What do vitamin B12 deficiency, fibromyalgia, and multiple sclerosis have in common?  More than you realize.  For one, vitamin B12 deficiency occurs often with fibromyalgia, MS, and chronic fatigue syndrome.  Another clue is homocysteine, an excitotoxin that rattles your nervous system, sometimes with debilitating results.

Part I introduced you to excitotoxins…now in Part II, find out how to keep neurotoxins from disrupting your life.

Born with it: Clumsiness and Two Left Feet from Dyspraxia

What illnesses are linked with excitotoxicity?

Many neurodegenerative illnesses and other conditions are linked with elevated levels of excitotoxins such as homocysteine:

• Fibromyalgia
• Migraines
• Multiple sclerosis
• Pernicious anemia (Vitamin B12 deficiency)
• Hypoglycemia
• Seizures
• Stroke
• AIDS dementia
• Huntington’s disease
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Parkinson’s disease
• Infections
• Lyme borreliosis

“Glutamate and aspartate are doubled in viral meningitis, acute multiple sclerosis (MS) and myelopathy compared with control subjects and patients with peripheral facial nerve palsy.”

What causes elevated homocysteine levels?

When your body produces homocysteine, it is immediately broken down by vitamin B12 (cobalamin) and vitamin B6 (pyridoxal phosphate).  Vitamin B12 and vitamin B6 keep your homocysteine levels down to a healthy minimum.

However, if you have vitamin B12 deficiency-pernicious anemia, then you don’t have enough vitamin B12 to break down homocysteine.  As a result, homocysteine levels spike, permeating your neurons, causing irreparable damage to your nerve cells and increasing your risk for stroke, heart attack, blood clots, and Alzheimer’s disease.

“…increased homocysteine levels in the central nervous system characterize patients fulfilling the criteria for both fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.”

Here’s Your Brain on B12 Deficiency- Memory Loss and Aging

Only supplementation of vitamin B12 and vitamin B6 can lower your homocysteine levels back to normal.  If you have pernicious anemia, then dietary forms of vitamin B12 are ineffective.  Only direct insertion of vitamin B12 into your bloodstream can prevent further damage to your nervous system.

For maximum vitamin B12 therapy, experts recommend adding as much vitamin B12 as possible.  If prescription vitamin B12 shots, which contain 1000 mcg of vitamin B12 aren’t enough to reverse symptoms, then you have the option of supplementing with a weekly vitamin B12 patch, as well.  Combined, many sufferers of vitamin B12 deficiency find relief in as little as a few days following vitamin B12 therapy.

Please tell us…

• Do you have one or more of the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency as described?
• Do you suffer from vitamin B12 deficiency and other comorbid illnesses such as fibromyalgia or multiple sclerosis?
• How likely are you to change your diet and increase your vitamin B12, now that you know about the risk factors involved?
• Please share your comments!

Spread the love…

Know anybody who could be helped by this information?  Please share this article on Facebook, Google+, or by emailing a link.  As always, we welcome your comments!

Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency:

Vitamin B12 Deficiency is Excitotoxic, Part I

Pernicious Anemia and Stomach Cancer Risks: What you need to Know

Can Vitamin B12 Deficiency Cause Brain Lesions?

Sources:

Relief of fibromyalgia symptoms following discontinuation of dietary excitotoxins

Neurotransmitters in cerebrospinal fluid reflect pathological activity-PubMed, NCBI

Increased concentrations of homocysteine in the cerebrospinal fluid in patients with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome- PubMed, NCBI

Cytochemical detection of homocysteine in pernicious anemia and in chronic erythremic myelosis- PubMed, NCBI

Excitotoxins

Images:

If you feel fatigued, and suspect B12 deficiency, then see your doctor immediately.  Before diagnosing vitamin B12 deficiency or pernicious anemia, your doctor will run a vitamin B12 blood test for vitamin B12 levels in your blood, in addition to measuring your red blood cells and homocysteine levels.  Here are ten tests still used today to diagnose vitamin B12 and pernicious anemia.

Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms:

Vitamin B12 deficiency can be difficult to catch, because it masks itself as many other conditions.  Sometimes, B12 deficiency occurs as a secondary side effect of a primary illness like fibromyalgia, Crohn’s disease, or celiac disease.  Other times, vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms are overlooked because of underlying conditions such as depression or diabetes.

The most common symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency and pernicious anemia are:

• Chronic fatigue that is not relieved by sleep and does not result from overexertion
• Depression, long-term
• Anxiety
• Aggressive behavior that is unusual
• Paranoia
• Difficulty focusing or paying attention
• Short-term memory loss
• Frequent forgetfulness
• “Brain fog”
• Forgetting words on “tip of tongue”
• Forgetting numerical codes like phone numbers or PINs
• Hallucinations
• Painful tingling and numbness in extremities (hands, feet, arms, and legs)
• “Pins and needles”
• Painful tingling or burning sensation in tongue and mouth
• Red, swollen tongue
• Altered taste perception
• Decreased balance and muscular coordination
• Frequent stumbling and dropping things
• Diarrhea
• Sleep difficulties

What are the Symptoms of Pernicious Anemia- B12 deficiency?

10 Tests that diagnose vitamin B12 deficiency and pernicious anemia

1) Serum vitamin B12 level: First, your physician will request a vitamin B12 blood test to determine if your vitamin B12 blood (cobalamin) levels are indeed low.  Usually, if test results are positive, then vitamin B12 supplementation begins immediately.  (See below, vitamin B12 therapy)

The vitamin B12 blood screening is the most important test for diagnosing vitamin B12 deficiency, and if you respond well to vitamin B12 supplements, then further testing is not usually required.

However, if your doctor suspects pernicious anemia, then he might order one or more of the following additional tests:

2) Complete blood count (CBC): A blood test to screen the amount of red and white blood cells.  With pernicious anemia, your red blood cells become engorged and misshapen, resulting in low distribution of red blood cells throughout your body.

3) Serum folate level:  Many people who have vitamin B12 deficiency also are deficient in the B vitamin folate.

4) Serum  lactate dehydrogenase (LDH): Your doctor might order a blood test measuring LDH levels.

5) Reticulocyte count: This test looks for reticulocytes (slightly immature red blood cells).

6) Homocysteine test:  High homocysteine levels in your blood may indicate vitamin B12 deficiency, folate deficiency, or vitamin B6 deficiency.

7) Gastrin level: a test measuring the amount of the hormone gastrin in your blood may help doctors diagnose the cause of vitamin B12 deficiency.

8) Methylmalonic acid (MMA) test- With vitamin B12 deficiency, methylmalonic acid levels go up.  The MMA test provides more proof of the existence of vitamin B12 deficiency.

9) Intrinsic factor antibody test:  Pernicious anemia is an autoimmune disorder in which sufferers are not able to product intrinsic factor, a necessary hormone for absorbing vitamin B12.  Before diagnosing pernicious anemia, your doctor has to confirm the existence of an antibody in your system that inhibits intrinsic factor production, thereby causing vitamin B12 deficiency.

10) Bone marrow staining: Sometimes, your physician might require a bone marrow biopsy in order to determine other potential causes of pernicious anemia or general red blood cell disorders.

Do you have Franken-DNA from Pernicious Anemia?

What about the Schilling test for vitamin B12 deficiency?

In the past, doctors have used the Schilling test to diagnose vitamin B12 deficiency.  The Schilling test involves swallowing harmless, radioactive doses of vitamin B12 and tracking its progress in your body.  However, because it involves fasting and the use of low-dose radiation, and because it may cause side effects like nausea, the Schilling test is rarely used.

Schilling test—a test in which a harmless amount of radiation is used to assess whether a vitamin B12 deficiency exists (rarely used)

Vitamin B12 therapy

Once diagnosed with vitamin B12 deficiency, your doctor will likely prescribe vitamin B12 shots, beginning with 1000 mcg of vitamin B12 per week.  These B12 shots are only available upon prescription.

• After the first month, B12 shots may be decreased to once per month, upon doctor’s orders.
• If B12 deficiency symptoms (fatigue, muscular pain, and brain fog) continue despite vitamin B12 injections, you may supplement with additional over-the-counter (OTC) vitamin B12.
• OTC vitamin B12 includes sublingual vitamin B12 tablets that dissolve under the tongue and dime-sized vitamin B12 patches that may be adhered behind the ear.
• Once your vitamin B12 levels are normal, your doctor will likely stop vitamin B12 shots in favor of OTC vitamin B12.
• Sublingual vitamin B12 requires supplementation three times per day.  Side effects may include unpleasant taste and burning, tingling sensation on the tongue.
• Sublingual vitamin B12 must be dissolved under the tongue as indicated; if they are chewed or swallowed, then vitamin B12 will not be absorbed.
• Vitamin B12 patches cause no discomfort or side effects, and require one application per week.

Please tell us…

• Aside from taking the blood test for vitamin B12, have you received any of the other tests mentioned?
• Please share your experience with vitamin B12 supplementation.
• We welcome all comments, questions, or suggestions!

Spread the love…

Please share this article with your friends, family, or anybody you care about!

Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency and pernicious anemia:

WhichTests check Absorption of Vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12- How much do you need?

Sources:

Anemia – B12 deficiency

Vitamin B12 Deficiency Anemia – Exams and Tests

Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Images:

ZaldyImg, takacsi75

The richest food sources of vitamin B12 come from meat, fish, and milk sources.  Some vegan vitamin B12 sources are available, but for maximum vitamin B12 benefits, you would have to eat a lot of tofu to get close to 1000 mcg of vitamin B12 per week.  How can you avoid vitamin B12 deficiency on a vegan diet?

Are you getting enough vitamin B12?

The RDA for vitamin B12 is minimal- only a few mcg of B12 per day.  However, according to various scientific studies, people who receive doses upwards of 1000 mcg of vitamin B12 per week reported experiencing boosts of energy, clearer thinking, and feelings of wellbeing.

Non-vegan sources of vitamin B12:

Clams: One 3-ounce serving of cooked clams contains 84.1 mcg of vitamin B12. 

Liver: After clams, liver is the richest source of vitamin B12.  A 3-ounce serving of cooked lamb liver contains a whopping 72.8 mcg of vitamin B12. 

Fish eggs: A 3-ounce serving of whitefish caviar provides 56.4 mcg of vitamin B12.

Mackerel: Mackerel has 19 mcg of vitamin B12 per 100 grams.

Vegan sources of vitamin B12:

Soymilk: An 8-ounce cup of soymilk provides a mere 2 mcg of vitamin B12, give or take.

Tofu: A typical serving of tofu provides 1.86 mcg of vitamin B12.

Marmite: Yeast spreads contain 0.5 mcg of vitamin B12 per 100 grams, or 0.03 per teaspoon.

Are you at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency?

There are many ways to get vitamin B12 deficiency, but they generally boil down to this:

Either you don’t eat enough foods that have vitamin B12, or you eat plenty of fish and meat, but you’re not digesting the B12.

On Becoming Vegan: Avoiding Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Others

Reasons for not digesting vitamin B12

If your body is unable to digest vitamin B12 naturally from food, then you are at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency, even if you eat plenty of clams.  Your only option is to supplement with vitamin B12 for life.

Factors that inhibit vitamin B12 absorption include:

• Autoimmune disorder (Crohn’s disease, fibromyalgia, celiac disease)
• Lack of intrinsic factor (a hormone necessary for digesting vitamin B12)
• Drug interaction (metformin, PPIs)
• Gastrointestinal surgery (gastric bypass)
• Alcoholism
• Old age

Getting extra vitamin B12

If you don’t have B12 deficiency, but you want to improve your energy levels, weight loss efforts, or boost cognitive functioning by increasing vitamin B12 supplementation, then your choices are:

• Become a seafood lover, or
• Supplement with vitamin B12 for life.

Which B12 supplements are available?

There are different kinds of B12 vitamins, some of which require a doctor’s prescription.

• Vitamin B12 shots: If diagnosed with vitamin B12 deficiency or pernicious anemia, then your doctor might prescribe 1000 mcg of vitamin B12 injections per week, or as needed.  A prescription is required, and many patients find that their chronic fatigue symptoms return in between vitamin B12 shot sessions.
• Sublingual vitamin B12: Vitamin B12 tablets that dissolve under the tongue are available with or without prescription.  Vitamin B12 pills are not efficient ways to access vitamin B12, and they often require you to take 3 doses throughout the day.  Side effects of sublingual vitamin B12 may include burning sensations on tongue and unpleasant taste.
• Vitamin B12 patch: Another popular way to supplement with vitamin B12 without needing a doctor’s prescription is by applying a B12 patch.  Unlike sublingual B12, the vitamin B12 patch causes no side effects, and requires just one application per week.  Many patients who receive weekly B12 shots choose to supplement with a vitamin B12 patch in between sessions, in order to maintain energy levels and prevent relapse of vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms like painful tingling, numbness, and muscle soreness.

Please tell us…

How do you get your vitamin B12- from supplements in pill form, vitamin B12 shots, or vitamin B12 patch?

We’d love to hear from you- please feel free to leave your comments!

Spread the love…

Please share this article with your friends, family, or anybody you care about!

Read more about vitamin B12 and vegan diet:

Natalie Portman Chooses B12 over Veganism

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

Benefits and Sources of Vitamin B12, and How to Avoid Deficiency

Sources:

Top 10 Foods Highest in Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)

Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin B12 Health Professional Fact Sheet

Images:

andrewasmith, freepik, Benson Kua

Vitamin B12 supplies energy, mental stamina, and muscle tone.  To maximize on the benefits of vitamin B12, you need to eat plenty foods that have vitamin B12 every day, preferably totaling 1000 mcg of vitamin B12 per week.

Foods that are rich in B12 include meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and milk.  But what if you choose to follow a vegetarian or vegan diet?  Are there any natural vegan sources of vitamin B12? Judge for yourself -see our no-nonsense list of foods that provide maximum vitamin B12.

How much vitamin B12 do I need?

According to the current RDA, you only need one or two mcg of vitamin B12.  However, that amount doesn’t suffice for people with vitamin B12 deficiency, or people who need extra B12 for energy, sports endurance, or mental focus.

To reverse the symptoms of B12 deficiency, or just to boost energy and promote well-being, many scientists recommend taking between 1000 mcg -3000 mcg of vitamin B12 per week.  (Read  Will Vitamin B12 Boost Energy if I don’t have B12 Deficiency? YES!)

Which foods have the most vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 naturally occurs in protein foods like beef, chicken, fish, shellfish, eggs, and dairy products.  If you follow a diet that excludes meat, fish, and milk, such as a vegan diet, then you may opt for plant-based foods that are infused with vitamin B12.  To get enough B12 to avoid deficiency, you might need to supplement with extra vitamin B12 as well.

How many clams do I have to eat?

Here is the nutritional data for foods that are rich in vitamin B12, starting with the highest- clams.

Clams

One 3-ounce serving of cooked clams contains 84.1 mcg of vitamin B12.  To get to your weekly dose, you would have to eat 11 servings of cooked clams each week.  Hope you’ve got recipes!

Liver

After clams, liver is the richest source of vitamin B12.  A 3-ounce serving of cooked lamb liver contains a whopping 72.8 mcg of vitamin B12.  You would have to eat nearly 14 servings of liver pate each week, or 2 servings per day, to get the most vitamin B12 for your money.  Want onions with that?

Fish eggs

Caviar is usually savored in small doses, but to get 1000 mcg of vitamin B12 from this luxurious treat, you would need to eat 17 3-ounce servings of whitefish eggs each week.  Don’t forget the crackers.

Octopus

In some countries like Hawaii and Japan, octopus is a common staple, much like burgers and fries in the US.  Three ounces of cooked octopus provides about 30 mcg of vitamin B12.  To reach 1000 mcg, you would need to eat 33 helpings of cooked octopus.  (Unless you prefer your octopus raw, in which case you would need to eat about 58 servings of octopus sushi each week.)

Mackerel

Among the finned creatures of the sea, mackerel is the fish that has the most vitamin B12, at 19 mcg per 100 grams.  That’s 52 weekly servings of fish per week.  (Can you say Holy Mackerel?)

Beef

Let’s face it- most of us don’t eat a lot of seafood or beef liver.  Most of your dietary stores of vitamin B12 are probably going to come from good old-fashioned beef.  (It’s what’s for dinner.)

Choose lean cuts of beef- not only are they healthier for your heart, but they also contain the richest amounts of vitamin B12 on the butcher aisle.  Lean beef chuck shoulder contains 5.25 mcg of vitamin B12 per 3-ounce serving.  To get even close to 1000 mcg of vitamin B12, you would need to eat over 80 beefsteaks per week. Hope you like chewing!

One double-cheeseburger contains 2.1 mcg of vitamin B12.

One cup of low-fat milk has 1.2 mcg of vitamin B12.

A serving of low-fat yogurt has 1.1 mcg of vitamin B12.

A beef taco has 0.9 mcg of vitamin B12.

One hard-boiled egg contains 0.6 mcg of vitamin B12.

Coming next: What about vegan vitamin B12?

Please tell us…

How do you get your vitamin B12- from supplements in pill form, vitamin B12 shots, or vitamin B12 patch?

We’d love to hear from you- please feel free to leave your comments!

Spread the love…

Please share this article with your friends, family, or anybody you care about!

Read more about vitamin B12 in food:

Vitamin B12 for Weight Loss- Why it Works

9 Vitamin Deficiencies and the People who are affected by them

B Vitamins prevent Cardiovascular Disease- B6, B12 and Folate

Sources:

Top 10 Foods Highest in Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)

Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin B12 Health Professional Fact Sheet

Images:

opencage, public domain images

If you suffer from Crohn’s disease, then check your vitamin B12 levels often.  One side effect of Crohn’s is pernicious anemia from vitamin B12 deficiency, in addition to Crohn’s symptoms like stomach cramping, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Not surprisingly, there are several reasons why vitamin B12 deficiency occurs with Crohn’s disease.  Here are the four top reasons to check your vitamin B12 levels if you suffer from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

1- Symptoms of Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease, sometimes called ileitis, is an illness of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that damages the bottommost part of the small intestinal, the terminal ileum.  Symptoms of Crohn’s disease include chronic diarrhea caused by swelling of the small intestine, excruciating stomach cramps caused by intestinal strictures, fever, weight loss, and rectal bleeding.

The ileum is an important part of your digestive system for vitamin B12 absorption- without it, your body would be unable to extract vitamin B12 (cobalamin) and dispense it into your blood supply.  If Crohn’s disease has caused irreparable inflammation of your terminal ileum, you will likely suffer symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency.

Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms include:

• Chronic fatigue
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Short-term memory loss
• Difficulty concentrating
• Unclear thinking, or “brain fog”
• Muscular twitching
• Painful tingling and numbness in hands and feet
• Sore, red tongue
• Burning mouth sensations
• Frequent clumsiness and stumbling

Once vitamin B12 deficiency is diagnosed, you may be required to take vitamin B12 shots for life, which are only available upon prescription.

2- Crohn’s disease medications

Whenever digestive disorders are present, vitamin B12 levels are low.  Certain medicines used to treat Crohn’s disease may cause symptoms that typically interfere with vitamin B12 absorption, such as diarrhea, vomiting, and acid reflux.  These medications often include anti-inflammatory drugs such as mesalamine medicines and immune system suppressors that are also used to treat cancer, such as Methotrexate (Rheumatrex).

Crohn’s- 9 Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD) Myths to Ignore

Only vitamin B12 supplements that bypass the digestive system can prevent vitamin B12 deficiency.

Left untreated, pernicious anemia from B12 deficiency can cause neurological damage, increased risk for heart attack and stroke, osteoporosis, and in extreme cases, death.

3- Gastrointestinal (GI) surgery

Any GI surgery that involves removal or reduction of the ileum results in vitamin B12 deficiency.  In Crohn’s disease, resection surgeries such as ileostomy necessitate lifelong supplementation of prescribed vitamin B12 shots.

Similarly, gastric bypass patients can no longer digest vitamin B12 in the stomach, and must get vitamin B12 injections indefinitely.

Sometimes, even routine vitamin B12 shots don’t provide full relief from  B12 deficiency symptoms like fatigue, depression, nerve pain, and brain fog.  In such cases, many opt for nonprescription vitamin B12 patches for extra energy and mental stamina between vitamin B12 jabs.

4- Crohn’s and diet

People suffering from IBD (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis) are required to follow restrictive diets excluding many foods that may irritate the digestive system.  Fruits and vegetables that are uncooked may be red flag items, in addition to food sources of vitamin B12, such as meat, poultry, fish, milk, and eggs.

Ten Foods to avoid if you have Inflammatory Bowel Disorder

Additionally, stomachaches, nausea, and diarrhea make it hard for Crohn’s disease sufferers to eat nutritious, filling meals.  As a result, people with Crohn’s often suffer from excess weight loss and malnourishment.

One of the leading types of malnourishment today is pernicious anemia from vitamin B12 deficiency. Besides Crohn’s disease patients, other people at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency are:

• People who lack intrinsic factor (IF)
• Diabetics on metformin
• GERD patients using protein pump inhibitors (PPIs)
• Patients with secondary gastrointestinal symptoms, such as fibromyalgia, celiac disease, autism, or migraine sufferers
• Gastric bypass patients
• Elderly individuals
• Alcoholics
• Vegans

Please tell us…

Are you a Crohn’s disease patient?  If so, what vitamin B12 supplements do you use- vitamin B12 shots, vitamin B12 patch, or other?

Please tell us if you have found this article helpful and informative.  As always, we welcome your comments!

Spread the love…

Please share this article with your friends, family, or anybody you care about!

Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency and Crohn’s disease:

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

Gut Bugs:Winning the Bacteria Battle

Sources:

Crohn’s Disease – National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse

Crohn’s Disease- MayoClinic.com

Images:

Wikimedia, photl, Fotolia.com

You might be surprised to know that vitamin B12 deficiency can cause symptoms like depression, fatigue, and anxiety. Vitamin B12 benefits your body in many ways, and when you don’t get enough, you can start to feel sluggish, nervous, and depressed, in addition to suffering many neurological disorders.  Sometimes, depression from B12 deficiency mimics clinical depression, interfering with a proper diagnosis.

Do you have vitamin B12 deficiency?

The only way to be certain if your B12 levels are low is by getting a blood test.  This will indicate if you need more vitamin B12, even if it doesn’t necessarily explain why your B12 levels are lower than normal.

Here are some typical signs of vitamin B12 deficiency that “masquerade” as mental illness:

• Chronic fatigue
• Anxiety
• Depression that lingers
• Sleep difficulties
• Paranoia
• Aggressiveness
• Hallucinations

Neurological symptoms of B12 deficiency include:

• Painful tingling in your legs, hands, and feet
• Frequent clumsiness and tripping
• Altered sense of taste
• Sore tongue
• Vision problems

How many types of depression are there?

Here are some of the most common types of depression:

Major depressive disorder: The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) characterizes major depression as a “combination of symptoms that interfere with a person’s ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy once-pleasurable activities.” Most people who suffer from major depression will experience several episodes of depression in their lives, but it is possible to experience it only once.  With major depressive disorder, medication is required for treatment of symptoms.

Dysthymic disorder: Dysthymia is depression that lingers over several years.  With dysthymia, depression is less severe than major depression, and not as likely to interfere in one’s ability to work or study.  Still, dysthymic disorder causes feelings of sadness and disquiet.  People with dysthymia may suffer from episodes of major depression, as well.

Minor depression: Minor depression is diagnosed when one has a short interval of depression over a few weeks.  Minor depression itself is not debilitating, but untreated may escalate into major depression.

Bipolar disorder: Manic-depressive illness is less common than major depression, and involves swift mood changes that alternate from exhilarating highs to deep depression.

Psychotic depression: Depression that accompanies other forms of severe mental illness, such as hallucinations or delusions, is called psychotic depression.

Postpartum depression: About 10%-15% of women suffer from postpartum depression after giving birth, which is caused by shifting hormones and overwhelming lifestyle changes.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD): During the winter months, it is common for some people to suffer from seasonal affective disorder because of decreased exposure to sunlight.  Still, antidepressants and psychotherapy are more effective at treating SAD than light therapy.

Depression from vitamin deficiency: Vitamin B12 deficiency and folate deficiency are directly linked to some incidences of depression.  According to NIMH, “depression and poor response to antidepressant medication have been linked to deficiency in the vitamins folate and B12.”

In other studies, elevated homocysteine levels were associated with increased risk for depression.  Vitamin B12 and folate supplementation, which decrease homocysteine levels in the blood, were instrumental in treating depression.

Can Elevated Homocysteine (Low B12) cause Mental Illness?

What’s the connection between vitamin B12 and depression?

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is necessary for various biological functions, such as DNA synthesis, red blood cell distribution, protection of the nervous system, and lowering of homocysteine levels.  In addition, vitamin B12 also helps your brain maintain healthy cognitive functioning. When vitamin B12 levels are low, your brain suffers.  You begin to experience severe short-term memory loss, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and mental illness symptoms like depression, anxiety, paranoia, feelings of hostility, and moodiness.

What is vitamin B12, and why is it so important?

Where can I get more vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 food sources include meat, fish, milk, and egg products. However, if you suffer from pernicious anemia or other autoimmune disorders, you probably cannot digest vitamin B12 from foods, and must supplement with sublingual vitamin B12 or vitamin B12 shots.  An alternative method of taking vitamin B12 is the vitamin B12 patch, which does not require a prescription, and carries the same amount of vitamin B12 as a weekly B12 shot.

Please tell us…

If you suffer from depression, have you had your B12 levels checked, as well? If you currently take vitamin B12 supplements, do you take them orally, through B12 injections, or by using the vitamin B12 patch?

Let us know how we’re doing…

Please comment below, and share our page with your friends!

Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency and depression:

Eating Your Way Out of Depression with B-12

Tired of being Tired all the Time…It’s Tiring!

Vitamin Deficiencies can drive you Crazy- Seriously! Part 1

Sources:

Effectiveness of Vitamin Supplementation in Treating People With Residual Symptoms of Schizophrenia

NIMH- Depression

Treatment of depression: time to consider folic acid and vitamin B12- PubMed, NCBI

Walk into a convenience store, and you can’t even see the sugary sodas for all the energy drinks cluttering up the aisles, touting vitamin B12 among their many other energy-boosting ingredients.  Why are more Americans turning to vitamin-infused 5-hour energy shots for instant get-up-and-go, and do these products work?

Energy drinks- is it all bull?

The label on the can promises extra vitamin B12 -cobalamin- for “maximum energy,” athletic endurance, and increased mental focus, without causing nasty side effects associated with most energy drinks (nervousness, paranoia, and insomnia).  At least, that’s the claim.  But how healthy are vitamin B12 drinks, and does the “energy blend” of vitamins and nutrients really have that much impact on your energy level?

Let’s look at the most common ingredients in a 2-ounce bottle:

• Niacin- 30mg (150% RDA)
• Vitamin B6- 40mg (2000% RDA)
• Folic acid- 400mcg (100% RDA)
• Vitamin B12- 500mcg (8333% RDA)
• “Energy Blend”- 1870mg

Oh, and don’t forget the caffeine

Yes- all energy drinks contain loads of caffeine, in addition to all the healthy nutrients.  That “energy blend” referred to on the label includes about 138mg of caffeine- ounce for ounce, the same amount of caffeine as in a cup of brewed coffee, and twice as much caffeine as you’ll find in a cup of instant coffee.

Boost Energy Now! 20 Practical Tips for Fighting Fatigue

Why include vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 has gained a lot of popularity these days as the “energy vitamin,” and for good reason.  Vitamin B12 helps your body convert carbs into energy.  Vitamin B12 also helps produce amino acids, promotes a healthy metabolism, builds red blood cells, improves cognitive functioning, protects your nervous system, and lowers your risk of getting a heart attack or stroke.  (See B Vitamins prevent Cardiovascular Disease- B6, B12 and Folate)

Some side effects of having low vitamin B12 in your system include

• chronic fatigue, despite getting plenty of sleep
• exhaustion after exercise
• depression
• trouble concentrating
• memory loss
• confusion
• paranoia
• hallucinations
• irritability

Tired of being Tired all the Time…It’s Tiring!

Some of the more physical, neurological side effects of having B12 deficiency include

• arms or feet constantly going numb, or “falling asleep”
• painful tingling sensations in the hands, feet, or tongue
• sore, reddened tongue
• altered taste perception
• tinnitus (ear ringing)
• weak muscles
• poor motor control
• clumsiness
• frequent stumbling while walking or running
• inability to balance on one leg

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

Over a long period, low vitamin B12 levels could lead to pernicious anemia, early onset dementia like Alzheimer’s disease, neurological damage, osteoporosis, cancer, stroke, heart attack…even death.

Why you’re better off getting your B12 elsewhere

Nobody’s disputing that it’s important to get your daily fix of vitamin and minerals. But it’s important to make sure you get a potent, fully digestible form of vitamin B12.  The problem with many energy drinks is that they only work if your body is able to absorb vitamin B12.  And most people who suffer severe fatigue and loss of concentration because of low vitamin B12 levels lack the necessary chemicals for vitamin B12 absorption from dietary sources and distributing it to the blood supply.

In fact, if you don’t produce “intrinsic factor,” then no amount of vitamin B12 food sources, drinks, sprays, or pills will give you the boost of energy and mental focus you need to get through the day.  To get vitamin B12 into your blood, you will have to bypass the digestive system.

First, find out if you have B12 deficiency by asking your doctor for a blood test. Supplementation may include vitamin B12 shots.  Additionally, many people who require extra vitamin B12 opt to use a vitamin B12 patch.

Read more about vitamin B12 for energy:

The Vitamin B12 Patch for Energy

Is Vitamin B12 the Secret to the Fountain of Youth?

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

Sources:

Caffeine in 5-Hour Energy

5 HOUR ENERGY DRINK INGREDIENTS

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nattu, Nina Matthews Photography, Annie Mole

“What is vitamin B12,” you ask? Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, is a member of the B-complex vitamins.  A water-soluble vitamin, B12 is stored in your liver and is necessary for avoiding vitamin B12 deficiency.

What are the benefits of vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 wears many hats.  It is essential for a vast number of important bodily functions.

• Red blood cells! Vitamin B12 helps your body produce plenty of red blood cells that are required for carrying oxygen throughout your body.  With enough B12, you would suffer pernicious anemia.
• Memory! Vitamin B12 assists in cognitive skills such as memory, concentration, and comprehension.  Without enough B12, you would suffer early onset dementia, short-terms memory loss, depression, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating.
• Heart health! Vitamin B12 controls the level of homocysteine in your blood, a protein associated with heart attack and stroke.  Without enough B12, you are at a higher risk of dying of heart disease or stoke.
• Bone health! Scientists have found a high correlation between B12 deficiency and osteoporosis- loss of bone mass- in elderly individuals.  Without enough B12, you would suffer from brittle, easily broken bones in your hipbones and spine.
• Senses! Vitamin B12 keeps communication flowing between your brain and various nerve sites, such as your fingers, toes, mouth, eyes, and ears.  Without enough B12, you would suffer neurological damage such as tingling, numbness or pain in your hands, feet, and tongue.
• Nervous system! Vitamin B12 protects the myelin sheathe of your nervous system.  Without enough B12, you would have difficulty controlling your muscles in your arms and legs.
• DNA! Vitamin B12 promotes DNA synthesis.  Without enough B12, you would suffer abnormal cell growth, possibly leading to cancer.
• Metabolism! Vitamin B12 boosts energy.  Without enough B12, you would feel sluggish, confused, chronically fatigued, and be more prone to weight gain.

What foods have vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 occurs naturally in animal-based proteins.  The following food sources have the highest levels of vitamin B12:

• Meat! Beef, particularly lean beefsteak and beef organs, such as liver and heart
• Chicken! Poultry, including lean chicken, turkey, and duck
• Fish! Seafood, including tuna, halibut, salmon, crab meat, clams, and oysters
• Eggs! Don’t skip the yolks- they are extremely high in this B vitamin
• Milk! Dairy products, including milk, hard cheese, yogurt, and kefir

But I eat plenty of protein, and I take vitamin supplements.

Even if you eat plenty of foods with vitamin B12, you are not immune to B12 deficiency.  Many multivitamins and B-complex pills include vitamin B12, but not in sufficient amounts to prevent vitamin B12 deficiency in individuals who are at risk.

The only way to get enough B12 is by taking vitamin B12 supplements. Some popular B12 supplements are vitamin B12 sublingual pills, prescribed vitamin B12 shots, and vitamin B12 patches.

Read more about vitamin B12:

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

What are the Symptoms of Pernicious Anemia- B12 deficiency?

Can Elevated Homocysteine (Low B12) cause Mental Illness?

Sources:

Vitamin B12- Mayo Clinic

What Is Vitamin B12 Deficiency? What Causes Vitamin B12 Deficiency?

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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

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The elderly need to increase their intake of vitamin B12, in order to avoid memory loss from B12 deficiency.  Brain loss caused by Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia is a part of the aging process, but by getting enough vitamin B12 in your blood, you can prevent suffering the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency.

Chicago study links low levels of vitamin B12 with memory loss

A 2011 study that focused on 121 community-dwelling participants of the Chicago Health and Aging Project found a strong correlation between vitamin B12 deficiency and memory loss.  Scientists measured methylmalonate levels to determine vitamin B12 deficiency.

• They found a direct relationship between low levels of vitamin B12, reduced brain volume, and decreased cognitive skills, such as loss of short-term memory.
• Scientists noted poorer memory skills, slower thinking processes, and impaired comprehension skills as attributes associated with elevated methylmalonate levels- an indicator of vitamin B12 deficiency.
• Also considered were plasma homocysteine levels, which scientists also connected with loss of brain mass.  High levels of homocysteine are common in vitamin B12 deficiency.
• Scientists concluded that methylmalonate, an indicator of vitamin B12 deficiency, has a direct impact on brain volume, and that vitamin B12 has multiple benefits on brain chemistry beyond just memory skills.
• In 2008, a UK study conducted by the University of Oxford produced similar results; namely, that vitamin B12 deficiency is a likely cause of brain atrophy, dementia, and short-term memory loss among the elderly.

How to keep Vitamin B12 Deficiency from Shrinking your Brain

For the elderly, eating foods with vitamin B12 isn’t enough

Eating plenty of foods rich in vitamin B12 is always a good idea; such foods include protein sources like beef, chicken, fish, eggs, milk, and cheese. But for the elderly, the problem isn’t really eating enough sources of vitamin B12, but rather digesting them.  Part of the aging process involves making less stomach acids that are necessary for absorbing vitamin B12 from foods.  As a result, many elderly individuals who include meat in their diet still run a high risk for getting B12 deficiency.

Unless blood tests indicate healthy levels of vitamin B12, senior citizens must supplement with vitamin B-12 (cobalamin) with a routine prescribed B12 shot in order to avoid the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency.  Another popular option is adding a vitamin B12 patch.

Memory loss in B12 deficiency for the young and old

It isn’t just the elderly who should be concerned with memory loss- short-term memory loss is one of many symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, regardless of age.

Vitamin B12- How much do you need?

Other symptoms of dangerously low B12 levels are:

• Chronic fatigue
• Depression
• Difficulty concentrating
• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Aggressive behavior
• Hallucinations
• Balance problems
• Poor muscular control
• Numbness or tingling in hands, arms, feet, and legs
• Sore, red swollen tongue
• Altered taste perception

Long-term exposure to vitamin B12 deficiency could result in severe neurological damage, pernicious anemia, increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and cancer, and osteoporosis.

Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency and memory loss:

12 Ways to Avoid Alzheimer’s Disease

FDA Approves Brain Scan to Detect Alzheimer’s Disease

Adult ADHD Could Lead to Dementia

Sources:

Low Vitamin B12 Linked to Smaller Brains and Cognitive Decline

Vitamin B12 Levels Linked to Memory Skills and Brain Size

Low Vitamin B12 May Speed Brain Shrinkage

Low Vitamin B12 Linked to Smaller Brain Size

Elevated Plasma Homocysteine Is Associated with Increased Brain Atrophy Rates in Older Subjects with Mild Hypertension

Vitamin B12, cognition, and brain MRI measures- A cross-sectional examination

Vitamin B12 status and rate of brain volume loss in community-dwelling elderly

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