If you’re planning a pregnancy, you might want to check your B12 levels- numerous reports link vitamin B12 deficiency during pregnancy with miscarriage, spontaneous abortion, and other fertility problems.  B12 deficiency anemia- pernicious anemia- makes it harder for women to conceive, as well as for men to produce fertile sperm.

Medical research proves the fertility-B12 deficiency link

One of the most famous studies on fertility and B12 deficiency examined fourteen women of childbearing age who suffered vitamin B12 deficiency:

• All women who participated in the study suffered severe vitamin B12 deficiency anemia in addition to low fertility- Four had been trying unsuccessfully to conceive for two to eight years, and eleven experienced repeated miscarriages and spontaneous abortions.
• Dr. Michael Bennett, hematologist of the Ha’Emek Medical Center in Afula, Israel, implemented vitamin B12 supplementation to see if it would have any effect on their ability to conceive and have healthy pregnancies.
• If fetal loss were to continue despite elevating B12 levels, it would prove that infertility was unrelated to B12 deficiency or pernicious anemia symptoms.
• Instead, result showed that ten out of the fourteen test subjects conceived after starting rounds of vitamin B12 supplements.  Out of the ten women, six became pregnant after only three months of starting vitamin B12.  One, who had seven miscarriages before the B12 study, was finally able to conceive after starting her vitamin B12 regimen, and had three healthy babies.

Dr. Bennett explains the connection

• Bennett notes that B12 deficiency, combined with folate deficiency, led to thrombophilia (blood clotting) in seven of the women studied, thus increasing their risk for miscarriage.
• He believes that taking large amounts of folic acid, a nutrient prescribed to women of childbearing age, often masks B12 deficiency symptoms, making it harder to diagnose and treat.
• In his conclusion, Dr. Bennett attributes raised homocysteine levels, a symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency, with repeated fetal loss, and over time, ovulation disorder.

“Correcting this deficiency can rapidly lead to a normal pregnancy,” states Bennett.  “This study illustrates the importance of measuring B12 levels…in every patient investigated for infertility or recurrent (miscarriage).”

Report findings are available by The Journal of Reproductive Medicine.

Why does my body need B12?

Vitamin B12 benefits your body in many ways- it helps to produce red blood cells, promotes DNA synthesis, guards the nervous system’s myelin sheath, maintains cognitive functioning, lowers homocysteine levels, and supports metabolism.  Left untreated, vitamin B12 deficiency can cause illnesses such as pernicious (megaloblastic) anemia, brain atrophy, osteoporosis, heart attack, and stroke.

B12 Deficiency: Don’t Ignore the Symptoms

What symptoms are associated with vitamin B12 deficiency?

Since vitamin B12 interacts with so many different areas of the body, many seemingly unrelated symptoms indicate vitamin B12 deficiency.  Pernicious anemia masks itself as mental illness, diabetes, celiac disease, fibromyalgia, hypothyroid, and other chronic conditions.

Some common symptoms of B12 deficiency:

• Depression
• Chronic fatigue
• Memory loss
• Difficulty concentrating
• “Brain fog”
• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Hallucinations
• Painful tingling, numbness or “prickly” sensations, mainly in the hands and feet
• Sore, swollen tongue
• Altered sense of taste
• Loss of balance while walking, running, or jumping
• Decreased fine motor skills
• Muscular feebleness
• Heart palpitations

Read more about B12 deficiency and pregnancy:

Pregnant Moms and Low B-12 Levels: Let ‘em Eat Steak!

Avoiding Vitamin B12 Deficiency while Breast Feeding

Are Vegans in France Responsible for Breast-fed Baby’s Death?

Sources:

Vitamin B12 deficiency, infertility and recurrent fetal loss- PubMed, NCBI

Lack Of Vitamin B12 Linked To Repeat Miscarriage

Vitamin B12 deficiency, infertility and miscarriage

Pernicious Anemia

Image credits, from top:

Stuart Miles, Ambro, photostock, winnond

For years, vitamin B12 has been the staple energy vitamin for stars such as Madonna, Justin Timberlake, and Prince.  Now, B12 vitamins are part of Glee star Lea Michele’s regimen against vitamin B12 deficiency. Find out why celebrities such as Lea Michele rely on B12 supplements for added stamina, strength, and mental focus.

The Glee star’s secret to weight loss

How does Lea Michele, who plays the bossy, competitive, (and sometimes infuriating) Rachel on Glee keep her figure?  Recently, she confessed to following a strictly macrobiotic vegan diet, composed of mostly vegetables, grains, and beans. By cutting out meat, chicken, and dairy products from her diet, Lea has managed to lose ten pounds since she first started filming on the set.

Vitamin B12 for Weight Loss- Why it Works

How does she avoid B12 deficiency?

Lea admits to also eating a few servings of fish per week, in order to avoid getting vitamin B12 deficiency.  Since Vitamin B12 occurs only in animal-based foods, such as meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and milk, supplementing with extra vitamin B12 is crucial for avoiding low B12 blood levels.  How does she justify introducing a non-vegan source into her vegan diet?  Apparently, macrobiotic veganism makes special allowances for seafood.  Lea Michele understands that a diet low in vitamin B12 is a diet that leads to B12 deficiency symptoms.

Balance your B12, Balance your Nerves

What are the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency?

People who deplete their stores of vitamin B12 encounter symptoms such as extreme fatigue, muscular weakness, depression, diminished coordination, memory loss, and frequent numbness or tingling sensations (pins and needles) in their hands, arms, legs, and feet. Untreated, vitamin B12 deficiency escalates into pernicious anemia, dementia, neurological damage, osteoporosis, and increased risk for heart attack, cancer, and stroke.

6 Degrees of Vitamin B12- B12 Deficiency and Autoimmune Disease

How does vitamin B12 benefit an active lifestyle?

Vitamin B12 influences a wide range of bodily functions- by ensuring balanced B12 levels in your blood supply, you feel more energized, stimulated, confident, and “gleeful.”

• Vitamin B12 is instrumental in DNA synthesis
• Vitamin B12 protects your nervous system
• Vitamin B12 boosts your metabolism
• Vitamin B12 controls homocysteine levels, reducing your risk of heart disease and stroke
• Vitamin B12 supports cognitive functioning
• Vitamin B12 protects you from vitamin deficiency symptoms of fatigue, depression, anxiety, and “brain fog”
• Vitamin B12 helps you stay on track with your fitness regimen and enables you to make better food choices

Read more about the many health benefits of vitamin B12:

Justin Bieber among 10 Celeb “Beliebers” in Vitamin B12 Shots

The Vitamin B12 Patch for Energy

The Many Benefits of Vitamin B12…

Sources:

Lea Michele Bikini Body Secrets Includes Diet, B12 Shots

Vitamin B12 | ‘Glee’ The star Lea Michele surprisingly fit

Lea Michele Injects B12 and Eats Fish, According to ASOS Magazine

Image credits, from top:

gospelportals, karlnorling,

Being tired all the time is a symptom of B12 deficiency, but it can also signal hypothyroidism (low thyroid), a thyroid disease that occurs with low B12 levels.  Because hypothyroid symptoms are similar, vitamin B12 deficiency often goes undetected.

B12 deficiency causes fatigue, depression, and other mood disorders often associated with an underactive thyroid. If you’ve been diagnosed with thyroiditis, then it’s also important also to recognize the symptoms of B12 deficiency, and know whether you might require more vitamin B12 (cobalamin).

What is hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism is an autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) that occurs in the thyroid gland, causing inflammation, and reducing its ability to produce sufficient amounts of thyroid hormones.  Hashimoto’s disease is one example of thyroiditis that causes low thyroid levels.  Sometimes, thyroid treatment for hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), such as radioactive iodine or surgery, can backfire, causing underactive thyroid symptoms.

Why am I always tired?  Symptoms of hypothyroidism

Symptoms of low thyroid include:

• Empty facial expressions
• Husky, gravelly voice
• Chronic fatigue, tiredness
• Sluggish, droning speech patterns
• “Brain fog,” or confusion
• Depression
• Uncontrolled weight gain
• Droopy eyelids
• Puffy, bloated face
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Dry skin and hair
• Sparse hair, including eyebrows
• Tingling and numbness in the hands and feet
• Muscular pain
• Feebleness
• Slow resting heart rate
• Orange-colored skin on the hands and feet
• Heavy menstrual periods in women

Vitamin B12 for Healthy Hair, Skin and Nails

Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms

Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble nutrient that is responsible for making red blood cells, controlling DNA synthesis, regulating the nervous system, and improving cognitive functioning.  Without proper levels of B12, you may suffer pernicious anemia, neurological damage, dementia, or heart attack resulting from elevated homocysteine levels.

Low B12 symptoms include:

• Depression
• Chronic fatigue, tiredness
• Anxiety
• Short-term memory loss
• “Brain fog,” or confusion
• Difficulty concentrating
• Neurosis
• Altered taste perception
• Swollen, red tongue
• Tingling and numbness in the hands and feet
• Awkward hand movements
• Loss of balance
• Clumsiness and stumbling
• Sleep problems

Balance your B12, Balance your Nerves

Thyroid disease and low B12 levels

In a study conducted in Sapir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel, patients with autoimmune thyroid disease received blood screening for vitamin B12 deficiency.  Researchers noted a significantly high percentage of people with AITD who also had B12 deficiency, in addition to pernicious anemia symptoms, a blood disease associated with low B12 levels.

Another study conducted in Pakistan by Aga Khan University produced similar results; namely, a 40% prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency among patients with hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism treatment

If you are a patient of hypothyroidism, then physicians strongly recommend routine blood testing for vitamin B12 deficiency, regardless of thyroid hormone levels.

Read more about B12 deficiency:

6 Degrees of Vitamin B12- B12 Deficiency and Autoimmune Disease

Worried about Low B12 Lab Results?

Female Rapper Missy Elliot, 15 Celebs with Thyroid Disorders

Sources:

Prevalence and evaluation of B12 deficiency in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease- PubMed NCBI

Hypothyroidism- PubMed Health

Vitamin B12 deficiency common in primary hypothyroidism- PubMed NCBI

Hypothyroidism & Vitamin B12 Deficiency- LIVESTRONG.COM

Vitamin B12 deficiency common in primary hypothyroidism

Image credits, from top:

vitasamb2001, jscreationzs, Ambro

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

It’s best to avoid drinking too much alcohol, and chronic alcohol abuse is detrimental, not only for your health, but for the mental health of your loved ones.  If you suffer from alcohol addiction, please seek help from a professional, or call your local Alcoholics Anonymous.

What is a hangover?

• A hangover (medical term: Veisalgia) is the aftereffect of your body’s reaction to sudden vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms, in addition to intoxication, hypoglycemia, and dehydration.
• Hangovers are symptoms of alcohol poisoning that many happen after binging on alcoholic beverages.  Certain factors affect your chances of suffering a hangover after drinking, such as body weight, amount of alcohol consumption, and emptiness of stomach.
• A hangover can last for several days following an alcoholic binge.
• Common symptoms of a hangover may include throbbing headache, nausea, fatigue, anxiety, increased sensitivity to bright light and loud noise, and severe thirst.

Vitamin B12- one of many essential B vitamins

Vitamin B12 is crucial for healthy brain development and functioning, in addition to stabilizing the nervous system, producing red blood cells, and reducing your risk for heart attack or stroke.  Vitamin B12, or Cobalamin, is part of the family of B-complex vitamins.

1. Cyanocobalamin (B12)
2. Pyridoxine (B6)
3. Thiamine
4. Folic acid
5. Biotin
6. Niacin
7. Riboflavin
8. Pantothenic acid

B12 deficiency symptoms include fatigue, loss of energy, “brain fog,” short-term memory loss, increased risk of early-onset dementia, and neurological damage.

Vitamin B12- a hangover cure?

Scientists have noted a strong correlation between hangover symptoms and low B12.

• According to Dr. David Katz of the Yale Prevention Research Center, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol inhibits your body’s ability to absorb nutrients such as vitamin B12 and vitamin B6.
• Depending on your level of intoxication, B12 deficiency could be mild- resulting in tiredness, disorientation, and dizziness- or severe, causing extreme depression, nervousness, paranoia, and neurological disorders.
• Taking extra doses of B-complex vitamins, especially vitamin B12 and vitamin B6, before drinking alcohol and the following day, are excellent ways of avoiding hangover.  Also, remember to drink plenty of water throughout the day and evening.

Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency:

B12 and Alcohol Consumption

Vitamin Deficiencies can drive you Crazy- Seriously! Part 1

The Vitamin B12 Patch for Energy

Sources:

• Ten Tried And True Hangover Cures- Forbes.com
• Vitamin B12 vs. The Hangover
• Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)
• Top 10 Hangover Cures
• How to Prevent a Hangover with Vitamin B Complex- eHow.com
• Hangover Cures Causes and Remedies

Image credits:

(From top) Rob Wiltshire, Stuart Miles, ahmet guler, Tina Phillips

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

B12 vitamins are essential for hair growth, strong nails and healthy skin, according to numerous studies. Learn how vitamin B12 supplements can prevent hair loss, premature whitening, brittle nails and skin lesions.

Vitamin B12 info:

Vitamin B12 is found in many high protein foods; great sources of B12 are lean beef, chicken, shellfish, eggs and dairy products. Vitamin B12 benefits the nervous system, red blood cells and DNA. Also, many studies have linked vitamin B12 deficiency with unhealthy hair, skin and nails.

What are the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency?

Some red flags which might indicate B12 deficiency symptoms are:

• Extreme fatigue
• Numbness or tingling in hands and feet
• Forgetting things more than usual
• Depression
• For more info about B12 deficiency, read: Getting Enough Vitamin B12? Three Reasons Why You Might Not Be

Look at your nails. Can you see the white moons, or have they disappeared? What about your hair; have you noticed any premature hair loss or graying? You might not be getting sufficient vitamin B12 in your diet. Research proves that B12 is one of the best vitamins for hair, skin and nails.

Vitamin B12 hair facts

A large percentage of individuals who have low B12 levels also suffer from premature hair loss; premature streaks of white hair are another symptom. Health experts explain that it’s your body’s way of warning you to increase vitamin supplements; vitamins that are good for your inner body are also good for external skin, hair and nails.

Another B vitamin, biotin, has also been proven to reduce hair loss. Biotin is essential for developing hair follicles, boosting hair growth, and generally building strong hair, skin and nails.

Read more about vitamins for hair: B Today, Hair Tomorrow

Vitamin B12 for skin

What is your skin trying to tell you about your B12 levels? Case studies have linked low B12 with skin lesions; hyperpigmentation and vitiligo are common causes of darkening or lightening of the skin, and often signal a deficiency of vitamins which are good for the skin.

Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency and skin.

Vitamin B12 and  fingernails

Poor fingernail health is another common sign of vitamin B12 deficiency; symptoms include ridged nail surfaces and disappearing of the “moon” at the cuticle. Not getting enough of the B vitamin, biotin? Brittle nails mean you need to supplement with more vitamin B complex.  Spooning of the nail bed means you need more iron and yellow nails signal lack of vitamin E.

Read more about taking vitamin B12 supplements for health: B12: Celebs Say it’s the New C

Vitamin B12 is among the best vitamins for hair growth, strong nails and vibrant skin. B12 supplements are available in the form of vitamin B12 shots, B12 pills or vitamin B12 patches.

Sources:

WebMD, About.com, PubMed, LIVESTRONG, FYI Living

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.