Vitamin B12 can significantly reduce a person’s likelihood to develop heart disease. This is because vitamin B12 is absolutely vital for the metabolism of a toxic amino acid, which is known as homocysteine.

High levels of homocysteine in the blood lead to heart attacks and strokes. The primary reason is that this amino acid engenders plaque formation in the arteries, also called atherosclerosis.

The first person to discover the connection between homocysteine and atherosclerosis was Dr. Kilmar McCully in 1969. He firmly disagreed with the theory that too much fat cells in the bloodstream is the primary cause of heart disease.

Today, most doctors still test for blood cholesterol levels to predict a patient’s cardiovascular risk. Ironically, more than half of all victims of heart attacks have normal blood cholesterol levels.

Homocysteine levels in the blood commonly become elevated as people age. Other factors include usage of prescription drugs, caffeinated drinks and alcoholic beverages.

Consequently, vitamin B12 supplementation is highly recommended for prevention of heart disease.

Birth control pills (a.k.a. oral contraceptives) reduce the levels of vitamin B12 in the user. The estrogen hormone contained in the pills is responsible for this.

What are the potential side effects of a vitamin B12 reduction?

Women taking birth control pills (a.k.a. oral contraceptives) should be aware that vitamin B12 is necessary for the metabolism of the dangerous amino acid called homocysteine.

What can homocysteine do?

A high homocysteine level is known to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Basically, this toxic amino acid encourages plaque formation in the arteries, which then leads to coronary heart disease and stroke.

Are there other side effects of low vitamin B12 blood levels?

A vitamin B12 deficiency has been known to cause memory loss, neuropathy (nerve cell death), depression, psychosis and even urinary incontinence.

What can be done for a woman who is taking birth control pills?

Women using estrogen pills are advised to supplement their diets with vitamin B12, as well as vitamins B6, C and zinc. Levels of all these vitamins have been shown to be affected by the use of birth control pills.

There is a strong correlation between the incidence of Alzheimer’s Disease and a Vitamin B12 deficiency. This is the conclusion reached based on a study that was performed by Dr. Hui-Xin Wang and colleagues, and published in the Journal Neurology in 2001.

For purposes of this study, a random sample of 370 people living in Sweden was utilized. These 370 participants were aged 75 years or older and were mentally sound. These participants were not supplementing their diets with B12 or folate.

The researchers measured the blood levels of Vitamin 12 and folate of the 370 participants at the beginning of the study. These men and women were then followed for three years to see who would develop Alzheimer’s Disease and who would not.

The participants in the study who initially had either low blood levels of Vitamin B12 or folate were twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s Disease than those whose blood levels of these vitamins were found to be within the range of normal.

As a result of this study, Dr. Hui-Xin Wang and colleagues concluded that Vitamin B12 and folate levels should be monitored in the elderly population. Doing so will help prevent members of this population from developing Alzheimer’s Disease.

Here is a list of foods that are naturally high in vitamin B12:

Measurement Reference for Vitamin B12, µg (1000 µg = 1mg)

1.   Clams have the most vitamin B12, with 98.9 μg found in each serving of 100g. This is equivalent to 1648% of the U.S. RDA (recommended daily allowances). Mussels and oysters are also rich in vitamin B12.

2. Animal liver is full of vitamin B12. For example, liver of lamb contains 85.6 μg of vitamin B12 in each 100g serving, which translates into 1428% of the RDA.

3.   Caviar and fish eggs are loaded with this vitamin. Whitefish eggs have 56.4 μg in each 100g serving, which is over 940%of the U.S. RDA.

4. Octopus is packed with vitamin B12, containing 36 μg of vitamin B12. This is equivalent to 600% of the RDA.

5. Fish provides a decent amount of vitamin B12.  Salmon has 18 μg per serving, which is 302% of the U.S. RDA.

6. Lobster is a good source of vitamin B12. Lobster provides 4.04 μg, which is 67% of the U.S. RDA.

7. Beef has much to offer in the way of vitamin B12, depending on the cut. Chuck has 6.18 μg in each 100g serving, which is 103% of the U.S. RDA.  This is in contrast to rib-eye, which is only 60% of the RDA.

9. Cheese is a decent alternative for those who choose to avoid the consumption of animals and seafood. Swiss cheese contains 3.34 μg in each 100g serving, which is 56% of the U.S. RDA. One serving of mozzarella cheese (used in pizza) has enough vitamin B12 to satisfy 39% of the RDA.

10. Chicken egg yolk has 1.95 μg in each 100g serving, which is 33% of the U.S. RDA for vitamin B12. This means that there is only.33 μg, in every yolk, which is only 6% of the U.S. RDA. The egg white contains a negligible amount of vitamin B12.

Researchers at Ben-Gurion University in Beer-Sheva, Israel, have found a strong correlation between canker sores and B12. This research was published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine (January/February, 2009).

Canker sores, also known as Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis (RAS), affects about 25% of the population. These lesions of the mouth are small, painful ulcers that heal within two weeks. They often recur.

Triggers in a person’s environment may lead to RAS. These triggers include trauma, irritants, dryness, infections, hypersensitivity, toxic agents and autoimmune conditions. In addition, a nutritional deficiency may also be the cause. People who are low in iron, vitamin C, vitamin B12 or folic acid may suffer from RAS.

Obviously, not all triggers can be prevented, and some people are more prone to this than others.

This study involved 58 patients who suffered from RAS. Some were given a dose of vitamin B12 daily, and others were given a placebo. By the end of the study, 74% of those given the B12 treatment no longer suffered from recurring RAS, also known as canker sores.

In conclusion, those suffering from RAS would benefit greatly from vitamin B12 supplementation.

Vitamin B12 is linked to brain size, and therefore this vitamin may help prevent dementia by maintaining brain volume, according to a study published in Neurology (September 9, 2008).

The study focused on 107 volunteers whose average age was 73 years, ranging from 61 to 87 years old. All participants were required to undergo a physical examination, brain MRI and CT scans. Only people in good physical and mental health were included in this study.

For this study, blood samples were also taken of the volunteers. Tests were done to measure vitamin B12 plasma levels, in addition to levels of homocysteine, folate and methylmalonic acid (MMA). These measurements were taken once a year over the duration of five years.

For all the volunteers, the B12 plasma levels fell within the range of normal.

At the end of the five-year period, the volunteers were again subject to brain scans and memory tests. Subjects who had the most brain loss also had lower concentrations of B12. No correlation was made between brain loss and levels of homocysteine, folate or MMA.

The results of this study demonstrated that those people with lower B12 plasma levels were six times more likely to have a loss of brain volume and a decrease in brain size than those with higher levels. Therefore, the authors of this study have concluded that by increasing the consumption of of vitamin B12 among the elderly can reverse brain shrinkage, and possibly prevent memory loss as well. It is hoped that future clinical trials will determine the affects of vitamin B12 supplementation on brain shrinkage.

In the meantime, the authors of this study would advise the geriatric population to increase their intake of vitamin B12 through meat, fish, milk and fortified cereals.

To answer this question a little back ground is in order. A healthy adult with a well balanced diet never has to worry about Vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 is found in all animal based food products, meats, dairy, eggs, fish, cheese and any other product that comes from animals. So in absence of illness that would prevent the absorption of Vitamin B12, deficiency is unlikely.

Vegetarians
Of all the represented groups that do not have a disease, vegetarians run the greatest risk of suffering from Vitamin B12 deficiency. The onset is typically about two years after the person becomes a vegetarian. Some vegetarians never realize the health implications of abstaining from animal products. There are important nutrients that the body cannot function without found in animal products. Supplementing the diet with Vitamin B12 supplements will prevent the Vitamin B12 deficiency. In some cases the vegetarian is faced with a twofold problem, a low ability to absorb Vitamin B12 that was preexisting and the lack of animal products in the diet, which supplies no Vitamin B12 at all. The vegetarian that suffers two fold will very likely face a Vitamin B12 Deficiency.

The onset of the illness will occur in about two years from the time the decision is made to abstain from animal products, a smart medical professional will do a brief history and once it is determined that the sick person is a vegetarian a simple blood test will be taken to determine the Vitamin B12 levels. In some instances the vegetarian will be misdiagnosed because of a too brief background investigation. Treatments will probably include Vitamin B12 shots to regulate the levels. The shots will be given every other day for around two weeks than on a monthly basis.

Disease and Medication
There are a couple of diseases that are linked to the inability to absorb Vitamin B12. Pernicious Anemia is one of those diseases. Pernicious Anemia destroys the cells in the stomach that absorb Vitamin B12, in the case of Pernicious Anemia the Vitamin B12 deficiency is immediate, the treatment is Vitamin B12 shots in high doses which sometimes help and sometimes does not help, the theory is that if the Vitamin B12 is present at very high levels at least some of it will be absorbed. Some folks have very high levels of homocysteine an amino acid (although not actually a disease) that also prevents the absorption of Vitamin B12.

There are some medications that are used for the treatment of heartburn and ulcers that also may cause trouble with the absorption of Vitamin B12 resulting in Vitamin B12 deficiency, typically the onset of the Vitamin B12 deficiency will occur within about twelve months of starting the medication. The medication slowly erodes the body’s ability to absorb Vitamin B12.

Vitamin B12 deficiency usually goes undetected for a great deal of time, many people are misdiagnosed with other diseases, because it is rather rare unless the previous situations listed exist. It is very difficult to pinpoint exactly how long it takes to become deficient in Vitamin B12. There is usually no baseline information to compare the results to, so it is purely guess work.

The benefits of Vitamin B 12 have been long known. During the nineteen sixties and seventies Vitamin B 12 shots were frequently offered at the family Doctor’s office to assist with a list of ailments, it was a very common practice than during the nineteen eighties and nineties it was kind of shelved as other products were more prevalently offered to treat ailments. Vitamin B12 is a complex combination of necessary nutrients that sustains metabolism and assists in the production of red blood cells, a Vitamin B12 deficiency is often misdiagnosed as a slew of illnesses. A simple blood test can determine if there is a Vitamin B12 deficiency but it is often overlooked. There are primarily two ways to insure that the Vitamin B12 levels are sufficient. The first way is the simplest, through a well rounded diet; the second way is through supplements.

Delivery Methods of Vitamin B12
There are quite a few delivery methods of Vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 can be delivered via, tablets, capsules, sublingual drops, patches and shots. The most common form of delivery is through tablets, capsules and pills. It is the simplest and most common way for folks to take a Vitamin B 12 supplement. Oddly enough it is the least effective way of taking Vitamin B 12. The body usually does not recognize the pill as nutrients and it passes through the system without much absorption taking place. There are some Vitamin B12 tablets that are manufactured from crushed food particles, studies show that the crushed food particle tablets are absorbed better than the traditional tablets.
Vitamin B12 sublingual drops are one of the most effective delivery methods of Vitamin B 12. The drops are placed under the tongue and quickly absorbed into the blood stream by the many arteries that are located under the tongue. The most effective artificial delivery method of Vitamin B 12 is the Vitamin B 12 shots. All of these methods will deliver supplemental Vitamin B 12 to the body, but they are all artificial methods of delivering Vitamin B 12. Most people will get all the Vitamin B 12 they need from the food they eat as long as they eat it in appropriate quantities.

List Of Foods
Vitamin B 12 is generally found in foods that are derived from animal products, it is not generally found in vegetation. The following is a brief list of food that naturally contain Vitamin B 12:

1 Beef Liver
2 Beef Steak
3 Ground Beef
4 Trout
5 Salmon
6 Haddock
7 Tuna
8 Ham and Other Pork Products
9 Chicken
10 Cheeses
11 Eggs
12 Whole Milk

As part of a well rounded diet Vitamin B 12 can be easily absorbed and processed by the body. The body easily recognizes the nutrients when they come from food. Diets that are high in low fat animal products will supply the body with an ample amount of Vitamin B12 and in absence of a medical condition should be a sufficient supply according to the Recommended Daily Allowances according to published reports by the US Department of Agriculture.

Vitamin B12 is a key component of several body functions. Vitamin B12 plays a key role in the manufacturing of red blood cells, keeps the nervous system working correctly and is key in brain functions.

Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

The symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency ranges from virtually unnoticeable to dementia. Obviously the variable is the extent of time that the deficiency has been present. Normally a person will begin by feeling a bit run down. The first visit to the doctor normally results in being misdiagnosed. Maybe anemia will be diagnosed. Maybe nothing will be diagnosed, unless a blood test is specifically run to determine if the proper levels of Vitamin B12 is apparent than the factor will remain unknown, and usually this is not a common part of a blood panel work up, it has to be requested by the health care provider specifically.

As time passes and the condition is not treated, the symptoms will become much more complex. The complexity of the symptoms will also range from headaches to light headedness to forget fullness and the energy level will be way down. There can be some lasting damage is the condition is not caught and treated by this stage.

Host of Increased Health Problems

The risks of Vitamin B12 deficiency range from Vitamin B12 deficiency based anemia to stroke. The risks include neuropsychiatry disorders. Depression can sometimes be attributed to Vitamin B12 deficiency as can memory loss, dementia and at its worse psychosis. With these neurological disorders simply increasing the dosage of Vitamin B12 to cure the deficiency does not necessarily cure the disorders, because the nervous system, by the time these symptoms present themselves may have been permanently damaged. The incidence of neurological illness is prevalent in the older members of society primarily effecting those sixty two years and older when the body’s natural ability to absorb Vitamin B12 is already naturally declining. Many of whom are misdiagnosed over and over upon the initial consult, complaining of fatigue it is attributed to old age.

Cardiovascular risk factors also increase in cases of prolonged Vitamin B12 deficiency. The increase of myocardial infarction and stroke increase dramatically when there is a prolonged Vitamin B12 deficiency. This heart damage may also be irreversible. Stroke is also increased as a result of prolonged deficiency.

There are also some connections between Vitamin B12 deficiency and Alzheimer’s disease. The research is still in its earliest phases and no conclusions have been made yet, but it is hypothesized with strong anecdotal evidence to support the theory that Vitamin B12 deficiency may play a strong role in the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. The theory is that Vitamin B12 deficiency when prolonged damages the dendrites in the brain and causes sections of the nervous system to die out, resulting in an increased risk of memory loss and dementia.

The risks of Vitamin B12 deficiency are evident and very preventable, a balanced diet and periodic screens can offset any potential problems.

Vitamin B12 is an important complex vitamin that is needed for an array of proper body functions.

Normally Vitamin B12 can reach sufficient levels in the body through diet. There are some cases where enough Vitamin B12 is not being received. In the case where there may be dietary restrictions that will prevent enough of the Vitamin B12 animal products to be consumed, or if there is medication that is being taken that may interfere with the absorption of Vitamin B12 supplements may be the answer.

Oral Supplements

Oral supplements are usually sold over the counter and do not require a prescription although there are prescription strength Vitamin B12 oral supplements available.

There are a couple of oral delivery methods for Vitamin B12 supplements. The most popular is the simple pill form because it is the easiest way to take the Vitamin B12 supplements, however this may be the least effective way for the Vitamin B12 to be absorbed.

There are more efficiently absorbed methods of taking an oral Vitamin B12 supplement. The sublingual method is very effective. The sublingual method is when the supplement is placed under the tongue. This oral form of the supplement can be in drops or melt away tablets. The drops are easier to use than the melt away tablets. Some people complain about the feeling of the melt away tablets held under the tongue, the drops sometimes give off a sensation of heat, that also leaves some users complaining. The sublingual option might be a tad bit uncomfortable for some folks but it is the best delivery option for the oral supplements.

Patches and Shots

In severe cases of pernicious Anemia a constant supply of Vitamin B12 may be warranted, or even in cases where the deficiency is major a patch may be prescribed. Patches are short for dermal delivery patches. The patch will have liquid Vitamin B12 supplements that are slow released over time; the idea is that the Vitamin B12 will seep into the skin where the capillaries and veins can absorb it immediately. The patches are usually kept on for a twenty four to forty eight hour period than they are discarded a new patch is applied.

Typically depending on the severity of the deficiency the patches will be worn for approximately two weeks than for around one or two days out of the months to follow. In cases of pernicious anemia where the body just cannot absorb the Vitamin B12 the patches may have to be worn everyday throughout the course of one’s lifetime.
Shots, no one likes to get shots, but in some cases it will be the best option for getting the Vitamin B12 supplementation. Usually the shots are given in a rotational schedule, two weeks on than a break for a few weeks than again for two weeks. Usually the shots are given every other day during the two weeks. This rotation will continue until blood work shows that the Vitamin B12 levels are within range of normal.

Types of Vitamin B12 supplements can be found in many delivery methods to fit any needs.