Low B12 Levels = Long-Term Problems!

Do you have symptoms related to B12 deficiency?

Could you or your family be suffering from B12 Deficiency?

Low B12 Levels can Lead to Long-term Problems.

September 19th-25th is "B12 Awareness Week"

B12 deficiency is a common health risk that is often overlooked. In this article you will discover:

Risk factors for B12 deficiency
Long term problems/damage associated with B12 Deficiency
How to accurately get tested for B12 deficiency
The best forms of B12 replacement

This is great information to discuss with your doctor!

Who is at RISK? Those with:

Neurological or motor symptoms
Mental status changes
Babies who regress developmentally
Vegetarians
Vegan
Pregnant or nursing vegetarian moms (B!2 is only found in animal proteins)
Breast fed babies of vegan or vegetarian moms (B12 is only found in animal proteins)
Autism spectrum (B12 deficiency mimics Autism - early detection is necessary to prevent irreversible damage to brain)
Developmental of behavior disorders
Failure to thrive
Dementia or Alzheimer's
Psychiatric disorders
Gastrointestinal (GUT) disorders
Gastrointestinal (GUT) surgeries
Gastric Bypass
Anemia
Elevated MCV (enlarged RBC) - a late sign
Age 60 and over
Autoimmune disorders
Eating disorders
Proton pump inhibitor use
Metformin
Family history of pernicious anemia
Blood type A (they do not make enough stomach acid or IPA an enzyme necessary to break down red meat well)
MTHFR mutations
Occlusive vascular disorders (MI, CVA, DVT, PE)

Signs and Symptoms of B12 Deficiency:

Neurological
Numbness – tingling
Weakness of arms, legs, trunk
Abnormal reflexes
Unsteady or abnormal gait (walk)
Balance problems
Dizziness
Restless legs
Forgetfulness, memory loss
Dementia
Loss of urine or bowel function
Depression
Irritability
Bipolar behavior
Hallucinations
Violent behavior
Psychosis
Personality changes
Anemia
Macrocytosis (enlarged red blood cells) A LATE SIGN
Generalized weakness
Fatigue
Shortness of breath
Pallor

Infants and Children (delayed treatment causes permanent damage to brain and nervous system and mimics Autistic Spectrum Disorders)

Developmental delay or regression
Apathy – irritability
Poor muscle tone
Weakness
Involuntary movements
Seizures
Walking / balance problems
Anorexia
Failure to thrive
Poor weight gain
Poor head growth
Poor socialization
Poor motor skills
Language delay
Speech problems
Lower IQ - mental retardation
Anemia
Enlarged red blood cells – (Late Sign)

That is a super long list of symptoms that range from mild to severe. As with most disease states it is a progression of problems until the person can no longer deal with the inconvenience. BUT B12 deficiency can produce severe long-term damage in an individual and especially in our INFANTS and CHILDREN.

In infants and children, a B12 deficiency can cause brain shrinkage and myelin sheath deterioration which is not reversible. It is important to educate moms of the risk factors as well as the signs and symptoms.

The elderly population is at a greater risk because of decline in nutrition and decline in the production of stomach hydrochloric acid necessary for the absorption of B12. Diagnostic Testing for B12 Deficiency

Serum B12
Methylmalonic acid (Urine MMA) (B12 deficiency is the only known cause of elevated uMMA except for a rare enzyme deficiency which is evident early in life) http://www.b12.com/uMMA.htm
Homocysteine
Holotranscobalamine II (Holo-TC) (active form of B12)

Mayo Clinic says The uMMA test reflects tissue/cellular vitamin B12 deficiency and is the leading candidate as the "gold standard" assay for identifying tissue B12 deficiency.

Best Forms of B12

Vitamin B12 supplements come in several different forms, but there's one type, methylcobalamin, or methyl B12, that's more easily absorbed by the body, especially if you have trouble with a body process called methylation.

here are four types of B12 available for purchase in supplements:

Methylcobalamin
Adenosylcobalamin
Hydroxocobalamin
Cyanocobalamin

Methylcobalamin, adenosylcobalamin and Hydroxocobalamin are biologically identical to the forms of vitamin B12 that are found in food and the human body.

Cyanocobalamin is a synthetic version of the vitamin that's made in a lab and added to supplements and fortified foods.

Although Cyanocobalamin is generally the least expensive form of the vitamin, your body can absorb and use methylcobalamin, or methyl B12, more quickly and easily.