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.
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 anemiais 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 B12supports 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:
Roughly, eight million adults have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and that number is probably greater, as very few men or women with ADHD ever receive a diagnosis.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health disorder that affects boys and girls equally. Sixty percent of child ADHD carries into adulthood, regardless of sex, accounting for 4.4 percent of all American adults, according to psychological research.
Sadly, a disproportionately high number of adults who suffer from ADHD will ever see the connection, and an even lower percentage of women than men who seek mental health therapy are ultimately diagnosed with adult ADHD disorder.
Symptoms of adult ADHD include:
Difficulty concentrating or paying attention
Impulsive behavior
Forgetfulness
Difficulty following directions
Lack of organizational skills
Moodiness, anxiety, and depression, or other mental illness
Difficulty making work deadlines or long-term goals, procrastinates
Gets easily distracted while reading
Chronic boredom
Habitually late
Low self-esteem, pessimistic personality
Tendency towards addiction to things such as gambling, food, drugs, shopping, or video games
In female psychology, many factors exist that would complicate a diagnosis of ADHD. Physicians often ascribe underlying ADHD symptoms, including low sense of self-worth, depression, frustration, and moodiness to “female problems.” Often they’re correct in diagnosing stress, depression, or premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in their female patients, but they fail to catch any clues suggesting adult ADHD.
1. The myth of male ADHD
There is a public misconception that attention deficit disorder (ADD) and ADHD are male disorders. As a result, women who experience ADHD symptoms are not likely to seek a diagnosis, and doctors who treat them are equally unlikely to suggest treatment for ADHD.
2. It’s just anxiety
Adults and children with ADHD tend to suffer from anxiety or depression, as well. Therefore, when women ADHD sufferers seek psychiatric help for their emotional problems, they receive prescriptions for anti-anxiety medication or antidepressants, but the question of ADHD medication, such as Ritalin or Concerta, is never considered. Chronic Depression, Chronic Pain- It’s All the Same, say Experts
3. Only children suffer from ADD/ADHD
For many years, people viewed ADD/ADHD disorder as primarily a children’s problem. Only recently has adult ADHD caught the public’s eye, but the notion of grown-ups receiving ADHD medication is still far from mainstream.
4. It’s just girls being girls
Girls, as a whole, tend to be more chatty, impulsive, and passionate than boys- characteristics that are typical of ADHD. Therefore, it’s not unusual for young women who are hyperactive, overenthusiastic, or driven by their emotions to seek help for ADHD.
5. Learning how to fake it
Women are very self-conscious of their social standing. Likewise, girls with ADHD often learn certain defense mechanisms by the time they reach adulthood, effectively masking their social difficulties and feelings of awkwardness. Nevertheless, problems with low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety remain.
6. I am woman…
Today’s woman wears many “hats;” she is expected to hold down a salary, keep the household clean and orderly, and be a nurturing parenting role model to her children and wife to her husband. It’s no wonder, then, that women who struggle to make ends meet, despite suffering from ADHD, chalk it up to modern-day stress.
7. Self-fulfilling prophecy
Women with ADHD develop a “learned helplessness.” When things don’t go the way they’ve planned, or they have difficulty meeting others’ expectations or deadlines, they tend to just give up, blame themselves, and accept defeat. The same attitude applies to seeking therapy- she dismisses the notion that change is possible. This type of self-fulfilling prophecy becomes a vicious circle of failure and regret.
8. It’s a PMS thing
Hormonal fluctuations cause moodiness, depression, and attention difficulties, thereby masking any underlying symptoms of ADHD in women who suffer from PMS, pre-menopause, or postnatal depression. Got PMS? Let B Vitamins Ease your Pain
9. Iron deficiency
Women are at high risk of suffering from iron deficiency caused by heavy periods. Unless you take iron supplements, you could experience symptoms such as disorientation, memory loss, and other delays in cognitive behavior, especially if you also have a disposition for ADHD.
10. It’s personal
Women who grew up in abusive homes may become adults who have personal problems socializing and generally “fitting in,” maintaining organizational skills, and accomplishing long-term goals. Similarly, women with ADD or ADHD who have suffered from a traumatic experience or lack parental role models might never suspect that ADHD is among their many other social problems.
Fibromyalgia patients report feeling fewer and milder fibromyalgia chronic pain symptoms with routine gentle workouts
Fibromyalgia, or Fibromyositis (FMS), is a debilitating condition in which sufferers often feel excruciating pain for little or no apparent reason. Other symptoms might include depression, insomnia, and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also referred to as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS) or chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS).
If you suffer from long-term chronic pain in your muscles, joints, or other areas of your body, yet are unable to isolate any injury whatsoever, then you should visit your doctor and ask for a fibromyalgia screening. Although scientists are still at a loss to explain the causes of fibromyalgia, they have found some effective fibromyalgia treatments to help you cope with the symptoms, including some fibromyalgia approved fitness exercises.
Finding the right workout routine with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue can be intimidating. On the one hand, even the slightest amount of physical activity leaves you feeling worn out, exhausted, achy, and ill. This phenomenon, “Post-exertional malaise,” often deters fibro sufferers from staying active. However, you can eventually build up your tolerance to post-workout fatigue and slowly raise your endurance level to many kinds of aerobic exercises and strength training. Many fibromyalgia patients who successfully get past that first “hurdle” report feeling fewer and milder fibromyalgia pain symptoms.
Below are some light exercises that you can practice 3-5 days per week. As with any new fitness program, consult your doctor first.
1- Bike Riding: Bicycle riding is a fun exercise that can be adapted to suit many levels. Start out small- avoid hilly areas, choose a short-term goal, such as circling the block once, and pace yourself.
2- Stationary Bike: If you belong to a gym, sign up for a beginners spinning class. There are also many virtual spinning classes, both on YouTube and DVD, which can provide a great home workout.
3- Walking:Walking is a great low-impact sport for pain sufferers. Invest in a good pair of walking shoes, pick a comfortable route, and grab a friend! People who walk in pairs are more likely to stick to their routine, and find it easier to complete their workout. If weather permits, take a nice nature walk or stroll in the sunshine, but if it doesn’t, you can still hit the indoor mall before the morning rush for a bit of brisk “window shopping.”
4- Jogging: Light jogging is like running, only more controlled and less strenuous. If you want to increase your energy without compromising your leg muscles, then try alternating five minutes of jogging with five minutes of brisk walking, and work up to fifteen-minute sessions of each. Choose soft, grassy, or sandy paths, if possible, and try to avoid jogging on hard surfaces, which can cause knee injuries. Can a Gluten-Free Diet Ease Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?
5- Treadmill: Walking on the treadmill is a great indoor alternative to stationary biking, and an excellent way to get the heart pumping. As with jogging, be on the alert for any sign of swelling, which could indicate knee injury.
6- Swimming:Swimming is one the best, non-injurious cardiovascular workouts for people who suffer from chronic pain, in addition to arthritis. Individuals who have difficulty with most types of physical activity often have an easier time incorporating water aerobics or lap swimming into their daily workout.
7- Golfing: Golfing is an enjoyable sport, but it can be strenuous on the lower back muscles. Get your doctor’s okay before heading out for the golf course. Avoid the urge to join the caddy, and walk your way around the greens for a low-impact aerobic workout.
8- Physical Therapy:A certified physical therapist can teach you how to relieve some of your pain symptoms, enabling you to stick to your daily workout.
9- Yoga:Yoga combines therapeutic deep breathing with gentle stretching of your various muscles, for a relaxing, healing bodily workout. Many fibromyalgia patients have reaped the benefits of yoga in alleviating their chronic pain symptoms.
10- Pilates: Pilates focuses on developing core muscular strength and flexibility, as opposed to merely stretching the muscles. Developed by Joseph Pilates, Pilates is a beneficial exercise for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome patients. Do not attempt to practice Pilates on your own; a trained Pilates instructor is crucial, in order to avoid injury.
11- Stretching:Stretching exercises are a mandatory pre-workout activity, even if you don’t suffer from chronic pain. Stretching warms up your muscles and increases flexibility, preventing torn muscles, sprains, and other sports injuries.
12- Tai Chi:Similar to yoga, Tai Chi also incorporates controlled movements, deep breathing, and meditation. A growing number of fibromyalgia patients have found relief through these gentle martial arts. Why More Fibromyalgia Patients are Taking Tai Chi
13- Movement Therapy:Also known as dance therapy, movement therapy uses music and gently choreographed dance movements to relieve anxiety, chronic pain, depression and stress.
We’ve all heard of overeaters binging themselves into a state of depression- a vicious circle which is difficult to get out of. But eating for happiness?
Vitamin B-12 deficiency is linked with depression
Vitamin B12 is essential for many aspects of brain development, such as myelination (the production of a protective layer around the brain) and the distributing of neurotransmitters to and from the brain. So it comes as no surprise that the Mayo Clinic suggests eating foods rich in vitamin B-12 as a means of preventing the onset of clinical depression.
“Eat to live, don’t live to eat.”
That’sa great motto if you happen to be an android. The fact is, eating is a sensual experience which we were meant to enjoy. (Why else would we have taste buds?) The key to good nutrition is finding foods you love that will love you right back.
Here are some yummy appetizers and entrées which are naturally high in vitamin B-12:
Fish tacos- Made popular by Rubio’s, the fish tacos is a tasty fusion of Cal-Mex and seafood cuisine. Take a soft flour tortilla, add some fiery mango salsa, a dab of sour cream and a grilled fish fillet (hint: salmon is high in B-12). It’s a wrap!
Fresh Catch
Are you a Sushi lover? Then you’re going to love this- sushi and sashimi recipes typically include such high-in-B12 ingredients as roe (fish eggs), octopus, crab, shrimp, and mackerel. Pass the soy sauce!
Got Bento?
New England clam chowder- just the name elicits images of salty sea breezes, sailboats and clam bakes. Don’t have any recipes handy? Here is a list of variations on this classic soup recipe.
Soup-er with Saltines!
Lean cuts of lamb are high in vitamin B-12 and a popular staple of many Middle Eastern cuisines. Here is a flavorful Lamb Moussaka recipe, as featured in epicurious.
Tuna casserole is one of America’s fave comfort foods and it’s simple to make- combine canned tuna, cooked broad noodles, and a can of concentrated mushroom soup. Top it with some fried onions and pop it in the oven for 30 minutes. Tuna is high in B-12 and omega-3 fatty acids.
Family Favorite
Hamburgers barbecued with low-fat ground beef chuck are a great source of vitamin B-12. Serve it up on whole-grain buns with a side of oven roasted root veggies for a healthy upgrade from the typical artery-clogging burgers ‘n fries.
Out of the teens who received services, 59.8% were diagnosed with attention-deficit /hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD); others who were receiving aid were those categorized with some type of defiant conduct behavioral disorder.
Teens who suffered from an anxiety or eating disorder were least likely to have been in any sort of behavioral program- only 20%.
Hispanics and blacks youths who suffered anxiety were less likely to be in treatment than Caucasians.
Girls were more likely than boys to receive therapy for anxiety disorder; boys were more likely to be receiving treatment for AD/HD.
Parents, be on the lookout for depression in your teen; here are 10 warning signs, as reported by Fox News:
Passivity, less inclined to cry when something is troubling her/him
Difficulty concentrating
Sudden detachment from activities or interests that were previously enjoyable
Vocalizing feelings which indicate lack of self-worth
Interruption of sleeping habits, like oversleeping
Loss of appetite
Misperception, likeliness to be confused by more things than usual
It might seem like following a healthy diet is less of a priority when faced with the symptoms of depression, but many doctors have found that deficiencies such as low vitamin b12 may contribute to depression; in some cases vitamin b12 deficiency may be the sole reason for the sudden change in behavior.
B12 deficiency is often misdiagnosed as clinical depression.
The Mayo Clinic confirms a correlation between b12 deficiency and symptoms of depression. Warning signs of vitamin b12 deficiency include chronic fatigue, dizziness, anxiety, increased violent tendencies, sleep disturbances and loss of appetite. Sound familiar? Many are the same symptoms above-mentioned for clinical depression.
A blood test is required to determine whether vitamin b12 deficiency is present; if you are tested positive then your physician will recommend supplementation, which may be administered as an injection, sublingual tablet, nasal spray or a vitamin b12 patch, the latter of which is gaining popularity as a more convenient, less painful alternative to weekly intramuscular injections.
A new report by Vanderbilt University reveals a link between depression and inflammatory infection in the brain. Published in the December 2010 issue of Neuropsychopharmacology, these new findings, scientists hope, will bring us closer to understanding the correlation between mental illness and influenza.
Says Dr. Randy Blakely, PhD, director of the Vanderbilt Center for Molecular Neuroscience, “Many people exhibit signs of lethargy and depressed mood during flu-like illnesses. Generally these have been treated as just a consequence of being physically ill, but we think there is likely to be something more brain-centric at work here.”
As part of the Vanderbilt University experiment, rats were injected with inflammatory “flu” cytokines, a chemical which is produced when the body is under attack by influenza. Inflammatory cytokines trigger serotonin transporters (SERT), which inhibit the production of serotonin.
As a result of the diminished level of serotonin affected by increased SERT levels, test rats exhibited behaviors suggesting extreme anxiety and despair. Conversely, rats who were given the cytokines who did not carry the SERT gene showed no change in behavior at all.
SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) such as Prozac and Zoloft are prescribed to patients who suffer from severe depression, anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorders. These findings suggest that flu viruses might counter SSRI’s ability to regulate serotonin levels in treating depression.
Scientists hope to use this information to reverse cytokine production during the flu season.
Research is showing that many older people could benefit from getting more vitamin B12 than they currently do. Some 10% to 15% of people over age 60 are outright deficient, and many more are borderline deficient. Their blood levels of B12 are in what’s called a “low-normal” range, and if their doctor isn’t up on the latest research, they won’t be treated for B12 deficiency with supplemental B12. That’s a shame, because research now shows that low B12 can cause all sorts of problems, and that getting an optimal amount can boost brain power, deter depression, improve bone density, reduce cancer risk and halt hearing loss and eye disease.
Here’s what the latest research shows vitamin B12 does:
Stops brain shrinkage. One study found that older people with lower-than-average B12 levels were six times more likely to show signs of brain shrinkage, an early sign of impaired cognitive function and Alzheimer’s disease. Even B12 levels that are above the traditional cutoff for deficiency — and seemingly adequate — may impair cognition in older people. B12 is needed to maintain the fatty myelin sheath that wraps around and protects nerves, including nerve cells in the brain.
Protects your eyes. Harvard researchers found at least a 34% decreased risk of age-related macular degeneration for women aged 40 and older who supplemented with 1,000 micrograms of B12. They attribute it to lower levels of the amino acid homocysteine and better antioxidant effects. Both improved blood vessel function in the retina of the eye.
Keeps your hearing sharp. There may be a connection between B12 deficiency and hearing. One study found that low blood levels of vitamin B12 were linked to a higher risk of hearing loss in women in their 60s. Toxic homocysteine may damage the delicate cells that transmit sound waves in the inner ear.
Fights depression. A study from the National Institute of Aging found women with low B12 levels were more than twice as likely to develop depression as women with normal B12 status. B12 is needed for the production of important brain neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine and melatonin, the “sleep” hormone.
Maintains strong bones. In the Framingham Offspring Osteoporosis Study, people with low B12 levels had lower-than-average bone mineral density. B12 may build stronger bones by aiding osteoblasts, the cells that build bone, and by lowering homocysteine, which weakens bone by interfering with collagen cross-linking, the molecular “stitching” that makes bones strong and flexible.
Older people often don’t absorb enough B12, even when they get enough in their diet. Some experts believe that blood B12 levels should be at least 350 picomoles/liter (or 44 picograms/mL.) It’s a good idea to have your blood level checked if you are over age 50. Symptoms of B12 deficiency include fatigue, depression, numbness and tingling of the arms and, most commonly, the legs, difficulty walking, memory loss, disorientation, tongue soreness, and appetite loss. Because so many older people are borderline deficient, more experts are recommending anyone age 50 or older get at least 100 to 400 mcg a day of B12.
Your risk for deficiency increases as you get older, and the consequences for your health can be devastating. Taking a B12 supplement is good insurance against deficiency, and B12 supplements are also very well tolerated. It’s a good idea to ask your doctor to check your B12 levels to determine whether you may have a severe deficiency that warrants much higher levels of supplementation.
