Boosts The Immune System
A lack of B12 interferes with your bodys ability to produce white blood cells. These cells are essential in fighting off infections and keeping your immune system in good working order. If you find yourself getting sick more often than usual or having allergies where you previously had none, you may need a B12 shot.
The Main Benefit: Bypassing The Stomach
For B12 to absorb, it must follow a complex pathway that requires the normal function of the stomach, pancreas, small intestine, and their acids and enzymes. Any problem in one of the steps may lead to malabsorption. For example, in Pernicious Anemia , antibodies attack either the Intrinsic Factor , a protein required for the absorption of B12, or the gastric parietal cells, which produce IF in first place.
In fact, most B12 deficiency cases are the result of malabsorption rather than inadequate intake . Such cases are where B12 injections truly show their strength. By injecting, the B12 can , and finally saturate the cells. This is why B12 shots are a godsend to those who need it. In Pernicious Anemia, they are the only reliable treatment.
This discovery, that injecting B12 can overcome absorption deficits, has given life to patients who would otherwise get worse and worse. If you have a deficiency, B12 shots are the most reliable way to infuse your body with the various benefits of B12.
How To Take It
If your diet includes meat, fish or shellfish, milk, and other dairy products, you should be able to meet the recommended daily requirements without taking a vitamin B12 supplement. Vegetarians who do not eat any animal products should take a vitamin B12 supplement with water, preferably after eating. Elderly people may need larger amounts of vitamin B12 than younger people because the body’s ability to absorb vitamin B12 from the diet declines with age.
If you are considering taking a B12 supplement, ask your health care provider to help you determine the right dose for you.
Daily recommendations for dietary vitamin B12 are listed below.
Pediatric
- 19 years and older: 2.4 mcg *
- Pregnant women: 2.6 mcg
- Breastfeeding women: 2.8 mcg
*Because 10 to 30% of older people may not absorb B12 from food very well, people over 50 should meet their daily requirement through either foods fortified with vitamin B12 or a supplement containing B12.
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May Reduce The Risk Of Birth Defects
As mentioned previously, it is recommended that women who are pregnant add a greater amount of Vitamin B12 to their diet than the average adult. This is because Vitamin B12 deficiency has been associated with birth defects, such a neural tube defects, and complications in pregnancy. Therefore, pregnant women need to ensure that they are meeting the recommended daily intake of Vitamin B12 to prevent birth defects in their children.
The Connection Between Homocysteine And Vitamin B12
In a recent study conducted by the University of California at San Francisco, researchers sampled data regarding homocysteine levels of the U.S. population.
They found higher levels of homocysteine were indicators of increased risk for heart disease as compared to people with average or low levels of homocysteine.
In a follow-up study, random clinical trials were held to uncover the effect of vitamin B12 and vitamin B9 on homocysteine levels.
Researchers found that adding B9 to ones diet can reduce homocysteine levels in the blood by up to 25 percent. Adding B12 can reduce homocysteine levels a further 7 percent.
These findings correlate with the trend in lower homocysteine levels that occurred as a result of the Food and Drug Association mandating that all enriched wheat products contain 140 micrograms of folic acid per 100 grams of wheat. This mandate was passed in 1998, after which a general drop in homocysteine levels across the population occurred.
Clearly, increased levels of vitamin B12 and its cousin vitamin B9 are linked to decreased levels of homocysteine because these two vitamins are necessary elements needed by the body in the process of breaking down homocysteine.
UCSF researchers project that if everyone added a 1 mg folic acid supplement and a 0.5 mg vitamin B12 supplement to their diet, there would be 310,000 fewer deaths from heart disease in the U.S. over a ten year period.
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May Help In The Treatment Of Fibromyalgia
It is believed that low levels of vitamin B12 may lead to fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. There is a lack of research in this aspect.
One study states that vitamin B12 injections may work as analgesics, thereby aiding the treatment of fibromyalgia .
Other research also links fibromyalgia to higher levels of homocysteine in the blood . As vitamin B12 lowers homocysteine levels, it may potentially aid in the treatment of fibromyalgia.
How Vitamin B12 Supports The Immune System
Vitamin B12 and folic acid are both vital for immune function. Both are necessary for producing a sufficient number of red blood cells to carry oxygen around the body. If you have a folate deficiency and/or vitamin B12 deficiency, your immune system may start to falter, and your body will struggle to ward off pathogens. Red blood cells are crucial immune cells which are part of your bodys immune response so its important to ensure theyre able to form and function correctly.
A lack of vitamin B12 in your diet or through supplements can lead to pernicious anaemia. Pernicious anaemia is an autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack stomach cells, thus inhibiting the bodys ability to absorb vitamin B12. Although the cause of this condition is unknown, supplements can help with the symptoms of pernicious anaemia.
As you can see, vitamin B12 is a key vitamin for helping to maintain a healthy immune system and maintaining levels of both vitamin B12 and folic acid will help to prevent conditions such as pernicious anaemia and folate deficiency.
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Is Malaysia A Good Place To Invest
In the past few years, Malaysia has become an increasingly attractive investment destination for international investors because of its robust economy and pro-business government. For most international investors, investing in Malaysia is easier through ETFs. However, investors can also consider investing in the domestic stock market.
Vitamin B12 And Dna Synthesis
The most well known working of vitamin B12 is its influence on blood formation, as a severe deficiency of the vitamin leads to anemia. At the same time and less obviously many other areas are affected, in which cell division plays a major role, including in the brain and spinal cord. B12 deficiency causes transcription errors during DNA synthesis, which is likely to increase the long term risk of cancer and is linked to many chronic diseases .
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May Aid Diabetes Treatment
Though there is no direct link between vitamin B12 and diabetes treatment, the nutrient may treat diabetic retinopathy .
It may aid the treatment of diabetic neuropathy , though further research is warranted . Anecdotal evidence suggests that the vitamin may also treat some of the symptoms of neuropathy, including numbness, pain, and a prickling sensation.
Vitamin B12 reduces homocysteine levels in the blood, which can otherwise lead to retinopathy .
More interestingly, metformin, a commonly prescribed diabetic drug, may cause vitamin B12 deficiency . This is why it might be a good idea to supplement it, especially in the case of diabetes. Pernicious anemia is vitamin B12 deficiency experienced in the case of type 1 diabetes .
Amazing Benefits Of Vitamin B12 + Best B12 Foods To Eat
If theres one thing that we all agree on, its eating plenty of vegetables.
Everyone rallies round the broccoli! We treat our veggies like the perfect food for health, but do you know that they actually have one flaw?
Despite being a rich source of nutrients, most veggies lack vitamin B12!
Do you really need vitamin B12? Yes, you do especially when youre going through menopause.
Get to know the best vitamin B12 benefits during menopause and the top foods you can eat to get B12!
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Where Do You Get B12 From Naturally
Your body does not naturally make B12. You can get most of the vitamins your body needs simply by eating right, but B12 is unique. It is only found in animal products like eggs, meat, dairy, or shellfish. The B12 is bound to the protein molecules.
During the digestion process, Vitamin B12 is separated from the protein and absorbed into your bloodstream. To ensure proper absorption, you must eat sufficient foods that are rich in B12, your body must have sufficient stomach acid, and you must have the intrinsic factor necessary to utilize B12. B12 deficiencies are quite common some estimates say that as many as 40% of Americans are deficient.
It Can Boost Brain Health And Improve Cognitive Functioning
Upping your B12 intake has been shown to help protect your neurological health. Studies show that having low levels of B12 may harm cognitive health by accelerating neuron loss and negatively affecting brain function, Kubala says.In fact, even low-normal B12 levels may lead to poor cognition.One study of people with early-stage dementia also showed that a combination of vitamin B12 and omega-3 fatty acids helped slowed mental decline.
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Who Is At Risk Of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
An estimated 6% of people in the US and UK aged 60 or older have vitamin B12 deficiency, while about 20% have low to normal or borderline deficient levels .
Vitamin B12 deficiency can occur in one of two ways. Either your diet lacks adequate amounts of it or your body is unable to fully absorb it from the food you eat.
Those at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency include (
Get Healthy Hair Nails And Skin
New cells need vitamin B12 to form properly. Without enough of the vitamin, the cell may become deformed and unstable. Skin, hair, and nails are all places where cell production happens rapidly. Not having normal vitamin B12 levels makes a visible impact. Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause different dermatologic symptoms. These may range from hyperpigmentation to nail discoloration to inflamed and cracked corners of your mouth.
Making sure your body has the proper levels of vitamin B12 will keep your skin, hair, and nails healthy. If you are already experiencing any of the dermatologic symptoms, boosting your vitamin B12 has been shown to improve and ease those symptoms. Improving any visible symptoms will also improve your self-esteem and mood.
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Processed Foods That Are Okay On A Whole Food Diet
Many brands of cereals are fortified with B vitamins, which can be hard to come by on a plant-based diet.
For example, vitamin B12 , is largely found in animal sources. It is something that those on a plant-based diet need to keep an eye on, as studies show that around 20% of us are deficient. And we also know that 65% of vegans and vegetarians dont take a B vitamin supplement.
So in that case, choosing a cereal fortified with B vitamins would be a good option, if done wisely. By that I mean use your discretion and check the labels, as many brands of cereals are packed with sugar and additives. But you can strategically choose minimally processed foods using a whole foods mentality.
As a rule of thumb, if there are any ingredients that you cant pronounce, dont understand, or sound artificial, they probably are best avoided.
What Are The Benefits Of A Vitamin B12 Injection
A vitamin injections can boost your body functions and benefit your health. Because B12 is necessary for so many body processes, getting a vitamin injection has many different benefits. However, it is important that you also do what you can to receive the maximum boost from your injection. Here are seven benefits you may experience.
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What Is Vitamin B12 & Why Do You Need It
Plus food sources to help you meet your needs .
Like most nutrients, vitamin B12 is something that many of us eat every day but don’t fully understand. Whether or not your B12 consumption is front-of-mind, our bodies need it for a variety of reasons. While most people get enough each day by eating fish, meat and dairy products, those who are vegan or vegetarian might worry about whether they are getting enough vitamin B12, and how to choose a supplement that is safe. To help you better understand this important nutrient, we dove into the research on what vitamin B12 is, why we need it and how you can make sure you are meeting your needs.
Helps Improve Sleep Patterns
Tryptophan is the amino acid found in foods like turkey that makes you drowsy. Our body manufactures tryptophan naturally, and its a big part of what helps you fall asleep at night. Vitamin B12 is a major factor in the tryptophan production process. B12 injections can help you go from restless nights to getting a good night sleep.
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Ability To Walk And Move
If nerve damage from B12 deficiency continues unaddressed, it can alter the way you move. This can sometimes affect balance and make you more likely to fall, says Greene. This is one of the easier things to correct, and by doing so we can prevent any declines in quality of life that occur with mobility issues and falls.
Common Causes Of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
One of the most common causes blamed for B12 deficiency is aging. Statistics say that 4 in 100 women aged 40 to 59 are B12 deficient.
But studies say celebrating another birthday is not the only reason!
- Dietary deficiency poor eating habits, restricted dieting and excessive alcohol consumption. B12 deficiency symptoms are common in vegans and vegetarians.
- Bacteria overgrowth in the gut poor digestion gets your bad bacteria to thrive. When they grow in number, theyll have a fun party eating up all your B12.
- Lack of intrinsic factor if you lack intrinsic factor your intestines cant absorb B12. You lose your intrinsic factor if you have gut problems like gastritis.
- Removal of the stomach a surgical operation that removes part or your whole stomach. Indications include bleeding ulcers, repeated ulcers or stomach tumors and cancer. As a result of this procedure, you will no longer produce intrinsic factor and stomach acids. These two substances are important for B12 absorption!
- Gut problems celiac disorder and Crohns disease messes up gut balance. As a result, this hinders B12 absorption.
- Medications drugs for stomach ulcers, heartburn, diabetes, seizures and convulsions are the ultimate B12 absorption disruptors.
Dr. Berg has a great video about B12 where he explains these causes in a more in-depth view. Be sure to watch it !
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Vitamin B12 And Nerves
Perhaps the most important long-term effect of vitamin B12 is its function in the central nervous system, including the spinal cord and brain. Here, the vitamin is involved in the formation of the myelin sheaths: a protective covering around the nerves, which can roughly be compared with the isolation of electrical cables. In the case of diseases such as multiple sclerosis , this protective layer is destroyed, which means that the nerves can no longer transmit their signals correctly. Such conditions are also referred to as demyelinating diseases and are suspected to be closely related to B12 deficiency. Above all, a connection between B12 and MS is suspected, but so far insufficiently researched .
More information: Vitamin B12 and Nerves
How To Give B12 Supplements To Your Dog
There is a lot of debate about how effective a vitamin B12 for dogs supplement is when given by mouth. This is because there are factors in the gut that, when absent, mean the supplement isn’t absorbed. For many years, the only way round this was for the vet to give weekly injections of vitamin B12. Happily, some supplements are now available that can pass across the gut wall to get where it’s needed.
Dr. Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Dr. Elliott graduated from the University of Glasgow, UK, with a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery. She has over three decades of experience working in companion animal practice and is the designated veterinarian for the Cats Protection rescue center, Harrow.In addition to hands-on work in the clinic, Dr. Elliott is an editor for small animal, veterinary textbooks from Improve International. She also writes a regular newsletter piece for the Webinar Vet and contributed to The Veterinary Times.Dr. Elliott is also qualified as an Official Veterinarian to oversee the export of animal products abroad.
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Vitamin B12 Deficiency Can Be Sneaky Harmful
- By Harvard Health Publishing Staff, Harvard Health
What harm can having too little of vitamin B12 do? Consider this: Over the course of two months, a 62-year-old man developed numbness and a “pins and needles” sensation in his hands, had trouble walking, experienced severe joint pain, began turning yellow, and became progressively short of breath. The cause was lack of vitamin B12 in his bloodstream, according to a case report from Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital published in The New England Journal of Medicine. It could have been worsea severe vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to deep depression, paranoia and delusions, memory loss, incontinence, loss of taste and smell, and more.
What Are The Key Benefits Of Vitamin B12 For Your Body
Vitamin B12 plays a fundamental role in the bodys production of red blood cells. Without adequate levels of the vitamin in your body, the production of red blood cells can be impacted and can affect the transportation of oxygen to vital organs, causing weakness and fatigue.
In addition, inadequate levels of vitamin B12 can reduce bone mineral density, causing bones to become fragile over time.
Vitamin B12 works alongside a range of B vitamins to help support your bodys functions. Vitamin B complex helps to support a healthy immune system by supporting cell health, red blood cells, energy levels and cardiovascular health, among other functions. This means its important to make sure you not only get enough vitamin B12, but vitamin B as a whole.
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