Vitamin B12 is necessary, in conjunction with folic acid, for the production of red blood cells. It also is required for proper digestion of food, absorbtion and metabolism of nutrients from that food. In addition, it can help protect nerve cells and assists in the production of compounds that help memory and learning.
A deficiency in B12 can lead to several conditions such as pernicious anemia, memory loss, digestive problems, fatigue, dizziness, nervousness, headaches to name just a few.
If you have a deficiency, it is important to know if it is caused by the inability to absorb it or a lack of B12 in your diet. As we age, the amount of “intrinsic factor” we produce decreases. This factor is necessary for proper absorbtion so it is not uncommon for older people to have a B12 deficiency. If you are a strict vegetarian or vegan, you should know that B12 is found mostly in meat and fish. Two non-animal source is Brewer’s yeast and sea vegetables such as dulse, kelp, nori and kombu.
If you cannot absorb B12, the most common and effective way to get it is by injection. If this is not possible for you, look for the sublingual form as this is absorbed in the mouth and does not rely on the presence of intrinsic factor. Usually the oral dosage is twice the strength of the injected dose BUT, as always, check with your health care provider before changing any B12 supplements you have been taking.
If you are using supplements for B12 (as wth all supplements) do your home work to find a good natural source brand. It really does matter. Although this is changing in North America, there is currently very little regulation of the supplement industry and there are some unscrupulous companies that use compounds that, although they may contain the vitamins claimed, use forms that are not readily used by the body and are at best, useless and at worse may cause allergic reactions to the fillers.
Look for a manufacturer that is following the ISO guidelines and is ISO 9000, ISO 9001 or NSF certified. The product will cost more but you will get a more useable form and you will be able to absorb more of it. It is worth the extra money to get a good quality product. If you have a good health food store in your area, talk to the people there and ask which companies produce the best supplements.
Additional Notes:
Taking Vitamin C when taken with or within an hour of eating a meal may reduce the avaiablity of the B12 in the food.
Calcuim is necessary for B12 absorbtion and is found in dark leafy greens except spinach, swiss chard and beet greens!
Anti-gout medications, anticoagulants or potassium supplements may interfere with the absorbtion of B12.
Prilosec has been shown in studies to decrease B12 absorbtion.
Tags: No Comments
0 responses so far ↓
There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.