If your body stores vitamin B12 in the liver for years, how does vitamin B12 deficiency happen? Even if you eat plenty of foods that supply vitamin B12 (cobalamin), such as meat and fish, you might still run the risk of developing severe vitamin B12 deficiency that can culminate in pernicious anemia or nerve damage.  What conditions and lifestyle choices affect your B12 levels?

Vitamin B12 deficiency today

Vitamin B12 deficiency is the leading form of vitamin deficiency, affecting nearly 40% of people between the ages of 26 and 83, according to a Tufts University study on B12 deficiency.  For elderly individuals, the risk of low B12 levels is 20%.

Vitamin B12 helps your body protect the nervous system’s myelin sheath; as a result, B12 deficiency symptoms may include painful tingling or numbness in the hands, feet, and tongue, muscular weakness, difficulty walking, frequent clumsiness, altered sense of taste, burning mouth syndrome, and eye twitching.

For a list of more symptoms of B12 deficiency, read B12 Deficiency: Don’t Ignore the Symptoms

Four roads to vitamin B12 deficiency

#1 Not eating meat

Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble nutrient that occurs exclusively in animal-based food items.  The basic food sources of vitamin B12 are meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and milk.  Contrary to popular opinion, brewer’s yeast does not contain vitamin B12, although it does supply other essential B vitamins.  Purple and green seaweed are the only naturally rich vegan sources of B12.  So, if you follow a vegan diet and do not eat generous portions of nori every day, then you are likely to develop B12 deficiency over the course of several years.

The top food sources of vitamin B12 are:

• lean beef and chicken
• organ meat (liver, heart)
• fish (halibut, herring, salmon)
• shellfish (oysters, clams)
• Eggs
• Cheese (Swiss, Muenster)
• Milk products (yogurt, whole milk)

Natalie Portman Chooses B12 over Veganism

#2 Not making enough stomach acid

If you’re over 50, there’s a 30% chance that you suffer from atrophic gastritis, a general wearing down of your stomach lining.  As a result, your body doesn’t produce enough stomach acids to fully absorb vitamin B12 and deliver it to the small intestines. Insufficient stomach acids may also lead to bacterial overgrowth, which also interferes with vitamin B12 absorption.

Other people at risk include individuals taking protein pump inhibitors (PPIs) for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), ulcers, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, and long-term antibiotic use.

The 20 Do’s and Don’ts of the GERD Diet

#3 Not making intrinsic factor

Another chemical the stomach produces for digesting vitamin B12 is intrinsic factor.  Certain autoimmune disorders may inhibit your body’s ability to absorb vitamin B12 by attacking stomach cells before they have a chance to produce this necessary protein.  Regardless of how many vitamin B12 supplements you swallow, the B12 never reaches the small intestines, so it never enters the bloodstream.  Pernicious anemia, resulting in diminished red blood cell production, is a common occurrence when intrinsic factor is lacking.

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

#4 Gastrointestinal conditions and surgeries

The ileum of the small intestine is responsible for digesting vitamin B12.  Located at the very bottom of the intestinal tract, the ileum grabs vitamin B12 and dispenses it to your blood supply.  But if your ileum is not working properly, then you cannot derive the many benefits of vitamin B12.

Gastrointestinal factors that interfere with B12 absorption are:

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) such as Crohn’s and colitis
• Celiac disease
• Fibromyalgia
• Gastrointestinal surgery for Crohn’s
• Gastric bypass surgery

Absorbing Vitamin B12, a Metabolic Gastrointestinal Journey

What’s the solution?

It’s simple.  If you are unable to get your vitamin B12 from dietary sources, then the only other option is to bypass the digestive system and redirect B12 directly to your bloodstream.  Below are some popular methods of supplementing vitamin B12 without using the stomach.

• Vitamin B12 shots: B12 require a prescription from a doctor.  Because of the size of cobalamin molecules, B12 shots are usually painful, and must be inserted into thick muscular tissue, such as the thigh or buttock.  Even if you have a high threshold to pain, the idea of having to take vitamin B12 injections for the rest of your life can be worrisome.
• Sublingual B12 pills: The jury’s still out on the effectiveness of sublingual vitamin B12 tablets that dissolve under the tongue; whether they actually enter the bloodstream or just travel through the digestive system is under debate.  Your physician might prescribe B12 pills to be taken three times per day.
• Vitamin B12 sprays and creams: There is insufficient data to support the use of nasal sprays or lotions as a means of combatting vitamin B12 deficiency.
• Vitamin B12 patch: The B12 patch is a popular “alternative” form of vitamin B12 supplementation, although it is quickly becoming accepted as mainstream.  One vitamin B12 patch contains the same amount of cobalamin as a weekly B12 injection. For children and adults who must take regular B12 shots, this is good news.  And unlike B12 pills, you need only remember to take a B12 patch once per week.

Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency:

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

6 Food Cravings that Signal Vitamin Deficiency

Ten Bites to Better Brain Power

Sources:

Are you getting enough of this vitamin?

B12 Deficiency May Be More Widespread Than Thought

Spirulina and Vitamin B12

Vitamin B₁₂ Sources and Bioavailability

Brewer’s yeast

Images, from top:

euthman

Vitamin B12 deficiency is one of the fastest growing forms of malnutrition, inflicting at least 40% of all adults with symptoms like fatigue, memory loss, painful tingling sensations, and psychosis.  But what researchers know about the effect of B12 deficiency in children is even more troubling…

Infants with B12 deficiency

Scientists have conducted many studies focusing on neurodevelopment issues in infants diagnosed with low cobalamin- severe vitamin B12 deficiency.  One such study conducted by UC Davis noted symptoms of neurological disorders in breast-fed infants born to women with undiagnosed pernicious anemia, including:

• Irritability
• Failure to thrive
• Low growth rate
• Lethargy
• Anorexia
• Refusal of solid foods
• Developmental regression
• Involuntary movements
• Alterations in skin pigmentation
• Megaloblastic anemia

Babies, B12, and Fertility- B12 Deficiency during Pregnancy

How early can infants develop B12 deficiency?

For adults, vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms may take years to surface. That’s because the liver stores vast amounts of B12, and unless you lack intrinsic factor, your body constantly replenishes its supply of B12 whenever you eat foods like beef, chicken, fish, eggs, and milk.  However, if you follow a vegan diet, or if you are unable to produce intrinsic factor in your stomach, then your vitamin B12 levels will eventually become depleted.

Newborn infants are not born with large stores of vitamin B12, especially if their mothers have pernicious anemia or refrained from eating foods with B12 during pregnancy or while nursing. Even though they are born neurologically healthy and of a normal birth weight and size, symptoms of B12 deficiency usually manifest between four to ten months of age, but can occur as early as the second month.

Brainy People are high on B12, according to Brain Health Study

Vitamin B12 supplements as treatment

After receiving vitamin B12 supplements, infants began recovering rapidly from neurological illness, and eventually experienced a reversal of symptoms, confirming scientists’ beliefs that B12 deficiency causes nerve damage, brain atrophy, and chemical imbalances in the brain.

Find out if you or your infant has B12 deficiency by taking a simple blood test. If diagnosed, your doctor may recommend sublingual vitamin B12 pills, intramuscular B12 shots, or a vitamin B12 patch.

Symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency

Many other neurological and emotional ailments are attributed to low B12 levels:

• Memory loss
• Depression
• “Brain fog”
• Fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating
• Anxiety
• Hallucinations
• Clumsiness
• Poor motor control
• Frequent stumbling
• Painful tingling in hands and feet
• Arms and legs going numb
• Sore, red tongue
• Altered sense of taste

Read more about B12 deficiency symptoms:

Juvenile Vitamin B12 Deficiency- the Dinosaur of all Disorders, say Scientists

Brain Drain Medications- Drugs that Drain the B12 out of you

Pernicious Anemia: Your 13 Most Frequently Asked Questions, Answered!

Sources:

Effect of vitamin B12 deficiency on neurodevelopment in infants: current knowledge and possible mechanisms

Image credits, from top:

**ShutterGirl**, Insight Imaging: John A Ryan Photography, christopherallisonphotography.com

Keeping your heart healthy requires making many lifestyle changes; most people don’t realize that avoiding vitamin B12 deficiency is just as essential for your heart as eating heart-healthy foods, exercising, and reducing stress.  Below are some pointers for preventing cardiovascular disease, including reasons why extra vitamin B12 supplements are beneficial for a healthy heart.

1- Monitor your vitamin B12 levels

Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, supports many necessary functions in your body.  Vitamin B12 helps you produce plenty of red blood cells, helps maintain your nervous system, assists in building DNA, and generally improves metabolism, cognitive functioning, strength, and energy.

Vitamin B12 is also an essential nutrient in the prevention of heart disease and stroke.  By lowering homocysteine levels, vitamin B12 also lowers your risk for coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. The American Heart Association urges people to eat a healthy diet that includes folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 for optimal heart health.

Goal: Get tested! Elderly individuals, people diagnosed with pernicious anemia, patients of gastrointestinal disorders, or anybody who has had gastrointestinal surgery involving the removal of the ileum (gastric bypass) cannot absorb vitamin B12 in the stomach, and must take B12 supplements in order to avoid suffering B12 deficiency.  To find out if you are at risk, request a blood screening for vitamin B12 deficiency from your doctor.

Read more about vitamin B12 and heart disease-

B Vitamins prevent Cardiovascular Disease- B6, B12 and Folate

2- Get moving

All health experts agree that incorporating at least 30 minutes of exercise per day, at least 5 days per week, is the single most important lifestyle change you can make for your heart.  Conversely, increasing evidence indicates that living a sedentary lifestyle- watching several hours of television each day, sitting at a desk for long periods without breaks, and shunning exercise- is one of the biggest contributing factors to heart disease.

Goal: Break it down! If you’re daunted by the idea of spending 30 minutes on a treadmill, plan three 10-minute breaks in the day for exercise, instead.  Walk your dog or do a window-shopping run around the mall (without stopping!).  If you work at a desk, set your timer to alert you to get up and stretch at regular intervals.

Staying Fit with Fibromyalgia: 13 Pain-Free Workouts

3- Eat more heart-healthy foods

Prevent cardiovascular disease by following a low fat, low cholesterol diet.  Avoid saturated trans-fats, and opt instead for small doses of healthy monounsaturated fats, like olive or canola oils.  If you normally eat red meat, switch instead to lean poultry, which also contains plenty of vitamin B12.  In addition to cutting down on fats, you should also eat more vitamin-enriched foods that are low in salt and refined carbohydrates.

Goal: Spice it up! Train your tongue to like nutritious, low-fat foods that have fewer “empty” calories.  Go for high-fiber vegetables, grains, and legumes, lower-fat meats, cheeses, and spreads, and shake things up with dashes of cayenne pepper, ginger, cumin, paprika, turmeric, and granulated garlic.  By focusing on the spices, you’ll feel more satisfied, and less likely to miss that fatty mouth-feel of fried foods.

The Best- and Worst- Cooking Oils for Heart Health

4- Mind your weight

Numerous studies conclude that obesity is one of the greatest health risks that affect people today.  Being overweight overburdens your entire body, contributing to illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, and other life threatening conditions.

Goal: Size it down! By cutting down the size of your plate, you alternatively cut down your dress size.  Try using smaller plates, include veggies, omit surgery drinks, eat slower, and resist the urge to go for seconds.

Vitamin B12 for Weight Loss- Why it Works

5- Don’t ignore the elephant in the living room

If you think you might be suffering some of the symptoms of heart disease, such as breathlessness, heart palpitations, increased sweating, call your doctor right away.  Ignoring even the smallest signs can be a matter of life or death.

Goal: See your doctor! Pay attention to bodily cues, and schedule a checkup, immediately.

6- Keep your emotions in check

Stress, anxiety, and depression are all taxing on your heart.  Succumbing to anger increases your chances for heart attack, as well.

Goal: Talk it out! When you feel nervous, sad, or stressed, confide in a friend or close family member.  If you’re uncomfortable asking others for help, schedule a meeting with a psychiatrist or social worker, instead.

Can Elevated Homocysteine (Low B12) cause Mental Illness?

7- Snuff out the cigarettes

At the very least, you should quit smoking in order to improve your heart health and your lungs.  Smoking is linked with many kinds of cancer, asthma, and chronic bronchitis.

Goal: Don’t give up! If you’ve tried to quit smoking in the past, then try again.  Research shows that the more times you attempt to quit smoking cigarette, the greater the chances of eventually reaching that smoke-free goal.  Ask your healthcare provider about quit-smoking programs, or try using a patch.

Smoking and Vitamin B12 Deficiency

8- Cut down on alcohol

If you drink more than two alcoholic beverages per day, then you need to cut it down.  Research shows that drinking too much alcohol is dangerous for the heart, as well as the liver.

Goal: Seek help! If the notion of keeping your alcohol drinking down to one or two beers each day sounds overwhelming, then you might require extra assistance from Alcoholics Anonymous.

B12 and Alcohol Consumption

9- Sleep soundly

If you snore, then you might be a candidate for heart failure or stroke, according to latest research on the heavy risks of snoring.  Obstructive sleep apnea is one of many factors that may lead to cardiovascular disease.

Goal: Wear your mask! So far, the best treatment for severe sleep apnea is wearing a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure device (CPAP) while sleeping.

10- Take care of your choppers

Over time, your teeth develop a layer of plaque that contains bacteria.  Unless you brush and floss regularly, you can get gum disease, causing bacteria to seep into your blood supply and contributing to heart disease.

Goal: Floss it! Floss and brush morning and evening, and floss after meals.

What your Gums have to Say about your B12 Level

11- Set reasonable goals

Don’t fall victim to the “all or nothing” attitude.  You don’t have to become a health and fitness enthusiast, but nor should you throw up your hands in despair.  Accept that with every one success come numerous setbacks, and that lifestyle changes happen slowly, over a period of weeks, months, or even years.

Goal: Take baby steps! All successful weight-loss and fitness experts encourage you to set small, reachable short-term goals, in addition to the long-term goal of better health.  This allows you to feel a small measure of success, and gives you the motivation you need to stay on the wagon.  Congratulate yourself for losing 10% of your weight, losing a dress size, or every time you make a healthy food choice.

12- Respect your medications

Don’t think that just because you feel better, that you can stop taking your blood pressure medications.  Many heart patients make that common mistake.  If you are unhappy with a side effect of certain medications, then ask your doctor for an alternative.  Conversely, don’t rely on medications alone to keep you healthy. It is essential to follow a heart-healthy diet, in addition to exercising and reducing stress, for optimal cardiovascular health.

Goal: Get organized! Keep your meds somewhere where you won’t forget them.  If necessary, store a batch of precut tablets in a pill keeper.

Brain Drain Medications- Drugs that Drain the B12 out of you

Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency:

Vitamin B12 Deficiency. Are you at Risk?

Pernicious Anemia: Your 13 Most Frequently Asked Questions, Answered!

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

Sources:

5 Essential Heart Health Habits

17 Worst Habits for Your Heart

Homocysteine, Folic Acid and Cardiovascular Disease

‘Wake Up’ To Health Risks Of Heavy Snoring

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

What causes Leaky Gut Syndrome? Scientists aren’t positive- could be Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), fibromyalgia, or any number of autoimmune disorders.

What is Leaky Gut Syndrome?

Leaky Gut Syndrome (LGS), also called intestinal hyperpermeability, is a breach in the barrier that lines the intestinal tract.  Leaky Gut causes damage to your digestive system, making it difficult for your body to digest nutrients, in addition to “leaking” bacteria, toxins, and undigested food particles from your intestines and into the rest of your body.

Gut Bugs:Winning the Bacteria Battle

What causes Leaky Gut?

Scientists aren’t clear what exactly causes Leaky Gut Syndrome, but they have noted some strong correlations; conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), fibromyalgia, and gluten intolerance have a cyclical relationship with LGS, causing symptoms that cause further damage to the intestines, thus making Leaky Gut Syndrome even harder to control.  Leaky Gut could result from a chronic disease, or it may signal the onset of life-threatening illness such as cancer or AIDS.

AIDS with B12 Deficiency

What are the symptoms of Leaky Gut Syndrome?

Doctors are hesitant to diagnose Leaky Gut Syndrome; it hasn’t yet been fully accepted as part of conventional medicine, and there are multitudes of seemingly unrelated illnesses that are theorized as being linked with Leaky Gut Syndrome.  Not surprisingly, most doctors choose to treat each symptom separately, and rarely get to the root of the illness that might be LGS.

Below are some common symptoms associated with Leaky Gut Syndrome:

• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Multiple joint pain
• Muscular soreness
• Headaches
• Chronic fatigue
• Brain fog
• Depression
• Skin rash
• Chronic allergies

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

What diseases and are associated with Leaky Gut Syndrome?

• Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, or pernicious anemia
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Crohn’s disease
• Chronic depression
• Arthritis
• Psoriasis
• Acne
• Hives
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Pancreatic disease
• Jaundice
• Hepatitis
• Unexplainable infections
• Cancer
• AIDS

What are the treatments for Leaky Gut Syndrome?

If you are diagnosed with Leaky Gut Syndrome, your doctor might prescribe one or more of the following treatments:

• Glutamine
• N-acetyl cysteine
• Zinc
• Vitamin B12 supplements

Long-term lifestyle changes are effective at preventing further occurrences of Leaky Gut Syndrome, including restrictive diet for Leaky Gut, probiotics, alcohol moderation, and weaning off non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Read more about autoimmune diseases and vitamin B12 deficiency:

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

Dressing after Crohn’s Surgery- 5 Post- Ostomy Fashion Tips

On the Run with Crohn’s? 6 Ways to Ease Public Restroom Anxiety

Sources:

Do You Have Leaky Gut Syndrome?

What Is Leaky Gut?

Autism and GI Problems

Good news for vitamin B12 users- you might have discovered the secret to the Fountain of Youth! Vitamin B-12 is the preferred anti-aging supplement of Jack Lindsley, who just celebrated his 100^th birthday.  Find out what makes this B vitamin one of the best anti-aging products in your pharmacy.

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

Do you know Jack?

Jack Lindsley is a 100-year-old D-day veteran who just celebrated his birthday. He has served in World War II, married the love of his life, and worked in the postal service for 28 years.  After his wife passed away in 1990, this retired firefighter dedicated his life to volunteer work.

Walk into the Doylestown, Pennsylvania hospital mailroom, and you’ll find Jack smiling and joking with other mailroom attendants while patiently sorting the mail.  “The most pleasant man to be around,” Jack Lindsley has an infectious personality and a talent for dispensing good old-fashioned advice…

Feed your Brain Something You’ll never Forget

So what’s his secret Fountain of Youth?

Jack eats plenty of foods high in B12.

“I do cooking to my liking.  Breakfast could be all three meals – I like bacon, eggs, and pancakes.” Meat, fish, cheese, and eggs- these are all food sources that are rich in vitamin B12.  Jack also likes cooking meatloaf- another dish high in vitamin B12.

As far as healthy living routines go, Jack swears by his old standbys- aspirin and vitamin B12 supplements every day.

What makes vitamin B12 the best anti-aging vitamin?

• Vitamin B12 is essential for a healthy metabolism. Abnormal cell growth is one of many vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms that could lead to cancer.
• Vitamin B12 is good for your heart. B12 lowers your homocysteine levels, thus decreasing your chances of suffering from a heart attack or stroke.
• Vitamin B12 supports cognitive functioning. Scientists discovered that vitamin B12 prevents brain atrophy, or loss of brain mass.  Older individuals who take extra doses of vitamin B12 are less likely to get Alzheimer’s disease, and experience fewer symptoms of aging, such as short-term memory loss, paranoia, and confusion.
• Vitamin B12 prevents hair loss. By avoiding B12 deficiency, you reduce your chances of premature baldness and hair whitening.  Vitamin B12 also promotes skin elasticity, for fewer wrinkles.
• Vitamin boosts energy. Without sufficient levels of B12, you will feel increasingly fatigued, depressed, disoriented, and confused.  By taking daily vitamin B12 supplements, avoid getting vitamin B12 deficiency, and you protect your immune system, energy levels, and mental clarity.
• Vitamin B12 prevents osteoporosis. In a scientific study, elderly individuals who had the highest levels of vitamin B12 in their blood experienced significantly lower levels of bone loss than those who had the lowest levels of B12.

Read more about vitamin B12 and symptoms of aging:

Vitamin B12 and your Bones- Osteoporosis from B12 Deficiency

Bilingual Alzheimer’s Patients Fare Better Than Most

FDA Approves Brain Scan to Detect Alzheimer’s Disease

Sources:

Hospital volunteer celebrates 100th birthday

Closing out his first century, and still volunteering in Bucks

Image credits, from top:

LadyDayDream, ciccioetneo, maxintosh

Are you at risk for developing vitamin B12 deficiency, one of the leading, fastest growing forms of malnourishment today?  Most people with B12 deficiency don’t even know it.  Find out why B12 is important for healthy living, and whether you are getting enough.

What are the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency?

Vitamin B12, an essential nutrient called cobalamin, occurs naturally in meat and other protein foods such as beef, poultry, fish, eggs, and milk.  Vitamin B12 is one of the B-complex vitamins, and plays many important roles in your healthy lifestyle, and unless you get enough vitamin B12 from your diet or from vitamin B12 supplements, then you might experience the following symptoms:

• Constant tiredness, fatigue for no apparent reason
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Confusion
• Lack of appetite
• Insomnia
• Lack of concentration
• Short-term memory loss
• Irritability
• Muscular aches
• Tingling, numbness or pain in your hands and feet
• Sore, swollen red tongue
• Altered taste perception
• Hallucinations
• Difficulty walking smoothly
• Poor hand-eye coordination and motor skills

Untreated, vitamin B12 deficiency could lead to pernicious anemia, neurological damage, increased risk for heart attack and stroke, osteoporosis, early onset dementia, and misdiagnosis of psychotic illnesses.

Low B12 means Low Thyroid- Hypothyroidism and B12 Deficiency

So, who’s at risk for B12 deficiency?

Even if you eat plenty of meat and milk, you may be susceptible for vitamin B12 deficiency, as there are many other risk factors involved…

If you fit into any one of the following categories, then you are highly susceptible to vitamin B12 deficiency:

• Do you have diabetes? If you are diabetic, and you take metformin, then you are vulnerable to B12 deficiency, since metformin blocks your ability to digest vitamin B12 properly.
• Have you had weight loss surgery? If you have had any bariatric surgery such as gastric bypass, or any other gastrointestinal surgery that involves removing a piece of the small intestine called the ileum, then you need to take vitamin B12 supplements regularly.  The ileum is the bottom-most part of the small intestine, and is principally responsible for absorbing vitamin B12.
• Do you suffer from autoimmune disorders? If you suffer from any autoimmune disease that involves damage to the digestive system, then you are at risk for many forms of malnourishment, including vitamin B12 deficiency.  Examples of autoimmune disorders that correlate with vitamin B12 deficiency are Crohn’s disease, celiac disorder, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and lupus.
• Are you a senior citizen? The elderly are highly susceptible to B12 deficiency.  As you age, your body produces fewer stomach acids that are necessary for digesting vitamin B12 from the foods you eat.  Also, older people tend to eat less and have sensitive stomachs, all of which can lead to malnourishment. In order to avoid B12 deficiency, it is crucial to include extra B12 supplements in your daily vitamin regimen.
• Do you take heartburn medication? If you suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or if just take many antacids, then you might become deficient in vitamin B12, as stomach acids are essential for digesting vitamins such as B12 from your food.
• Are you an alcoholic? Frequent alcohol use inhibits your body’s ability to absorb nutrients like vitamin B12 properly, and causes malnourishment.
• Does vitamin B12 deficiency or pernicious anemia run in your family? Some people are unable to produce intrinsic factor, an essential chemical your stomach makes to access and digest vitamin B12 from food sources.  If you have this autoimmune disorder, then you must supplement with a form of vitamin B12 that dispenses the vitamin directly into your bloodstream.  To date, the most popular methods are vitamin B12 shots and vitamin B12 patches.

How can I find out if I have vitamin B12 deficiency?

The only way to find out if you have vitamin B12 deficiency is to visit your doctor and ask for a vitamin B12 blood test.  If you test positive, then he will likely prescribe a regimen of vitamin B12 supplements.

Read more about preventing vitamin B12 deficiency:

Brain Drain Medications- Drugs that Drain the B12 out of you

WhichTests check Absorption of Vitamin B12?

Sources:

Vitamin B12 Deficiency Risk Factors – Am I at Risk of Vitamin B12 Deficiency? – Third Age

Vitamin B12- Mayo Clinic

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

Image credits, from top:

heather aitken, ValetheKid, soylentgreen23, Martin Kimeldorf’s Pixel Playground

“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?

Image credits, from top:

ostephy, imelenchon, jzlomek, chamomile, clarita

No, it’s not a new television show about bonding with your inner child; intrinsic factor is an essential antibody which allows you to bond with vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is found in many high protein foods, but unless you have intrinsic factor your body isn’t able to grab the B vitamins it needs to prevent vitamin B12 deficiency.

“Does my body really need vitamin B12? Aren’t all B vitamins alike?”

No. Many of the B vitamins complement each other, but each has its own specific task. Vitamin B12 has some very important duties which are vital for your survival. If the body doesn’t get sufficient vitamin B12, then it will be unable to perform some of these essential functions. Vitamin B12 is indispensable for:

• Maintaining the myelin sheathe which protects nerve sensors, such as those in our hands, mouth and feet
• Directing brain-to-body communication through neuron activity
• Curbing homocysteine levels, which are linked with increased risk for heart attack or stroke
• Producing red blood cells needed to carry oxygen throughout the body and protect the immune system
• DNA synthesis
• Preventing or delaying dementia caused by loss of brain mass

“Which foods are high in vitamin B12?”

Vitamin B12 occurs naturally in food sources which are high in protein. The foods that have high levels of B12 are:

• Meat, including lean beef chuck, veal and liver.
• Poultry, such as boneless chicken or turkey breast
• Fish, including salmon, tuna and halibut
• Shellfish, particularly crabmeat, clams, oysters and mussels
• Dairy products, including Swiss cheese, yogurt and milk.
• Eggs

Vegans are urged to take daily vitamin B12 supplements in order to prevent vitamin deficiency, as their diet specifically excludes food sources which are rich in vitamin B12.

Getting Enough Vitamin B12? Three Reasons Why You Might Not Be

“Okay. So, I eat plenty of protein foods. Do I still need to worry about vitamin B12 deficiency?”

Yes.  Individuals who lack intrinsic factor are unable to properly digest B12 naturally from foods and risk becoming severely deficient in vitamin B12. Some people don’t realize they have low B12 levels until they start experiencing some the characteristic symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency. These include:

• Chronic fatigue
• Depression
• Aggression
• Paranoia
• Short-term memory loss
• Sleep disturbances
• Occasional dizziness
• Difficulty with balance and coordination
• Altered taste perception
• Numbness or tingling in hands and feet

Left unchecked, severe vitamin B12 deficiency
could lead to malnourishment, pernicious anemia, irreversible neurological damage,
heart attack, or stroke.

“How can I find out if I’m suffering from B12 deficiency?”

The only way to diagnose vitamin B12 deficiency is through a blood screening. Some physicians don’t include vitamin B12 blood testing with yearly checkups, so it’s important to ask your doctor to check your vitamin B12 levels in order to avoid deficiency. Chronic B12 deficiency patients are advised to get their B12 levels checked on a regular basis. Also read: Worried about Low B12 Lab Results?

“Which people are at risk for developing vitamin B12 deficiency?”

There are many individuals who must supplement with B12 vitamins, either because they don’t have the intrinsic factor hormone, or because they lack the stomach acids needed to utilize vitamins such as B12; these include gastric bypass patients, people who take regular antacid medication for heartburn or individuals with autoimmune or gastrointestinal diseases, such as Crohn’s disease or AIDS. Other individuals who must take regular vitamin B12 supplements are vegans, strict vegetarians and diabetics who take metformin.

“What kinds of vitamin B12 supplements are available?”

There are several forms of vitamin B12 supplementation; these include:

• Vitamin B12 injections. For treating chronic B12 deficiency, physicians will often prescribe routine B12 shots. These injections are painful, as they must be inserted in the dense muscular flesh below the buttocks. Some patients are given one round of vitamin B12 shots once per week, for 3-4 weeks, while others with severe vitamin B12 deficiency require a more extended regimen of B12 injections.
• Sublingual vitamin B12 tablets. These are dissolvable pills which are placed under the tongue. Physicians might recommend daily B12 pills as a preventative measure against vitamin B12 deficiency. Some questions have been raised as to the effectiveness of B12 pills, and there are reports that sublingual B12 tablets aren’t absorbed efficiently enough to prevent long-term vitamin B12 deficiency.
• Vitamin B12 patch. The B12 patch is one of many transdermal medications; people often prefer medical skin patches because they are convenient, gentle, inexpensive and more efficient than pills and injections. The B12 patch releases vitamin B12 directly into the blood stream; the dime-sized flesh-colored patch adheres firmly and discreetly behind the ear or on the wrist. Because the B12 patch only needs to be applied once per week, it’s more likely to be utilized regularly, as opposed to pills which are often forgotten or misplaced.

Read more about the risks associated with vitamin B12 deficiency:

B12 Deficiency: Don’t Ignore the Symptoms

Vitamin B12 deficiency can start with a few symptoms like tiredness and slight tingling or numbness in hands and feet; ignore the symptoms and low B12 levels could escalate into severe nerve damage, disease or death.

What are the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency?

Below is a list of some of the most common side effects which may arise from insufficient stores of vitamin B12. (Please note that the severity of the symptoms may vary according to the stage of B12 deficiency.)

• Fatigue
• Depression
• Aggressive behavior
• Hallucinations
• Sleep problems
• Frailness
• Imbalance, difficulty walking with coordination
• Numbness or tingling in the hands and/or feet
• Altered taste perception
• Heart palpitations
• Short-term memory loss
• Also read: B12 Deficiency can really Get on your Nerves

B12 and your body

Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble nutrient. Therefore, your body is only able to store it for a short time. Vitamin B12 has many important functions in your body.

• Vitamin B12 is essential for producing plenty of healthy red blood cells and synthesizing DNA. A lack of B12 severely reduces your body’s ability to make sufficient red blood cells for carrying oxygen throughout your body. Pernicious anemia is a life-threatening condition which results from long-term vitamin B12 deficiency.
• Your nervous system is dependent on vitamin B12, which enhances communication between the brain and your many nerve sensors, such as those in your fingertips, feet and mouth. This explains why sufferers of B12 deficiency notice a sensation similar to wearing gloves throughout the day; others report that their food tastes unusual, another clue that the body’s neurons are not operating correctly.  A deficiency of vitamin B12 compromises your nervous system and could result in permanent neurological damage.
• Researchers have found a direct link between vitamin B12 deficiency and brain atrophy among the elderly. I one study which appeared in the Journal of Nutrition, senior citizens who had the highest levels of B12 experienced age-related dementia later in life than elderly individuals who did not have high vitamin B12 levels. Now Eat This: Preventing Age Related Hearing Loss
• Vitamin B12 helps your body monitor homocysteine levels. Elevated homocysteine increases one’s risk for heart attacks.

What diseases are associated with B12 deficiency?

There are many illnesses which occur when B12 levels are low; some conditions may be caused by vitamin B12 deficiency, while others are closely correlated. Below are some common illnesses associated with B12 deficiency, including many which most people don’t realize are affected by vitamin B12 stores.

• Alzheimer’s disease, brain deterioration, cognitive decline, memory loss and other forms of dementia
• Neurological diseases such as Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Cardiovascular disease, caused by high homocysteine levels
• Mental illness, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and psychosis
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Autoimmune diseases, such as AIDS and pernicious anemia
• Cancer
• Infertility

Eating Your Way Out of Depression with B-12

B12 deficiency is often misdiagnosed

According to a Tufts University study, 40 percent of people between the ages of 26 and 83 have low to medium-low B12 levels, indicating a deficiency severe enough to cause neurological disorder symptoms, while 9 percent are depleted enough to the point of irreversible neurological damage and life-threatening symptoms. Approximately 16 percent are close to becoming vitamin B12 deficient.

Why is vitamin B12 deficiency overlooked?

Only a blood test can properly determine if somebody is suffering from B12 deficiency, and most physicians don’t include a B12 screening with yearly check-ups. Also, many of the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are similar to common health disorders, such as diabetes, chronic depression and fatigue.

How can you prevent vitamin B12 deficiency?

Vitamin B12 is found in many high protein foods. Excellent sources of B12 are:

• Lean beef cuts, such as chuck and sirloin
• Poultry
• Fish, particularly salmon, tuna and halibut
• Shellfish, including crab meat, mussels, clams and oysters
• Dairy products, such as swiss cheese, yogurt, milk and cottage cheese
• Eggs

Vegans are at a high risk for developing vitamin B12 deficiency, as their diet specifically excludes food items which provide vitamin B12. Other people who are at risk of getting B12 deficiency are patients of weight loss surgery, diabetics on metformin, individuals with gastrointestinal disease, people who lack intrinsic factor and anybody taking prescription heartburn medication.

The only way to prevent becoming deficient in vitamin B12 is by constantly replenishing your body with B12-rich nutrients. Alternatively, patients diagnosed with vitamin B12 deficiency are encouraged to take vitamin B12 supplements, such as sublingual B12 tablets, nasal sprays, B12 shots or a weekly vitamin B12 patch.

Find more information on preventing vitamin B12 deficiency:

Getting Enough Vitamin B12? Three Reasons Why You Might Not B

On Becoming Vegan: Avoiding Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Others