By Audrey Frederick
If you are like me, you feel that you take reasonably good care of your health and diet. I take a handful of vitamins every day and eat what I consider a good balanced diet. I have very few medical problems, the most serious being, high blood pressure, which is well under control. So why did I end up in an ambulance heading to the hospital?
It was a Saturday morning, I was not feeling up to par, managed to pass out, get the dry heaves, feel a strange pain in my chest and started shaking. A hurried call to 911 by my husband brought the paramedics and I was off to the hospital.
Many tests later, showed I had no vitamin B12 in my system and that I was extremely low in potassium, this information left me wondering, how could that have happened?
After a pleasant day and a half stay in the hospital, I came home and decided to do some research on Vitamin B12 and why we need it. The information was amazing and I feel it is important enough to pass on.
It is hard to believe, but according to recent studies, more than 25 percent of the American population is Vitamin B12 deficient. The deficiency in itself can lead to Alzheimer's disease, depression, bipolar disorders and many of the mystery pains we have, along with short-term memory loss.
What is Vitamin B12 and what does it do?
* Vitamin B 12 (cyanocobalamin) is an oxygen carrier, it decreases blood cholesterol, metabolizes fat and is necessary for healthy nerve tissues.
* It is a water-soluble vitamin needed for nerve cell activity and for DNA replication.
* Vitamin B12 is a cobalt compound that occurs in the liver and is essential for blood formation, neural function and growth.
* Vitamin B12 supports positive mood function and is often used as in anti-depression therapy.
* It helps maintain a healthy nervous system, increases energy, improves short-term memory, concentration and physical balance.
* Vitamin B12 helps the body metabolize carbohydrates, proteins and healthy fats and is used to treat pernicious anemia.
* Folic acid along with Vitamin B12 will correct anemia and will help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Who needs Vitamin B12?
* The interesting thing is, the lack of vitamin B12 can happen to any one of us, it can happen in the womb and by the time a baby is born, it already has development problems, that will not be noticed until later.
* Young adults may be at greater risk than thought of in earlier research; however, if they eat cereal fortified with Vitamin B12, at least 4 times a week, they appear to be protected from a deficiency.
* People with pernicious anemia, a condition that happens when there is insufficient hemoglobin in the red blood cells, to carry oxygen to the cells and tissues. Vitamin B12 along with folic acid, B6 and iron are needed to help improve the condition. Most people with pernicious anemia need to get injections of Vitamin B12 on a regular basis.
* Individuals with stomach and small intestine disorders may be unable to absorb Vitamin B12 from food. There are several diseases that can cause this problem such as celiac disease, which is a genetic disorder. People with CD have intolerance to a protein called gluten and must be on a gluten-free diet. Crohn's disease, which is an inflammatory bowel disease, causes nutrient malabsorption requiring routine medical care.
* Older adults, those aged 50 and up, comprise about 30 percent who may have what is known as Atrophic gastritis, which is an inflammation of the stomach. This condition decreases the amount of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, which decreases the amount of Vitamin B12 that is separated from the proteins in the food and absorbed into the body. Vitamin supplements and food fortified with Vitamin B 12 are the best sources of the vitamin for these people.
* Vegetarians are a greater risk for developing a vitamin B12 deficiency, as the vitamin comes meat and meat products. Strict vegetarians and vegans are the ones at greatest risk. It is interesting, as my daughter works at an Arts College that has many true vegans attending and there is not a day that goes by that several students faint, which is a sign that they are low or deficient in vitamin B12. It may take years for the deficiency to show up, but it will.
It is very important that mothers who are strict vegans consult their pediatricians regarding their babies. A deficiency in Vitamin B12 in an infant can result in permanent neurological damage.
Is there a health risk of taking too much vitamin B12?
According to the Institute of the National Academies there are not any established rules for this vitamin, since it has very low potential for toxicity. The Institute states that there is no adverse reaction for healthy individuals, taking excessive doses of B12 from food or from supplements. They also recommend that adults over 50 years of age get their vitamin B12 from supplements and from food fortified with the vitamin. A recommend dosage per day is approximately 1,000 mcg (that is micrograms and not milligrams.)
What causes a vitamin B12 deficiency?
Poor nutrition can cause some to people suffer from this deficiency, the B12 vitamin is found in meats and dairy product and is not found most plant foods. People who are on a tea and toast diet, such as the elderly, will suffer from a deficiency. Chronic alcoholics that pay little attention to their nutritional needs and vegans, who eat absolutely no animal products what so ever, will also be deficient in the B12 vitamin.
Malabsorption is another primary cause for a deficiency in B12. Such problems as pernicious anemia, atrophic gastritis, ulcers and acid reflux disease can cause problems. Medications such as Nexium and Prevacid will deplete your body of vitamin B12 over time.
Chronic disorders such as peptic ulcers, diarrhea, Crohn's disease, along with patients who have had a history of intestinal surgeries and small bowel infestations of tapeworm or other intestinal parasites will have deficiency.
Vitamin B12 is taken into the stomach and is treated by an enzyme which the stomach cells secrete to make it more absorbable in the lower intestine. If you are lacking the enzyme or hydrochloric acid (as many people do, from middle age on) you cannot absorb enough of the vitamin B12. At this point it is necessary to take supplements and/or get the vitamin B12 shots on a daily/weekly or monthly basis.
Now there you have it, a bit of information about a vitamin that you probably have never thought about and the importance of it in our lives. For me, it was a wake up call, I never dreamed I would have a vitamin deficiency of any kind and certainly never thought I would end up in a hospital because of one.
I am now getting a shot every month and will take some supplements to build up my system. However, before you start to self medicate yourself and take any supplements, I truly recommend you call your primary physician to get a blood test, to see if you are deficient. A blood test is very inexpensive and will bring you up to date on how well your blood and you are doing.
If you are like me, you feel that you take reasonably good care of your health and diet. I take a handful of vitamins every day and eat what I consider a good balanced diet. I have very few medical problems, the most serious being, high blood pressure, which is well under control. So why did I end up in an ambulance heading to the hospital?
It was a Saturday morning, I was not feeling up to par, managed to pass out, get the dry heaves, feel a strange pain in my chest and started shaking. A hurried call to 911 by my husband brought the paramedics and I was off to the hospital.
Many tests later, showed I had no vitamin B12 in my system and that I was extremely low in potassium, this information left me wondering, how could that have happened?
After a pleasant day and a half stay in the hospital, I came home and decided to do some research on Vitamin B12 and why we need it. The information was amazing and I feel it is important enough to pass on.
It is hard to believe, but according to recent studies, more than 25 percent of the American population is Vitamin B12 deficient. The deficiency in itself can lead to Alzheimer's disease, depression, bipolar disorders and many of the mystery pains we have, along with short-term memory loss.
What is Vitamin B12 and what does it do?
* Vitamin B 12 (cyanocobalamin) is an oxygen carrier, it decreases blood cholesterol, metabolizes fat and is necessary for healthy nerve tissues.
* It is a water-soluble vitamin needed for nerve cell activity and for DNA replication.
* Vitamin B12 is a cobalt compound that occurs in the liver and is essential for blood formation, neural function and growth.
* Vitamin B12 supports positive mood function and is often used as in anti-depression therapy.
* It helps maintain a healthy nervous system, increases energy, improves short-term memory, concentration and physical balance.
* Vitamin B12 helps the body metabolize carbohydrates, proteins and healthy fats and is used to treat pernicious anemia.
* Folic acid along with Vitamin B12 will correct anemia and will help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Who needs Vitamin B12?
* The interesting thing is, the lack of vitamin B12 can happen to any one of us, it can happen in the womb and by the time a baby is born, it already has development problems, that will not be noticed until later.
* Young adults may be at greater risk than thought of in earlier research; however, if they eat cereal fortified with Vitamin B12, at least 4 times a week, they appear to be protected from a deficiency.
* People with pernicious anemia, a condition that happens when there is insufficient hemoglobin in the red blood cells, to carry oxygen to the cells and tissues. Vitamin B12 along with folic acid, B6 and iron are needed to help improve the condition. Most people with pernicious anemia need to get injections of Vitamin B12 on a regular basis.
* Individuals with stomach and small intestine disorders may be unable to absorb Vitamin B12 from food. There are several diseases that can cause this problem such as celiac disease, which is a genetic disorder. People with CD have intolerance to a protein called gluten and must be on a gluten-free diet. Crohn's disease, which is an inflammatory bowel disease, causes nutrient malabsorption requiring routine medical care.
* Older adults, those aged 50 and up, comprise about 30 percent who may have what is known as Atrophic gastritis, which is an inflammation of the stomach. This condition decreases the amount of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, which decreases the amount of Vitamin B12 that is separated from the proteins in the food and absorbed into the body. Vitamin supplements and food fortified with Vitamin B 12 are the best sources of the vitamin for these people.
* Vegetarians are a greater risk for developing a vitamin B12 deficiency, as the vitamin comes meat and meat products. Strict vegetarians and vegans are the ones at greatest risk. It is interesting, as my daughter works at an Arts College that has many true vegans attending and there is not a day that goes by that several students faint, which is a sign that they are low or deficient in vitamin B12. It may take years for the deficiency to show up, but it will.
It is very important that mothers who are strict vegans consult their pediatricians regarding their babies. A deficiency in Vitamin B12 in an infant can result in permanent neurological damage.
Is there a health risk of taking too much vitamin B12?
According to the Institute of the National Academies there are not any established rules for this vitamin, since it has very low potential for toxicity. The Institute states that there is no adverse reaction for healthy individuals, taking excessive doses of B12 from food or from supplements. They also recommend that adults over 50 years of age get their vitamin B12 from supplements and from food fortified with the vitamin. A recommend dosage per day is approximately 1,000 mcg (that is micrograms and not milligrams.)
What causes a vitamin B12 deficiency?
Poor nutrition can cause some to people suffer from this deficiency, the B12 vitamin is found in meats and dairy product and is not found most plant foods. People who are on a tea and toast diet, such as the elderly, will suffer from a deficiency. Chronic alcoholics that pay little attention to their nutritional needs and vegans, who eat absolutely no animal products what so ever, will also be deficient in the B12 vitamin.
Malabsorption is another primary cause for a deficiency in B12. Such problems as pernicious anemia, atrophic gastritis, ulcers and acid reflux disease can cause problems. Medications such as Nexium and Prevacid will deplete your body of vitamin B12 over time.
Chronic disorders such as peptic ulcers, diarrhea, Crohn's disease, along with patients who have had a history of intestinal surgeries and small bowel infestations of tapeworm or other intestinal parasites will have deficiency.
Vitamin B12 is taken into the stomach and is treated by an enzyme which the stomach cells secrete to make it more absorbable in the lower intestine. If you are lacking the enzyme or hydrochloric acid (as many people do, from middle age on) you cannot absorb enough of the vitamin B12. At this point it is necessary to take supplements and/or get the vitamin B12 shots on a daily/weekly or monthly basis.
Now there you have it, a bit of information about a vitamin that you probably have never thought about and the importance of it in our lives. For me, it was a wake up call, I never dreamed I would have a vitamin deficiency of any kind and certainly never thought I would end up in a hospital because of one.
I am now getting a shot every month and will take some supplements to build up my system. However, before you start to self medicate yourself and take any supplements, I truly recommend you call your primary physician to get a blood test, to see if you are deficient. A blood test is very inexpensive and will bring you up to date on how well your blood and you are doing.
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