increased risk of memory loss and dementia.

The risks of Vitamin B12 deficiency are evident and very preventable, a balanced diet and periodic screens can offset any potential problems.

Vitamin B12 benefits have been proven scientifically. The science behind the vitamin b12 benefits has prompted vitamin b12 to be produced in all types of forms. There are injectable forms of vitamin b12 and there are ingestible forms of vitamin b12. The use of vitamin b12 as an elixir for all types of physical maladies is nothing new. The practice of using vitamin b12 has been around for quite some time.

Vitamin B12 Benefits

Vitamin b12 benefits are numerous and span from the youngest members of society to the oldest. Vitamin b12 benefits for the body include:

• Keeping melatonin levels up
• Alleviating depression
• Treatment for Alzheimer’s
• Treatment of asthma in children
• Support and increase the immune system in adults and children
• Increased metabolic rate

It would seem that the vitamin b12 benefits run the gamut of health issues. Vitamin b12 benefits may also include the treatment of HIV, the precursor to AIDS.

How Does Vitamin B12 Work?

Vitamin b12 is actually separate b vitamins. There is thiamine, riboflavin, biotin and folic acid amongst others. These individual vitamins work on different structures of the human body. These vitamins are utilized by the body on a molecular level and are used in the production of red blood cells, immunity cells, muscle fibers and other molecular structures. The vitamin b12 is an integral part of the chemical makeup of the human body.

Where Does it Come From?

Vitamin b12 is normally received through food sources. Most diets provide enough vitamin b12 on a daily basis. There are some diseases that deplete the body of vitamin b12. Pernicious anemia is a condition where the vitamin b12 found in diets is not enough, and supplements need to be taken. With pernicious anemia the body does not process the vitamin b12 the way it is supposed to, so supplements are introduced to increase the amount of vitamin b12 in the body with the hope that the overwhelming amount will cause some of the vitamin b12 to be absorbed. Vitamin b12 benefits can be realized with the minimal amounts that are require each day. Supplementing vitamin b12 may or may not increase the benefits of vitamin b12. A medical professional is a good source to use to determine in vitamin b12 benefits will increase with the use of a supplement to the diet.

Vitamin B12 Supplements

Vitamin b12 supplements can be purchased at any health food store, grocery store, drug store or warehouse discount store. Supplements usually come in pill or liquid form. Vitamin b12 benefits are clear and if the diet is not providing the recommended daily allowance than supplements would be a good choice.

Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause a host of medical problems. Vitamin B12 deficiency is the result of inadequate diet or a failure of the body to absorb the vitamin b12.

Conditions

Certain conditions are related to vitamin b12 deficiency. The most well known condition of vitamin b12 deficiency is anemia. Anemia is a condition of the blood. Vitamin b12 is vital to the production of red blood cells. There are other conditions that are not immediately diagnosed as a vitamin b12 deficiency. Vitamin b12 deficiency can sometimes present itself as nerve damage, or the early stages of dementia (Alzheimer’s disease). Depression is also a condition associated with vitamin b12 deficiency. Pernicious anemia is not a condition of vitamin b12 deficiency but typically the cause of vitamin b12 deficiency when dietary causes have been ruled out. Vitamin b12 deficiency can also cause sessions of mania, psychosis and fatigue. Vitamin b12 deficiency over a long period of time can cause irreversible damage to the nervous system. Vitamin b12 deficiency is usually very difficult to diagnose and goes misdiagnosed for long periods of time. Patients are treated for a host of other ailments in the hopes that the treatments will relieve the symptoms, and still do not receive the relief they hope for. Vitamin b12 deficiency can be determined through a simple blood test but it is often overlooked as a possible problem.

Treatment

Vitamin b12 deficiency is treated by increasing the delivery of vitamin b12. Vitamin b12 supplements in severe cases of vitamin b12 deficiency are delivered via injections at very high doses. In the case of pernicious anemia the vitamin b12 supplements are delivered at the rate three times of the recommended daily dosage. It is thought that at the higher levels at least some of the vitamin b12 will be absorbed. Vitamin b12 deficiency can also be treated by the use of sublingual vitamin b12 and other forms of vitamin b12 supplements. The first step in suspected vitamin b12 deficiency should be a visit to a health care provider, to determine through a blood test if there is a vitamin b12 deficiency, once that has been determined than treatment options should be discussed.

Prevention

The prevention of vitamin b12 deficiency is simple enough. Taking a daily supplement of vitamin b12 and eating a proper diet that is rich in vitamin b12 will ward off any problems associated with the dietary vitamin b12 deficiency. If there is a family history of pernicious anemia it is best to get checked to be sure that the condition is not present.

Vitamin b12 deficiency can be a very serious condition with lasting effects, it should not be ignored. Vitamin b12 deficiency is treatable and curable with no lasting damage if caught in time.

Intrinsic factor is a protein produced by the cells of the stomach, parietal cells, which also produce the acid (gastric juice) for digestion. The intrinsic factor is the compound which facilitates and allows the absorption of vitamin B12 from food in the stomach and the intestines.

Once ingested the B12 becomes bound to a binding proteins present in the hydrochloric acid of the stomach. In the less acidic environment of the small intestine, these proteins separate from the vitamin, enabling it to bind to intrinsic factor and enter the bloodstream.

 The intrinsic factor is an enzyme-like unidentified substance secreted by the stomach. It is present in the gastric juice as well as in the gastric mucous membrane. The optimum pH for the action of the intrinsic factor is 7 and it is inactivated at temperatures above 45^oC.

In pernicious anemia, an autoimmune disease, autoantibodies direct themselves against the intrinsic factor and/or parietal cells themselves and lead to an intrinsic factor deficiency, which results in malabsorption of vitamin B12. Atrophic gastritis, an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach, can also cause intrinsic factor deficiency and anemia through damage to the parietal cells. Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency can interfere with normal dissociation of vitamin B12 from the proteins, as well preventing its absorption via the intrinsic factor structure. Bariatric surgery is a known risk factor in the development of pernicious anemia, other risk factors include stomach tumors, gastric ulcers, and excessive consumption of alcohol.

Patients experiencing an insufficiency in their intrinsic factor levels cannot benefit from a low dose oral vitamin B-12 supplement, because it will not absorb through the wall of the small intestine. Historically, the disease was thought untreatable before the discovery that it could be managed with regular injections of vitamin B-12, thus bypassing the digestive tract. Other options are available nowadays if injections are not the desired method of supplementation.

More than 70% of people over the age of 50 are thought to suffer from some form of vitamin b12 deficiency.  When this occurs your body is being deprived of an essential vitamin.  B12 is needed in order for your body to make red blood cells.  Therefore when your body does not have enough vitamin b12 it can lead to anemia. Red blood cells are critical as they carry oxygen through the body.  A person with vitamin b12 deficiency may feel very lethargic, weak, and tired.  There are different methods for a person to receive vitamin b12 such as through vitamin b12 injections or using vitamin b12 patch.  The b12 patch is very convenient for people rather than having to get monthly b12 shots all the time.  With the B12 patch they can avoid all the hassles associated with getting b12 shots.

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.

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.

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.

About Vitamin B12 Injections

Vitamin B12 injections are only administered when there is no other way of supplementation. Injections are mostly used in cases of diseases caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. Injections are usually administered to people who have a medical problem known as pernicious anemia, a condition in which the patient is not capable of absorbing vitamin B12 via the intestine. Injections are also administered to those who suffer from a diseased intestine or have a large part of their stomach or intestines removed. Vitamin B12 injections are only given by or under the supervision of a health care professional. In the United States, injections of vitamin B12 are generally available in two types, cyanocobalamin and hydroxocobalamin.

Advantages of Vitamin B12 Injections

Vitamin B12 injections have been used for a long time, especially by many politicians and famous personalities from the entertainment industry. There are several reasons why. The injection contains 500 times more vitamin B12 than the recommended daily dosage.  When injected, vitamin B12 is easily absorbed by the body and then utilized in the formation of red blood cells as well as aiding in the maintenance of a healthy nervous and cardiovascular system.  The three major health benefits of vitamin B12 injections are an increase in energy, sleeping better, and a feeling of alertness.  However, people often complain of bruises and soreness in the area where the vitamin B12 was injected.