Functional Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Some people appear to have enough vitamin B12 in their blood, but they do not have the proteins they need to transport it between cells. This means the body cannot use it effectively.
They can develop neurological symptoms related to B12 deficiency.
To assess for a vitamin B12 deficiency, a doctor will likely:
- ask about symptoms
- carry out a physical examination
- do a blood test to measure B12 levels and check for anemia
- do other tests to rule out other conditions and check for pernicious anemia, if necessary
Some people will have a B12 deficiency but no symptoms. A doctor may recommend regular testing for people with long-term gastrointestinal problems to ensure a deficiency does not develop.
Getting an early diagnosis can help prevent long-term complications.
Treatment will depend largely on the cause of a deficiency.
Options include increasing vitamin B12 intake through:
- intramuscular injections
- adding foods that are rich in B12 to the diet
Some people may need regular injections for the rest of their life.
Most people can prevent B12 deficiency through dietary choices, but this is not always the case.
Eczema Vitamin B3 Deficiency
Niacin is vital as its required for the body to convert fat, protein, and carbohydrates into energy. It also helps keep your skin healthy and supports the digestive and nervous systems. Niacin deficiency causes a condition known as pellagra which is characterized mainly by the symptoms of dermatitis , dementia, and diarrhea. This condition leads to scaly sores, redness, and itchiness on your skin and can cause your tongue to swell up. Its important to increase levels of niacin if you have pellagra the condition can be fatal if left untreated.
RDA: 16 mg/d for men and 14 mm/d for women5
- Fish, meats, poultry, eggs, milk, wholegrain cereals, mushrooms, and nuts contain vitamin B3.6
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Do Blood Thinners Weaken Your Immune System
A study led by researchers at the University of North Carolina indicates that a newly approved blood thinner that blocks a key component of the human blood clotting system may increase the risk and severity of certain viral infections, including flu and myocarditis, a viral infection of the heart and a significant …
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When You’re Taking A Blood Thinner
Warfarin is one of the commonly used blood thinners. It slows the clotting process. Doctors usually prescribe it to help lower your risk of:
- Deep vein thrombosis, or DVT
- Pulmonary embolism
Its not a good idea to take this drug with a supplement that thins blood. It raises your chances of severe bleeding inside and outside your body.
If your doctor wants you to start using warfarin, you might wonder if you can take a supplement instead. But theres no good scientific evidence that shows they work as well as prescription drugs.
Always talk to your doctor before using any kind of supplement. Theyll tell you if itll affect any medications youre taking.
What Should You Not Take With Zinc
Zinc is a mineral that is used in many foods, including some foods that are high in zinc. Zinc can cause a condition called zinc deficiency, which can lead to a variety of health problems. a type of zinc thats found in the body. Its also found naturally in some plants, such as broccoli, spinach, and kale. The amount of zinc in your diet is important, but its not the only factor. Your body also needs zinc to make your cells work properly. If youre taking zinc supplements, you should also take a zinc-rich food supplement called Zn-Zn. This supplement contains zinc, magnesium, iron, copper, manganese, selenium, zinc sulfate, vitamin B12, folate and vitamin D3.
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Skin Ulcers Vitamin B6 Deficiency
Vitamin B6 deficiency is usually found in people deficient in B12 and folate. Vegetarians also run a risk of mild deficiency.
Vitamin B6 is another nutrient thats important for the health of your skin. If you dont get enough of this vitamin, you might experience symptoms like rashes that itch, flaking skin on your lips, and ulcers in the corner of your mouth.7 It may also cause glossitis of the tongue where the tongue loses its bumpy papillae and becomes smooth and inflamed.8
RDA: 1.3 mg/d for adults aged 1950 years 1.7 mg/d for men above 51 years and 1.5 mg/d for women above 51
- Fish, eggs, and poultry are rich in vitamin B6 as are starchy vegetables like potatoes.9
What Medications Does B12 Interfere With
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Is Vitamin D3 A Blood Thinner
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Do Vitamin D Supplements Cause The Blood To Be Thin
Vitamin D deficiency is becoming a widespread health concern in America. According to a 2009 report published in the “Archives of Internal Medicine,” 77 percent of Americans are estimated to be vitamin D-deficient. Because of this, many Americans are turning to vitamin D supplements. Vitamin D can be supplemented in a variety of ways including traditional vitamin D supplements and through cod liver oil or cod liver oil capsules. While vitamin D itself is not a natural blood thinner, cod liver oil has shown anticoagulant properties, and it can thin the blood.
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Vitamins That Thin The Blood
Your body maintains a delicate balance with your blood to ensure you have enough blood and that it is not too thick or too thin. Over time, excess cholesterol or clotting factors in your blood can make your blood thicker and more likely to clot — an occurrence that can lead to a heart attack or stroke. While your physician may prescribe medications to thin the blood, certain vitamins also have been shown to have blood-thinning effects.
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Why You Should Be Careful With Vitamin B12 Supplements
Disclaimer: Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***.
Vitamin B12 is a remarkably useful little nutrient that serves many important functions in the body. It helps red blood cells form and mature, it is used to make DNA, and helps keep nerves functioning as intended.
However, there are two main problems people can encounter when trying to keep the body stocked with this essential nutrient:
1. Your body does not produce vitamin B12 it has to come from a diet.
2. B12 is not retained by the body, since it is water-soluble and not fat-soluble. Any B12 not used is lost through urination.
These two factors combine to create a situation where it is relatively easy to experience a vitamin B12 deficiency.
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General Symptoms Caused By Anemia
A person with vitamin B12 deficiency may also notice general symptoms of anemia. Symptoms that are commonly experienced in anemia, regardless of the cause, include the following:
- Fatigue
- Altered sense of taste
- Unexplained weight loss
Ada can help you check your symptoms. Download the free Ada app to begin your personal health assessment.
Can Blood Clots Be Treated
Treatment depends on where the blood clot is and how likely it is to harm you. Your doctor might recommend: Medication: Anticoagulants, also called blood thinners, help prevent blood clots from forming. For life-threatening blood clots, drugs called thrombolytics can dissolve clots that are already formed.
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Pay Attention To Food Labels To Keep Your Vitamin K Intake Consistent
Vitamin K foods can be included in your diet on a regular basis as long as you are mindful of the portion and keep the overall intake of vitamin K-rich foods consistent, says .
For instance, you can choose to have a vitamin K rich food every day, every week, or three times in a week as long as you keep this portion and frequency consistent, she says.
If necessary, you can discuss including regular sources of vitamin K in your diet with your doctor in case your warfarin dosage would need to be adjusted, she adds. You will want to tell your physician how often you eat foods high in vitamin K and how much of those foods you eat. Being knowledgeable about vitamin K is a key to managing it in your diet.
There are a variety of vegetables that contain lower amounts of vitamin K. These include:
- Tomatoes.
- Sweet potatoes.
- Squash .
Iceberg lettuce is low and romaine is also fairly low, so most people can eat either if them daily. In addition, be sure to read labels on multivitamins as they have varying amounts of vitamin K. Talk to your doctor about what vitamins you should take.
Does Vitamin B Complex Interact With Any Medications
In most cases, vitamin B does not interact negatively with other medications. However, certain medicines can make a vitamin B deficiency more likely. These are some examples of medications that can result in low levels of specific B vitamins: Blood pressure drugs and chemotherapy drugs can lower a persons B-1 levels.
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When You’re Scheduled For Surgery
It’s important to tell your doctor about any supplements you’re taking if you have a surgery planned. Even if it’s something minor like getting a tooth pulled. Thats because you could end up bleeding heavily during the procedure if the supplement thins your blood or affects clotting.
Most of the time, your surgeon will ask you to stop taking prescription blood thinners and blood-thinning supplements for at least 1 week before your surgery.
Before Using Cyanocobalamin Injection
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to cyanocobalamin injection, nasal gel, or tablets hydroxocobalamin multi-vitamins any other medications or vitamins or cobalt.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention any of the following: antibiotics such as chloramphenicol colchicine folic acid methotrexate para-aminosalicylic acid and pyrimethamine . Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
- tell your doctor if you drink or have ever drunk large amounts of alcohol and if you have or have ever had Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy or kidney disease.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while using cyanocobalamin injection, call your doctor. Talk to your doctor about the amount of vitamin B12 you should get every day when you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
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Diagnosis Of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
A doctor will typically take the personâs medical history and perform a physical examination.
If they suspect a vitamin B12 deficiency, they will usually request blood tests to be done. These tests can measure levels of vitamin B12 and folic acid, as well as the size and concentration of hemoglobin within the personâs red blood cells.
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You May Need More Than One Shot
If youre suffering from a severe deficiency or severe symptoms, you may need to get five to seven shots during the first week of treatment to restore the bodys reserves.
Depending on your condition, after your first round of shots, your doctor may keep you on a regular regimen of shots or shift you to other delivery systems like pills or liquids.
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How To Use Vitamin B
If you are taking the over-the-counter product to self-treat, follow all directions on the product package before taking this medication. If you have any questions, consult your pharmacist. If your doctor has directed you to take this medication, take as directed by your doctor.
Take this medication by mouth, usually once daily with or without food or as directed by your doctor or the product package. Use this product regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time each day.
The dosage is based on your medical condition, response to treatment, and laboratory tests. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
There are many brands and forms of cyanocobalamin available. Read the dosing instructions carefully for each product because the amount of cyanocobalamin may be different between products.
If you are using the liquid form of this medication, carefully measure the dose using a special measuring device/spoon. Do not use a household spoon because you may not get the correct dose. Some liquid brands may require you to shake the bottle well before each dose.
If you are taking the extended-release tablets, do not crush or chew them. Doing so can release all of the drug at once, increasing the risk of side effects. Also, do not split extended-release tablets unless they have a score line and your doctor or pharmacist tells you to do so. Swallow the whole or split tablet without crushing or chewing.
Can You Take Multivitamins While On Xarelto
Interactions between your drugs Talk to your doctor before using vitamin E together with rivaroxaban. Products containing vitamin E may increase the effects of rivaroxaban and cause you to bleed more easily. You may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications.
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Tests To Identify The Cause
If vitamin B12 deficiency is suspected or confirmed, further tests may be required to identify the cause. This will help to determine the recommended course of treatment. These investigations may include further blood tests for pernicious anemia and other conditions.
Some people may be referred to specialists for further tests or treatment. These include hematologists, doctors specializing in blood conditions, and gastroenterologists, doctors specializing in the digestive system.
Vitamin K In Popular Foods
Below, find more details on the amount of vitamin K present in different foods, including leafy greens, vegetables and other foods as provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
When it comes to blood thinners, the more you know the better you can manage your diet. Be sure to talk to your doctor if you have any concerns.
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Keep Your Brain Healthy
Your brain needs a lot of different vitamins and minerals to stay healthy. Vitamin B12 is an important vitamin for brain health because of its function in cell metabolism and formation. Vitamin B12 helps your neurons to create and regenerate the nerve fiber sheaths that protect the neuron and speed up brain processes.
The stronger your myelin sheaths are, the faster your neurons fire, meaning you think, remember and recall faster. Because of this, vitamin B12 deficiency has been linked to memory loss in older adults.
There is evidence that boosting your vitamin B12 will improve your memory. It may even slow the decline for people with early-stage dementia. Giving your body the vitamin B12 it needs will make sure your neurons can regenerate their sheaths properly and create new ones as they grow.
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Vitamins And Anticoagulants: How Safe When Used Together
How do dietary supplements affect patients who are on blood-thinning medications and antithrombotic therapies? The National Institutes of Health held a two-day conference on this subject in Bethesda, Md., recently.
How do dietary supplements affect patients who are on blood-thinning medications and antithrombotic therapies? The National Institutes of Health held a two-day conference on this subject in Bethesda, Md., recently.
Ahmed Hasan, M.D., program administrator of the Thrombosis and Hemostasis Scientific Research Group of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, one of several organizations that collaborated with NIH, said that according to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, about 180 dietary supplements have the potential to interact with warfarin. More than 120 may interact with aspirin, clopidogrel , or dipyridamole.
Hasan provided the following list of supplements, which have effects that may be cause for concern:
When a physician prescribes warfarin as a blood thinner or antiplatelet agent, he needs to know what supplements the patient is taking to ascertain whether the combination of these medications will have any effect on the patient’s hemostatic system, Hasan said. “If the dietary supplements influence platelet functions or any protein functions, the physician has to make some adjustments or the patient may have to stop taking them,” he asserted.
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Vitamin Or Cobalt Allergies
Allergies to vitamins are exceedingly rare, but they do happen. Another possibility is being allergic to cobalt, one of vitamin B12s building blocks. Numbness, skin disorders, nausea, diarrhea, and difficulty swallowing are potential consequences of the reaction. If you experience any of these following after using a supplement, consult your doctor immediately so they can find out if the reaction is from vitamin B12 itself or another ingredient in the supplement.
