Welcome to the Vitamin B12 Patch blog! Find information on topics related to vitamin B12. This blog is dedicated to providing up to date research, news and resources pertaining to vitamin B12 supplements, symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency and general health information surrounding the benefits of vitamin B12. Learn from, and contribute to information on B12, conditions caused by vitamin B12 deficiency and other connected subjects. This blog also provides B12 Patch product information and discusses some of the science behind the transdermal absorption method. Feel free to participate in blog discussions and contribute your opinion on the related topics covered in the Vitamin B12 Patch blog.
Do you know how much B12 you need in order to avoid vitamin B12 deficiency? Unless you supplement B12 levels with a weekly B12 shot or B12 patch, you could wind up with dangerously lowB12. Find out if your B12 blood levels are normal and how much you need to meet the FDA’s RDA of vitamin B12.
What are the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency?
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) is a water-soluble nutrient that your body gets from protein sources, such as beef, chicken, liver, fish, eggs, and dairy products. Your body uses vitamin B12 for DNA synthesis, protecting your nervous system, and strengthening cognitive skills. Symptoms that indicate a low vitamin B12level include constant fatigue, difficulty concentrating, memory loss, tingling or numbness in your hands and feet, depression, agitation, altered taste perception, and red, swollen tongue.
How much B12 is in my blood right now?
By performing a blood test, your doctor can tell you if you are deficient in vitamin B12, or if you have normal B12 levels. Vitamin B12 blood screening requires a 6-8 hour fast before testing. Laboratory tests will measure how many picograms (pg) of cobalamin you have per milliliter (ml) of blood in your body.
How much B12 should I have?
Scientists agree that a normal level of vitamin B12 in your blood is 200 – 900 picograms per milliliter (200-900 pg/ml).
Test results showing less than 200 pg/ml signal vitamin B12 deficiency.
For elderly adults, the recommended vitamin B12 level is much higher- Test results showing less than 500 pg/ml indicates B12 deficiency.
In order to find the cause of a vitamin B12 deficiency, doctors may perform a Schilling test.
What is the recommended dose of vitamin B12?
The FDA’s RDA of vitamin B12 for healthy adults is approximately three mcg daily for males and females alike, including pregnant and nursing moms.
For elderly individuals, the recommended dose of vitamin B12 is 25-100 mcg per day.
Scientific study proves that the RDA for B12 is off.
According to a study conducted in the Netherlands, elderly sufferers of vitamin B12 deficiency need more than the recommended daily allowance (RDA) in order to achieve normal levels of B12.
Using methylmalonic acid (MMA) levels as a gauge, scientists established that cyanocobalamin supplementation amounting to 200 times the RDA of vitamin B12 is required in order to stabilize B12 levels in patients showing signs of vitamin B12 deficiency.
How much vitamin B12 do you really need?
Vitamin B12 shots administering a daily doseof 1,000 mcg of cobalamin are prescribed for the first 10 days following diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency, continuing with a weekly dose of 1,000 mcg for a consecutive 4-week period.
One vitamin B12 patch contains a 1,000-mcg dose of b12 based on a B12 injection.
Vitamin B-12 (Cobalamin) originates in most protein foods, but even meat-eaters can get vitamin B12deficiency. 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.
Vitamin B12 deficiency is linked with so many types of autoimmune disease; it’s almost like the game “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.” Guess what vitamin B12, IBS, cardiovascular disease, and many kinds ofchronic disease have in common…
B12 deficiency- why worry?
Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble nutrient, one of many B vitamins, that is crucial for optimum health. If you don’t get enough vitamin B12 from meat, chicken, fish, and eggs, from B12 shots or a B12 patch, then you could suffer severe vitamin B12 deficiency, which includes symptoms such as short-term memory loss, tingling in hands and feet, chronic fatigue syndrome, and depression. People who are at risk of developing vitamin B12 deficiency are vegans, patients of gastric bypass surgery, diabetes sufferers, individuals on heartburn medicine, and anybody with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Vitamin B12 deficiency is also linked with many autoimmune diseases.
Here are 12 illnesses that are“6 degrees” away from vitamin B12 deficiency:
1) Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a digestive disease that includes illnesses such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is one of many IBD symptoms, such as chronic diarrhea, stomachcramping, nausea, heartburn, and constipation. IBD can cause severe damage to the intestines, including the colon. People with inflammatory bowel disease have difficulty digesting vitamins and minerals from food, which is why they must take regular vitamin supplements. Because their illness occurs in the digestive system, many IBD patients take vitamin B12 shots in order to avoid B12 deficiency, as vitamin B12 pills are ineffective.
Celiacs disease is an autoimmune disease that attacks the digestive system with the consumption of gluten. Celiac disease symptoms include indigestion, diarrhea, malnourishment, and nausea. Gluten intolerance symptoms occur whenever a celiac disease patient consumes a product containing gluten, a protein that occurs in wheat, rye, and barley. Because of their difficulty digesting vitamins, celiac disease sufferers should supplement regularly with non-oral forms of vitamin B12.
Auto [fibromyalgia symptoms] [symptoms of fibromyalgia]
Fibromyalgia symptoms strike 1 in 50 Americans. Many people don’t realize that fibromyalgia is an autoimmune disease. Symptoms of fibromyalgia include chronic pain, fatigue, depression, insomnia, and “fibro fog” (disorientation). Many people who suffer from fibromyalgia also exhibit signs of vitamin B12 deficiency.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is another autoimmune disease, similar to fibromyalgia, which is closely linked with vitamin B12 deficiency. Scientists have noted an extremely high correlation between all three conditions- fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and B12 deficiency. Symptoms of CFS are extreme tiredness upon waking up in the morning, fatigue following minimal physical exertion, achy joints, and fibro fog.
Diabetics who take the drug metformin are susceptible to vitamin B12 deficiency, say scientists. Scientific studies linking low B12 levels with long-term usage of metformin indicate a 77% chance of developing peripheral neuropathy.
Some symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are often misdiagnosed as psychiatric disorders, such as depression, anxiety disorder, manic depression, or paranoia.
Stomach acids are essential for digesting vitamin B12 naturally from food sources. That is why people who take heartburn medication frequently, such as people with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) or pregnant women, must take care to avoid B12 deficiency.
Some weight loss surgery procedures involve removing the terminal ilium, a part of the digestive system that is responsible for absorbing vitamin B12. For that reason, patients of bariatric surgery are strongly advised to supplement with non-oral vitamin B12.
Vitamin B12, vitamin B6, and folate all work together in lowering your body’s level of homocysteine; an amino acid that scientists believe may contribute to heart disease and stroke.
Autoimmune thyroid disease, also called Hashimoto’s disease, is an autoimmune disease that causes hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid gland. There is an unusually high correlation between instances of autoimmune thyroid disease and pernicious anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. Because some of the symptoms of thyroid disease mimic pernicious anemia, many doctors overlook the possibility of vitamin B12 deficiency.
12) Dementia
In many studies, scientists have noticed that elderly individuals with low levels of B12 are more likely to suffer from early onset dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, than elderly individuals who maintain adequate levels of vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 deficiency also correlates with decreased cognitive ability.
Sufferers of celiac disease follow a gluten free diet, but many don’t add vitamin B12. People with autoimmune disease or gluten intolerance getB12 deficiency more often than not, according to health experts. Doctors advise sufferers of digestive diseases or pernicious anemia to supplement with B12 injections or B12 patch.
Celiac disease facts:
“Alternative Names: Also classified as a disease of nutrient malabsorption, celiac disease is also known as celiac sprue, nontropical sprue and gluten-sensitive enteropathy.” –DiagnoseMe.com
Celiac disease (Gluten Enteropathy) is a digestive disease that causes severe damage to the small intestine’s lining.
Celiac disease is also an autoimmune disease. When any food containing gluten enters the body, the body proceeds to attack its own digestive system, harming the inner lining of the small intestine.
Gluten is a protein that occurs primarily in wheat, rye, and barley. All baked goods, snacks, or condiments that contain gluten are hazardous to patients with celiac disease.
Celiac disease patients have difficulty digesting vitamins and minerals from food sources, particularly vitamin B12, which can lead to severe vitamin B12 deficiency.
Some symptoms of celiac disease include diarrhea, stomach cramping, nausea, flatulence, blood in the stool, pernicious anemia caused by B12 deficiency, and stunted growth.
There is no confirmed cure for celiac disease. Physicians recommend lifestyle changes, such as following a gluten-free diet and supplementing with vitamin B12 injections or vitamin B12 patch.
Vitamin B12 deficiency: What’s the connection?
“Since most B12 in our diets comes from animal products, vegans are at risk for B12 deficiency. Crohn’s and celiac disease, weight loss surgery, and chronic alcoholism can all interfere with a person’s ability to absorb enough of the nutrients they need. Seniors have more problems with nutrient absorption and malnutrition as well.” –WebMD
Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble nutrient that occurs naturally in protein sources such as beef, chicken, fish, eggs, and milk products.
Your body needs vitamin B12 for the nervous system, building red blood cells, mental clarity, maintaining metabolism, and preventing dementia.
According to one study, celiac disease patients run a high risk of developing vitamin deviancies. Out of over 400 celiac disease patients, 12% suffered folate deficiency and 5% were deficient in vitamin B12. Among men, 33% had iron deficiency, while 19% of women had low iron levels.
Scientists conclude that damage to the small intestine in celiac disease patients prevents them from properly absorbing nutrients, thus causing severe malnourishment.
Scientists also speculate that following a gluten-free diet might also contribute to vitamin deficiencies, adding that many gluten-free products lack sufficient B vitamins, calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, fiber or vitamin D.
Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms and treatment
“The B-12 patch provides 1,000 mcg of B-12 and works in a similar way as the B-12 injection. This tiny patch goes right behind your ear, providing a stream of B-12 into your system for an entire week. When you wear the patch, B-12 goes through the epidermis and dermis directly into small blood vessels called capillaries.” -Livestrong
Only a blood screening for low B12 can confirm if you have vitamin B12 deficiency.
Some symptoms of B12 deficiency include fatigue, depression, psychosis, memory loss, brain fog, tingling or numbness in the hands and/or feet, altered taste perception, and loss of balance.
Unless treated, vitamin B12 deficiency could escalate into severe neurological damage, pernicious anemia, dementia (Alzheimer’s disease), and increased risk for heart attack and stroke. (See B Vitamins prevent Cardiovascular Disease- B6, B12 and Folate.)
In some cases, following a gluten-free diet is effective at maintaining vitamin B12 levels.
For people who exhibit celiac disease symptoms in addition to symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, doctors advise immediate supplementation of B12.
Vitamin B12 supplementation can include weekly B12 injections, and may follow up with sublingual vitamin B12 tablets.
For many, B12 shots cause bruising, and are extremely painful, as they require insertion into thick, muscular tissue. A popular alternative is to supplement with a weekly vitamin B12 patch, which administers the same amount of vitamin B12 as the B12 injections, without the pain, and doesn’t require prescription.
Vitamin B12 deficiency causes unexplained bruising, but so do cyanocobalaminvitamin B12 shots. Pernicious anemia symptoms (easy bruising, low blood platelets) are treatable with vitamin B12 Cyanocobalamin injections, but (methylcobalamin) B12 shots side effects are painful and inconvenient.
Vitamin B12 benefits
Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that your body needs to make sufficient red blood cells (hemoglobin) and to keep your nervous system running smoothly. Without sufficient vitamin B12, you might develop B12 deficiency, which causes side effects such as chronic fatigue, “brain fog,” loss of balance, memory loss, depression, altered taste perception, and tingling or numbness in the hands and feet. (For more information about vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms, see B12 Deficiency: Don’t Ignore the Symptoms.)
Vitamin B12 deficiency and pernicious anemia
Vitamin B12 deficiency often occurs in people who lack intrinsic factor, and are thus unable to digest vitamin B12 in natural food sources, such as beef, chicken, fish, eggs, and milk products. Left untreated, vitamin B12 deficiency could result in pernicious anemia (a form of megaloblastic anemia), in addition to increased risk for cardiovascular disease and severe damage to your nervous system. Some anemia symptoms include:
If your doctor diagnoses vitamin B12 deficiency, then he will prescribe vitamin B12 supplements, often as a vitamin B12 injection administered on a weekly basis. The B12 shot is inserted through the thick tissue near the thigh, and is usually very painful. Many B12 deficiency patients report profuse bleeding, sore muscles, and bruising as a result of their weekly B1 shot. Some pernicious anemia patients opt to insert their vitamin B12 injection at home for better convenience. (See How to Give Vitamin B12 Injection.) Still, reports of unexplained bruising and soreness from B12 shots continue:
“Vitamin B12 injections can sometimes cause bruising and soreness where the needle was inserted. Other side-effects include feeling sick, headaches, and dizziness, but these are rare.”(Vitamin B12-deficiency Anaemia- BUPA)
Alternatives to vitamin B12 injections
For patients who dread painful intramuscular B12 shots, there are some alternatives. Sublingual vitamin B12 pills that dissolve under your tongue are available, but health experts dispute their effectiveness. An increasingly popular option is to supplement with a weekly vitamin B12 patch, which contains the same dosage of B12 in one week as a single weekly vitamin B12 injection.
Celebrities like Madonna, Kate Perry and musical boy genius Justin Bieber get vitamin B12 injections regularly. Watch the YouTube video of Justin Bieber talking about getting his shot in the you-know-where!
Q: What are B12 shots, and what are their benefits, anyways?
A: Vitamin B12 shots are usually given to people with vitamin B12 deficiency , but stars are also finding that the benefits of vitamin B12 shots include:
Weight loss
Energy
Clear skin
Thick hair
Stress reduction
Not bad, for one water-soluble vitamin. B12 shots are painful, though, and you have to take them in the buttocks. (Ouch!)
I’ll take a B12 patch over a sharp needle in the behind any day. (Note to the uninformed: The B12 patch goes behind the ear, not the rear.)
Here are the top 10 most famous celebrities who rave about their vitamin B12 shots:
#1 & #2- Justin Biebertold Chelsea Handlerin an interview on her E! network show that he was feeling a little wiped out, but wasn’t looking forward to getting a B-12 shot, “in his butt.” (Will somebody send poor Bieber aB12 Patch, please?) The late night comedienne and former Playboy model is also a fan of B12 shots. She once even posted a pic on Twitter of herself getting a B12 shot in her bare behind. What’s the Difference between B12 Patches and B12 Pills, Anyways?
Madonna carries B12 on the go
#3 & #4- Madonna got Justin Timberlake hooked on vitamin B12 injections. Timberlake, when he was asked to speak about Madonna’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, told the audience all about his first B12 experience: Madonna was visiting him in a recording studio, when she whipped a syringe out of her purse, told Justin to drop trou, and proceeded to give him a shot of B12 right on the spot! He’s been taking B12 for increased energy ever since. B12: Celebs Say it’s the New C
#6- Cher Lloyd has raised a lot of eyebrows on the UK show, The X Factor, for bullying the other reality show competitors and acting like a stressed out teenzilla. It’s no wonder that mentor Cheryl Cole advised her to go to a clinic for a vitamin B12 shot, which she explained would help her fight chronic fatigue, nervousness and low immunity. Along with giving Cher more energy, the vitamin B12 supplements have also helped her deal with her stage fright. Got PMS? Let B Vitamins Ease your Pain
#7-Pirates of the Caribbean star, Penelope Cruz, says, “I can’t live without my vitamin B.” She takes vitamin B supplements to help her stick to her diet, resist the urge for sweets and for well-being. It’s National Nutrition Month: Are You Eating Your 5 Colors a Day?
Johnny and Penelope at Pirates opening
#8- Lindsay Lohan- Like Cher Lloyd, Lindsay has also had her share of teen antics, including many all-night parties and club-hopping. To get her back into shape the morning after, Lindsay often demands a dose of B12 for energy, focus and mental balance. 7 Reasons You Have Brain Fog…And What to do About It
#10 Princedidn’t miss the bus on vitamin B12, either. The 58-year-old crooner, once voted “Sexiest Vegetarian” gets his vitamin B12 shots before every concert to give him the stamina he needs to strut his stuff on-stage. 6 Must-Eat Foods for Die-Hard Vegans
Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency and how to prevent it:
Does it matter if I get my vitamin supplements from a B12 patch or a vitamin B12 pill? Aren’t they equally effective at preventing B12 deficiency symptoms? No, and here’s why..
What is sublingual delivery?
“Sublingual delivery” implies that medication is absorbed through the blood vessels under your tongue, and dispensed directly into your bloodstream, making it one of the most efficient, quickest and practical ways to get your vitamin supplements. The tablet, when placed under the tongue, dissolves immediately through your blood capillaries and is disbursed into your bloodstream. Because they are utilized so quickly, sublingual vitamin pills need only contain a small fraction of the amount of vitamins per dose as non-sublingual pills in order to achieve the same results. (More on this later.)
How are non-sublingual pills absorbed?
A vitamin pill that you swallow reaches your bloodstream indirectly. First, it must travel through your esophagus and your stomach, after which time it is absorbed in your intestinal tract. For proper digestion of vitamin B12, your body must make sufficient stomach acids and have the protein, intrinsic factor. Because regular vitamin pills are harder to digest than sublinguals, they are prescribed at a hight dose, generally 1,000 mcg. per pill.
Regarding vitamin B12 tablets sold as “sublingual B12 pills”
The vitamin B12 tablets which are labeled “sublingual” do dissolve in your mouth, but that’s where they stay until they are swallowed. You are instructed to place one under your tongue, but instead of disappearing through your membranes, they most likely enter the body the same way as any other tablet you would swallow- through the esophagus, on to the stomach, and eventually released into the blood. Furthermore, the so-called sublingual B12 pills have exactly the same amount of vitamin B12 per dose as the other pills, proving that they are really no different, after all. (Refer to earlier note about sublingual dosage.)
How does transdermal delivery work?
Transdermal patches bypass the digestive system completely by going straight into your bloodstream. Our B12 patches contain 1,000 mcg. of vitamin B12 per unit- the same amount contained in weekly B12 injections which are prescribed for patients with vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms.
What are the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency?
Vitamin B12 is needed for red blood cell production, DNA synthesis, mental clarity, regulating homocysteine levels and maintaining a healthy nervous system. Deficiencies in B12 could cause severe neurological damage, pernicious anemia and increased risk for stroke or heart attack.
The most common symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are:
Chronic fatigue
Depression
Short-term memory loss
Sleep difficulties
Aggression
Numbness and tingling in hands and feet
Altered taste perception
Vision abnormalities
Dizziness
Decrease in coordination and physical balance
Read more about the signs of vitamin B12 deficiency:
Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble nutrient which your body needs to maintain a healthy nervous system, produce ample amounts of red blood cells, protect brain functioning and assist your metabolism. Vitamin B12 also monitors homocysteine, an amino acid which is associated with increased risk for heart attack and stroke.
How can I include vitamin B12 in my diet?
Animal proteins are especially high in vitamin B12. For that reason, vegans are warned to get B12 supplementation regularly in order to avoid B12 deficiency. Food sources which are rich in vitamin B12 include:
Lean meats, particularly beef chuck and organ meats, such as liver, kidneys and heart
Fish, including salmon and halibut, and shellfish, such as clam, crab, mussels and oysters
Dairy products, including Swiss cheese, yogurt and milk
Vitamin B12 deficiency can only be diagnosed through a blood screening. It’s important to recognize the B12 deficiency symptoms in the early stages, in order to prevent serious neurological damage, pernicious anemia, heart attack or stroke and dementia.
Some of the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are:
Are nursing mothers at risk for getting vitamin B12 deficiency?
Breast feeding mothers are more likely to suffer vitamin deficiencies than mothers who bottle-feed; this is because a significant amount of nutrients they consume are shared with the baby. In order to maintain healthy levels of vitamin B12, nursing moms must make up the difference by either taking vitamin B12 supplements or increasing their consumption of B12 in their diet.
If I nurse often, is my baby still at risk for becoming deficient in vitamin B12?
Milk is high in vitamin B12. However, the milk of a nursing mother who has vitamin B12 deficiency will likewise have low levels of vitamin B12. And while an adult could harbor low B12 levels for a long time before showing any signs of B12 deficiency, a malnourished infant can develop symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency very quickly. If left untreated, vitamin B12 deficiency in infants could lead to:
What vitamin B12 supplements are available for me and my baby?
Nursing vegan moms and pregnant women are strongly advised to supplement with vitamin B12. If vitamin B12 deficiency is diagnosed, your physician might prescribe vitamin B12 injections. B12 shots can be painful, so a popular option for many who are concerned about vitamin B12 levels is a vitamin B12 patch which may be applied once per week. And while few individuals would buy B12 injections with the intention of self-administering vitamin B12 shots, an increasing number of chronic B12 deficiency patients are opting for the B12 patch for convenience, effectiveness and comfort.
No, it’s not a new television show about bonding with your inner child; intrinsic factor is an essential antibody which allows you to bond with vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is found in many high protein foods, but unless you have intrinsic factor your body isn’t able to grab the B vitamins it needs to prevent vitamin B12 deficiency.
“Does my body really need vitamin B12? Aren’t all B vitamins alike?”
No. Many of the B vitamins complement each other, but each has its own specific task. Vitamin B12 has some very important duties which are vital for your survival. If the body doesn’t get sufficient vitamin B12, then it will be unable to perform some of these essential functions. Vitamin B12 is indispensable for:
Maintaining the myelin sheathe which protects nervesensors, such as those in our hands, mouth and feet
Directing brain-to-body communication through neuron activity
Curbing homocysteine levels, which are linked with increased risk for heart attack or stroke
Producing redbloodcells needed to carry oxygen throughout the body and protect the immune system
DNA synthesis
Preventing or delaying dementia caused by loss of brain mass
“Which foods are high in vitamin B12?”
Vitamin B12 occurs naturally in food sources which are high in protein. The foods that have highlevels of B12 are:
Meat, including lean beef chuck, veal and liver.
Poultry, such as boneless chicken or turkey breast
Fish, including salmon, tuna and halibut
Shellfish, particularly crabmeat, clams, oysters and mussels
Dairy products, including Swiss cheese, yogurt and milk.
Eggs
Vegans are urged to take daily vitamin B12 supplements in order to prevent vitamin deficiency, as their diet specifically excludes food sources which are rich in vitamin B12.
“Okay. So, I eat plenty of protein foods. Do I still need to worry about vitamin B12 deficiency?”
Yes. Individuals who lack intrinsic factor are unable to properly digest B12 naturally from foods and risk becoming severely deficient in vitamin B12. Some people don’t realize they have low B12 levels until they start experiencing some the characteristic symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency. These include:
Chronic fatigue
Depression
Aggression
Paranoia
Short-term memory loss
Sleep disturbances
Occasional dizziness
Difficulty with balance and coordination
Altered taste perception
Numbness or tingling in hands and feet
Left unchecked, severe vitamin B12 deficiency could lead to malnourishment, pernicious anemia, irreversible neurological damage, heart attack, or stroke.
“How can I find out if I’m suffering from B12 deficiency?”
The only way to diagnose vitamin B12 deficiency is through a blood screening. Some physicians don’t include vitamin B12 blood testing with yearly checkups, so it’s important to ask your doctor to check yourvitamin B12 levels in order to avoid deficiency. Chronic B12 deficiency patients are advised to get their B12 levels checked on a regular basis. Also read: Worried about Low B12 Lab Results?
“Which people are at risk for developing vitamin B12 deficiency?”
There are many individuals who must supplement with B12 vitamins, either because they don’t have the intrinsic factor hormone, or because they lack the stomach acids needed to utilize vitamins such as B12; these include gastric bypass patients, people who take regular antacid medication for heartburn or individuals with autoimmune or gastrointestinal diseases, such as Crohn’s disease or AIDS. Other individuals who must take regular vitamin B12 supplements are vegans, strict vegetarians and diabetics who take metformin.
“What kinds of vitamin B12 supplements are available?”
There are several forms of vitamin B12 supplementation; these include:
Vitamin B12 injections. For treating chronic B12 deficiency, physicians will often prescribe routine B12 shots. These injections are painful, as they must be inserted in the dense muscular flesh below the buttocks. Some patients are given one round of vitamin B12 shots once per week, for 3-4 weeks, while others with severe vitamin B12 deficiency require a more extended regimen of B12 injections.
Sublingual vitamin B12 tablets. These are dissolvable pills which are placed under the tongue. Physicians might recommend daily B12 pills as a preventative measure against vitamin B12 deficiency. Some questions have been raised as to the effectiveness of B12 pills, and there are reports that sublingual B12 tablets aren’t absorbed efficiently enough to prevent long-term vitamin B12 deficiency.
Vitamin B12 patch. The B12 patch is one of many transdermal medications; people often prefer medical skin patches because they are convenient, gentle, inexpensive and more efficient than pills and injections. The B12 patch releases vitamin B12 directly into the blood stream; the dime-sized flesh-colored patch adheres firmly and discreetly behind the ear or on the wrist. Because the B12 patch only needs to be applied once per week, it’s more likely to be utilized regularly, as opposed to pills which are often forgotten or misplaced.
Read more about the risks associated with vitamin B12 deficiency:
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disorder of the intestines which causes symptoms such as diarrhea and stomach cramps, in addition to non-gastrointestinal disturbances such as arthritis, eczema, chronic fatigue and mental distraction. Some of the debilitating symptoms of Crohn’s disease may be treated naturally through dietary changes.
What is Crohn’s disease?
Crohn’s is classified as an auto-immune disease; the immune system is triggered into attacking the body’s digestive system, causing inflammation as the body attempts to counteract the symptoms of a weakened immune system.
What causes Crohn’s disease?
Scientists have noted a correlation between Crohn’s disease patients and the presence of anti-yeast antibodies. Crohn’s sufferers tend to have diminished lectin binding proteins, which are essential for utilizing mannan, a yeast derivative. Low levels of lectin combined with a compromised immune system result in production of anti-yeast antibodies which neutralize mannan, often creating a yeast infection or similar inflammation in the gut lining.
What are some natural treatments for Crohn’s disease?
Many of the symptoms of Crohn’s can be avoided by making certaindietary changes. Here are some tips for preventing Crohn’s naturally:
Avoid yeast products and foods which trigger allergies, such as gluten, soy products and certain nuts.
Heavy protein foods are also to be avoided, such as meat, cheese and eggs, all of which are essential sources of vitamin B12. In order to avoid getting vitamin B12 deficiency, Crohn’s disease patients are strongly urged to take regular B12 supplements such as vitamin B12 pills or a weekly vitamin B12 patch. Vitamin deficiency is a common symptom among Crohn’s patients who neglect to take sufficient vitamin supplements. For more information about avoiding B12 deficiency, read: Worried about Low B12 Lab Results?
Nightshade vegetables such as eggplants, onions and tomatoes are known to cause stomach upset in Crohn’s sufferers.
Omega-3 fatty acids are effective at reducing some of the inflammation which results from Crohn’s. Other natural anti-inflammatory agents are berries, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon and rosemary.
Naturally fermented foods are helpful for producing good bacteria, and are excellent treatments for sufferers of auto-immune diseases. Vegetable dishes which promote healthy “gut bugs” are sauerkraut, kimchi and pickled cucumbers.
