Are constant eyelid twitching and eye spasms driving you batty?  Myokymia might be a sign of pernicious anemia caused by low B12 levels.  Learn how to stop eye twitching by stopping vitamin B12 deficiency in its tracks.

What is myokymia?

Myokymia is a disorder that causes muscles in your body to twitch involuntarily.  Myokymia twitches can affect any groups of nerves or muscles in your body, including your arms, legs, fingers, and back.  It can also occur on your face- hemifacial spasms are muscular twitches that begin on one side of your face, usually the eye.  Over time, hemifacial spasms can expand to include the rest of your face, on one side.

Balance your B12, Balance your Nerves

Why is my eye twitching?

Myokymia is a type of nerve damage called trigeminal neuralgia.  When your eyelid keeps twitching out of control, it is because the nerves that control the opening and closing of your eyes have been damaged. Eye twitches can occur in either the lower eyelid or upper eyelid,

Causes of myokymia

Causes of eye twitching may include stress, excessive alcohol usage, and staring at a computer screen for long periods of time.  Eye spasms can also be a reaction to caffeine, or may signify low levels of cobalamin- vitamin B12.

B12 deficiency symptoms

Vitamin B12 benefits include red blood cell production, protection of the nervous system’s myelin sheathe, cognitive functioning, DNA synthesis, and lowered homocysteine levels. If your body does not store adequate amounts of vitamin B12, you may get B12 deficiency, and ultimately severe pernicious anemia, a type of megaloblastic anemia blood disease.

B12 deficiency causes emotional and cognitive disorders such as:

• Chronic fatigue
• Memory loss
• Decreased mental focus
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Paranoia
• Aggressiveness
• Hallucinations

Top Ten Signs of a Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Pernicious anemia symptoms include severe nerve damage, including eyelid spasms caused by myokymia.  Lower eyelid twitches are most common with B12 deficiency patients.  Other symptoms of nerve damage caused by pernicious anemia include:

• Numbness and painful tingling in the hands and feet
• Arms or legs constantly “falling asleep”
• Prickly feeling in the tongue
• Altered taste perception
• Sore or swollen tongue

Why do my Arms and Legs often Fall Asleep? B12 and Paresthesia

Stop eye twitching

If you suspect that you have vitamin B12 deficiency, then consult your physician and request a blood test for B12 levels. If diagnosed with low B12, then your doctor will prescribe vitamin B12 supplements.  If you have pernicious anemia, then you might have to get routine B12 shots indefinitely. Once you start taking vitamin B12, you will notice a decrease in pernicious anemia symptoms immediately, and total reversal of symptoms by the time your B12 levels return to normal.

Find out why more people diagnosed with pernicious anemia are supplementing with a vitamin B12 patch…

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

What’s the Difference between B12 Patches and B12 Pills, Anyways?

Multiple Sclerosis and Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Sources:

Hemifacial Spasm Information Page: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Signs of B12 Deficiency

Myokymia – Types, Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Eyelid Myokymia

Image credits, from top:

cameronparkins, graur codrin, Tambako the Jaguar

What is pernicious anemia, and how is it different from vitamin B12 deficiency or megaloblastic anemia? That is one of many questions that people have about pernicious anemia- questions that are answered here.

1. What’s the difference between pernicious anemia and megaloblastic anemia?

Pernicious anemia is a form of megaloblastic anemia, a disease of the red blood cells.  Pernicious anemia results from vitamin B12 deficiency; for that reason, it is also called vitamin B12 malabsorption anemia.  (It is worth mentioning that pernicious anemia is only one of many conditions caused by B12 deficiency.)  Other names for pernicious anemia are Biermer’s anemia, Addison’s anemia, and combined systems disease (a disorder of the nervous system).

2. What is the relationship between intrinsic factor and pernicious anemia?

Whenever you eat foods that contain vitamin B12- protein foods like beef, chicken, seafood, cheese, and eggs- your digestive system produces a chemical called intrinsic factor that grabs the B12 from your stomach, carries it through the small intestine, and delivers it to the ileum, where the vitamin B12 is then absorbed and dispersed into your bloodstream. That is how most people digest vitamin B12.

People who suffer from pernicious anemia, a deficiency in vitamin B12, are usually not able to manufacture intrinsic factor.  Even if they eat a strict high-protein diet rich in vitamin B12, the B12 will pass through the intestines without ever reaching the bloodstream, causing symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency.

3. What are the symptoms of B12 deficiency- pernicious anemia?

The most common pernicious anemia symptoms are:

• Extreme fatigue
• Depression
• Trouble concentrating
• Memory loss
• Irritability
• Painful tingling sensations in hands and feet
• Hands and feet often “falling asleep” or going numb
• Sore, red tongue
• Altered taste perception
• Constant stumbling while walking
• Clumsiness
• Muscular feebleness
• Pale complexion
• Diarrhea
• Stomach pains
• Trouble sleeping

Untreated, vitamin B12 deficiency causes low red blood cell production, dementia, severe nerve damage, increased risk for heart attack and stroke, cancer, and osteoporosis.

4. What natural remedies work best for pernicious anemia?

Since pernicious anemia results from vitamin B12 deficiency, the only remedy you need is…more B12!  The real question is: Can your body absorb vitamin B12 naturally from food sources- beef, chicken, fish, milk, and cheese- or not?  Only your doctor can answer that by taking blood tests, and determining if your body makes intrinsic factor.  If it is determined that you lack intrinsic factor, then you will need to take vitamin B12 supplements, most likely for the rest of your life, in order to avoid getting pernicious anemia.

5. Why is a pernicious anemia patient unable to take vitamin B12 orally?

Without intrinsic factor, your body cannot digest dietary sources of vitamin B12- and that includes vitamin B12 pills.  As a rule of thumb, if vitamin B12 passes through a digestive system that does not produce intrinsic factor, then the B12 will pass through without being broken down or digested.  In order to get vitamin B12 into your blood supply, you have to insert it there directly- usually through B12 shots or transdermal means.

6. How long does it take before you start to feel the benefits of vitamin B12 supplements?

Assuming you are getting the correct dose of vitamin B12, and are taking an efficient method of B12 supplements…most patients start to feel notably better within 24 hours of vitamin B12 supplementation.

7. Is Pernicious anemia genetic?

Family history is one of many causes of pernicious anemia.  If your family has a history of suffering from pernicious anemia, then you should take routine blood tests for vitamin B12 deficiency throughout your life.

What are the Symptoms of Pernicious Anemia- B12 deficiency?

8. If I have one autoimmune disease like pernicious anemia, am I more likely to have another autoimmune disease?

Scientists have noted a high correlation between pernicious anemia and many other autoimmune disorders. When other diseases are a factor, pernicious anemia often occurs from drug interactions, comorbid symptoms, or a cyclical relationship with that disease.  Below are some conditions that may accompany pernicious anemia:

• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic fatigue
• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Diabetes
• Leaky Gut Syndrome
• Celiac disease
• Gastritis
• Chronic heartburn
• Hypothyroidism

Leaky Gut Syndrome Symptoms and Causes

9. I’m only 20 years old.  Could someone my age have pernicious anemia?

Pernicious anemia can happen to somebody of any age group.  Because your body stores vitamin B12 in the liver for several years, you may not know that your body has stopped absorbing it until you start to feel the symptoms, by which time your B12 levels will have dropped severely.  If you suspect you have any of the symptoms of pernicious anemia, then do not hesitate to get a blood test.

10. Can pernicious anemia cause gastritis?

Gastritis- painful inflammation of the stomach lining- has many possible causes.  The most common are alcohol abuse, chronic vomiting, and overusing drugs such as aspirin. Untreated, chronic gastritis can cause blood loss, and may lead to stomach cancer.  Other causes of gastritis are:

• Pernicious anemia
• Stomach infection
• Bile reflux
• Viruses

11. Can pernicious anemia shorten your life?

When scientists first discovered vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, they deemed it a fatal disease, and thus named it “pernicious (malicious) anemia.”  Without B12, your body is unable to make sufficiency red blood cells.  Today, doctors are easily able to diagnose vitamin B12 deficiency through blood tests, administer treatment in the form of pure vitamin B12, and prevent further escalation of pernicious anemia.  Untreated, pernicious anemia can lead to life-threatening illnesses, such as heart attack, stroke, and cancer.

12. Can pernicious anemia cause stomach cancer?

Pernicious anemia may cause gastric polyps, increasing one’s risk for getting stomach cancer or gastric carcinoid tumors.

13. Are there any support groups for others with pernicious anemia?

There are many advocacy groups for pernicious anemia, and most of them are on Facebook.  Here are a few:

Pernicious Anaemia Society

Vitamin B12 Deficiency on Facebook

Pernicious Anemia Awareness on Facebook

Pernicious Anaemia – What do you know?…And what they don’t tell you! on Facebook

Last, but not least- Vitamin B12 Patch on Facebook

Read more about pernicious anemia and vitamin B12:

Painful Tingling in Hands and Feet- What’s Up with That?

Lupus and Vitamin B12 Deficiency- What’s the Connection?

Babies, B12, and Fertility- B12 Deficiency during Pregnancy

Sources:

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)- University of Maryland Medical Center

Gastritis: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments, and More

Pernicious Anemia- Medscape

Pernicious Anemia Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention on MedicineNet.com

Image credits, from top:

Danilo Rizzuti, digitalart, Salvatore Vuono

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

Image credits, from top:

Photostock, graur razvan ionut, anankkml

If you have vitamin B12 deficiency, then it is important to recognize the symptoms of pernicious anemia.  Low levels of B12 (cobalamin) can, over time, lead to megaloblastic (pernicious) anemia, a life-threatening blood disease.

What is pernicious anemia?

Pernicious anemia is a type of megaloblastic anemia- a blood disease of the red blood cells.  If you have vitamin B12 deficiency, then it may escalate into B12 deficiency anemia.  In pernicious anemia, your body is unable to produce enough red blood cells, due to a lack of vitamin B12.

Avoid vitamin B12 deficiency

The best way to avoid getting vitamin B12 deficiency is to include animal-based protein foods in your diet, particularly beef liver, clams, oysters, poultry, eggs, milk, and yogurt.  Still, eating meat and dairy products does not guarantee you will not become deficient in vitamin B12.

Who’s at risk?

People at risk for developing B12 deficiency are people who exclude primary sources of vitamin B12 from their diet (vegans), the elderly, people who have had bariatric surgery, diabetics taking metformin, anybody using long-term medication for acid-reflux, individuals with gastrointestinal disease (IBD, celiac) and people who cannot produce intrinsic factor, a necessary hormone for digesting vitamin B12.

Signs of megaloblastic (pernicious) anemia

The most common symptoms of pernicious anemia are:

• Muscular weakness
• Frequent tingling or numbness in your hands and feet, described as “pins and needles”
• Difficulty walking balanced
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Depression
• Swollen, red tongue
• Irritability
• Chronic fatigue, constant tiredness
• Hypertension

What tests diagnose pernicious anemia?

The only way to find out if your vitamin B12 deficiency has turned into pernicious anemia is to request the following diagnostic tests:

• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Vitamin B12 blood levels
• Methylmalonic acid (MMA) levels
• Holotranscobalamin II levels
• LDH levels
• Schilling test
• Reticulocyte count
• Bone marrow examination

What is the treatment for pernicious anemia?

Patients of pernicious anemia need to get routine doses of B12 supplements, usually in the form of B12 shots.  The amount and frequency of B12 injections depend on the severity of the pernicious anemia symptoms. For extra doses of B12 between doctor visits, B12-anemia patients have the option of supplementing with oral vitamin B12 or B12 patches.

Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms:

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

WhichTests check Absorption of Vitamin B12?

Cruising for a Bruising? Choose Vitamin B12 Shots or Anemia

Sources:

Pernicious anemia: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

Megaloblastic (Pernicious) Anemia

Pernicious Anemia – Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment of Pernicious Anemia – NY Times Health Information

Pernicious Anemia and Vitamin B-12 Deficiency

Image credits, from top:

blakespot, ssoosay, jimbrickett, James Tan Chin Choy

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

Did you know that Vitamin B12 is one of the most important vitamins for bones? Osteoporosis is one of many B12 deficiency symptoms. Studies prove that elderly individuals who maintain high levels of B12 are less likely to suffer from fractured or broken bones than those who neglect to supplement with B12 shots.

What is the cause of osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis happens with age for millions of Americans- there exist many factors that cause loss of bone mass, brittle bones, and other symptoms of osteoporosis.  Low calcium absorption is one cause of broken bones and fractured hips in old age, but other causes include:

• Estrogen deficiency in women
• Testosterone deficiency in men
• Thyroid disorders
• Smoking and alcohol use
• Vitamin deficiency, including calcium, vitamin D and vitamin B12

What is B12 deficiency?

Vitamin B12 deficiency occurs from neglecting to eat a diet rich in sources of vitamin B12, such as meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and milk, but it can occur if your body is unable to extract vitamin B12 from foods that you eat.  Such is the case for millions of individuals, either because

• (a) they lack “intrinsic factor,” a protein required for digesting vitamin B12 naturally from foods
• (b) because of drug interactions, such as metformin for diabetes, or
• (c) because of post-gastrectomy complications that resulted in pernicious anemia. (Read Vitamin B12 deficiency after Bariatric Surgery Weight Loss)

What are the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency?

Unless treated, B12 deficiency causes pernicious anemia (low red blood cells), neurological damage, dementia, osteoporosis, malnourishment, and increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and cancer.  Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are:

• Fatigue, listlessness
• Depression
• Memory loss
• Anxiety
• Psychosis
• Numbness and tingling sensations in hands and feet
• Muscular feebleness
• Frequent stumbling
• Altered taste perception
• Red, swollen tongue
• Unusually pale complexion

What do studies say about the benefits of vitamin B12?

In a study conducted by Tufts University that focused on low-plasma vitamin B12 and bone mineral density (BMD), researchers found that men who had the lowest levels of B12 in their blood also had the lowest bone mineral density, particularly in their hipbones.  Similarly, women who suffered vitamin B12 deficiency exhibited severely low BMD in their spine.

They concluded that vitamin B12 deficiency is a significant risk factor for osteoporosis, which explains why the loss of bone mass occurs so frequently among the elderly:

As you age, your body produces fewer stomach acids needed for digesting vitamins and minerals.

As a result, many senior citizens develop vitamin deficiencies, including B12 deficiency.  Since they are unable to absorb B12 through the digestive system, they must therefore deposit it directly into the bloodstream, either through prescribed B12 shots, or with non-prescription B12 patches.

Another study by the University of Michigan recognized severe osteoporosis as a cause of pernicious anemia from vitamin B12 deficiency.

What are the best vitamins for osteoporosis?

It is crucial to eat a diet rich in all essential vitamins and minerals, in addition to taking regular vitamin supplements.  The best vitamins for bones are vitamin D and vitamin B-12.

If you suspect you have vitamin B12 deficiency, then ask your doctor for a blood test.  If diagnosed, then you will require routine vitamin B12 supplements until your B12 levels are back to normal.

Read more about preventing vitamin B12 deficiency:

Absorbing Vitamin B12, a Metabolic Gastrointestinal Journey

Nine Healthiest Canned Foods: Many Contain Vitamin B12

Pregnancy and B12 Deficiency

Sources:

Fight Osteoporosis: Bone Up On B12

Low plasma vitamin B12 is associated with lower BMD: the Framingham Osteoporosis Study- PubMed NCBI

Reversal of severe osteoporosis with vitamin B12 and etidronate therapy in a patient with pernicious anemia- PubMed NCBI

Post-Gastrectomy Syndrome Overview- Cleveland Clinic

What Causes Osteoporosis? And Why?

Image credits, from top:

starpause kid, Idea go, Paul, Carlos Porto

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 low B12.  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 B12 level 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 dose of 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.

Read more about B12 deficiency:

• Vitamin B12 deficiency after Bariatric Surgery Weight Loss
• The Vitamin B12 Patch for Energy
• Cruising for a Bruising? Choose Vitamin B12 Shots or Anemia

Sources:

• Vitamin B12 level: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
• Vitamin B12 Level – Tests, Test Results & Diagnosis – NY Times Health Information
• Vitamin B12: Dosing – MayoClinic.com
• Oral cyanocobalamin supplementation in older people with vitamin B12 deficiency: a dose-finding trial- PubMed NCBI
• Learn More about Vitamin B12 Deficiency.
• USDA: National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference: B-12

Image credits (from top):

Danilo Rizzuti, mconnors, jscreationzs

If you’ve had bariatric surgery (gastric bypass surgery, lap band surgery), then you’re at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency. Weight loss surgery causes B12 vitamin malabsorption, in addition to difficulty absorbing other vitamins and minerals. Learn about B12 deficiency symptoms, and ways to get your B12 levels back to normal.

How many types of bariatric surgery procedures are there?

There are many types of weight loss surgeries, including gastric bypass and lap band surgery, but there are two general categories:

• Malabsorptive surgery rearranges and/or removes part of your intestines so that you are unable to absorb vitamins from foods, thus bypassing the digestive process.  There are no longer any strictly 100% malabsorptive weight loss surgeries, but many such as the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass include a combination of (mostly) malabsorptive and restrictive techniques.
• Restrictive surgery shrinks your stomach, thus causing you to feel full earlier and avoid overeating.  Examples are the gastric sleeve and gastric banding (lap band surgery).

Gastric Bypass Stomach Surgery in Mexico- Would you?

Why do I need to take bariatric vitamins and minerals after having bariatric surgery?

If you’ve had weight loss surgery, then you are at a high risk for vitamin deficiencies, particularly vitamin B12 deficiency.  There are two reasons for this:

• If you’ve had malabsorptive surgery, such as a mini-gastric bypass or duodenal switch, then your body is unable to digest water-soluble vitamins such as vitamin B12 from food sources.  One of the procedures of malabsorptive bariatric surgery is the removal of the ileum, the part of your small intestine responsible for digesting vitamin B12.  The only way for you to receive enough B12 to avoid vitamin deficiency is to put it directly into your bloodstream, either through B12 shots or B12 injections.  (Sublingual B12 pills are not your best option for absorbing vitamin B12.)
• With restrictive surgery, such as gastric sleeve, your stomach is unable to contain enough food at one time to avoid vitamin deficiency.

10 Mistakes Gastric Bypass Patients Often Make

What are the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, and why should I be worried?

Vitamin B12 supports many important functions in your body- B12 boosts energy and mental clarity, produces red blood cells, maintains your metabolism, protects your nervous system, strengthens cognitive functioning, and reduces your risk of heart attack or stroke.

Vitamin deficiency is one of many possible gastric bypass complications. In one study on diminished B12 absorption after gastric bypass, 30% of gastric bypass patients suffered from B12 deficiency.

The most common symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are:

• Chronic fatigue
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Short-term memory loss
• “Brain fog”
• Disorientation
• Difficulty concentrating
• Loss of physical balance
• Altered taste perception
• Tingling and/or numbing sensation in hands and feet
• Blurred vision

Left untreated, symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency could escalate into severe neurological damage, pernicious anemia, early-onset dementia, and even premature death.

Read more about weight loss surgery and vitamin B12 deficiency:

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

Bariatric Surgery- 13 Reasons you still need to Exercise

Tired of getting Dumped? 4 Ways to avoid Gastric Bypass Dumping.

Sources:

Types of Bariatric Surgery – The 16 Established & Experimental Weight Loss Surgery Procedures

Evidence for diminished B12 absorption after gastric bypass: oral supplementation does not prevent low plasma B12 levels in bypass patients- PubMed NCBI

Vitamin B12 Absorption & Gastric Bypass- LIVESTRONG.COM

Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin B12

Image credits (from top):

kornnphoto, nattavut, alancleaver_2000, o5com

Black and Blue from B12 Injections?

Free Digital Photos

Vitamin B12 deficiency causes unexplained bruising, but so do cyanocobalamin vitamin 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:

• Low production of red blood cells

• Low blood platelets- See Thrombocytopenia (Photo, Flickr)
• Unexplained bruising
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Tingling sensation or numbness in hands and feet
• Bright red tongue

The problem with B12 shots

Free Digital Photos

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.

The advantages of using a B12 patch are numerous:

• No need for a doctor’s prescription
• Convenience
• Ease of use
• Inexpensive
• No skin irritation
• No bruising
• No bleeding

Related reading:

Signs and Symptoms of 6 Types of Anemia Blood Disease

Vitamin Deficiencies can drive you Crazy- Seriously! Part 2

Vitamin Deficiencies can drive you Crazy- Seriously! Part 1

Preparing your Children for Shots- 6 Tips to Ease the Pain

Sources:

Thrombocytopenia: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

Pernicious Anemia Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention on MedicineNet.com

How to Give Vitamin B12 Injection- LIVESTRONG

Vitamin B12-deficiency anaemia – information from Bupa on vitamin B12-deficiency anaemia- Bupa UK