Vitamin B 12

Question: What benefit did vitamin B-12 provide to pro baseball players? I'm not referring to the code name for roids. A lot of players actually took vitamin B-12. Any reason why?

Answer: Yeah sure it was B-12 and that was just flaxseed oil barry was rubbing on his arms.

Question: How long does it take Vitamin B-12 to be absorbed into my system? After research as to my lack of energy lately, I came across a few people who suggested taking Vitamin B-12 as it is responsible for energy metabolisim and I may be deficient. After reading some blogs and the packaging on the actual vitamins I decided to go with the sublingul (under the tongue) form as it is abosrbed into my system faster. I am taking the reccommended dosage once a day and It is working beautifuly although I'm wondering if I am feeling energy when I do because the Vitamin kicks in or if it's a placibo effect. Does anybody know how long it takes to be absorbed...minutes...hours...your response is much appreciated.

Answer: Physiology of Absorption, Metabolism, and Excretion Following ingestion, absorption of thiamin occurs mainly in the jejunum, at lower concentrations as an active, carrier-mediated system involving phosphorylation and at higher concentrations by passive diffusion. Thiamin is transported in blood both in erythrocytes and plasma. Only a small percentage of a high dose of thiamin is absorbed, and elevated serum values result in active urinary excretion of the vitamin (Davis et al., 1984). After an oral dose of thiamin, peak excretion occurs in about 2 hours, and excretion is nearly complete after 4 hours (Levy and Hewitt, 1971; Morrison and Campbell, 1960). In a study by Davis and colleagues (1984), a 10-mg oral dose of thiamin was given in water, and the mean serum thiamin peaked at 24 nmol/L (7.2 µg/L) —42 percent above baseline. Within 6 hours the serum thiamin concentration had returned to baseline, 17 nmol/L (5.2 µg/L). Prompt urinary excretion of thiamin was also reported by Najjar and Holt (1940) and McAlpine and Hills (1941). With higher pharmacological levels, namely repetitive 250-mg amounts taken orally and 500 mg given intramuscularly, nearly 1 week was required for steady state plasma concentrations to be reached; a mean elimination half-life of 1.8 days was estimated (Royer-Morrot et al., 1992). Total thiamin content of the adult human has been estimated to be approximately 30 mg, and the biological half-life of the vitamin is probably in the range of 9 to 18 days (Ariaey-Nejad et al., 1970). Clinical Effects of Inadequate Intake Early stages of thiamin deficiency may be accompanied by non-specific symptoms that may be overlooked or easily misinterpreted (Lonsdale and Shamberger, 1980). The clinical signs of deficiency include anorexia; weight loss; mental changes such as apathy, decrease in short-term memory, confusion, and irritability; muscle weakness; and cardiovascular effects such as an enlarged heart (Horwitt et al., 1948; Inouye and Katsura, 1965; Platt, 1967; Williams et al., 1942; Wilson, 1983). In wet beriberi, edema occurs; in dry

Question: Is it dangerous for a person to take vitamin B-12 injections? A friend of my is taking vitamin B-12 injections for stress management. Is this a health risk?

Answer: It is only advisable to take B12 injections if you are deficient in this vitamin. Deficiency in B12 can make you very sick. Has she/he had a blood test?

Question: What does the vitamin B 12 do for you? What does the vitamin B 12 do for you? Why is it in so many vitamins and energy drinks such as 5 hour energy?

Answer: well... theres 2 questions so let me give you 2 answers .. lets give a little background so that were all on the same page your body has several different ways to convert sugars, protein, and fat into energy. as you can imagine, those pathways require things called enzymes, which in some cases, convert 1 compound (eg, glucose) into a different one, and this reaction produces energy that you use. now... theres tons of different enzymes specific for different things. B12 is "necessary" for some of these enzymes to be able to cause that reaction. specifically the conversion of protein and fat into energy. so with that said, one could say that B12 helps "burning fat" and producing energy. there are other things B12 does that might be related to energy drinks, like production on a compound that manufactures several neurotransmitters, but I believe that this is not the main reason why the add it to energy drinks. why do they add it to energy drinks?... honestly I believe it is just to sell more. B12 on a drink will probably have no significant effect on how much energy you feel. after all, all they are trying to do is sell. remember... the fact that 'some' is good, doesnt mean that 'tons' is better.

Question: How many times a day can you take Vitamin B-12, 1000mcg? I have Nature Made B-12 vitamins, 1000mcg. The bottle says one a day, but would it actually hurt me if I took two a day? One in the morning at one at night? I heard that they make anti-depressants work better and my doctor said taking it along with everything else certainly wouldn't hurt. Thanks :)

Answer: B vitamins are water soluable. Because of this, the body will only absorb what it needs and the rest is excreted. While taking very large/ridiculous doses is not a good idea, I don't think you'll have a problem unless you have a kidney or liver disease affecting filtration.

Question: Are there different types of vitamin B-12? Or they are all the same? Are there different types of vitamin B-12? Or they are all the same? Thanks Thanks guys

Answer: cyanocobalamin (C63H88N14O14PCo) a complex water-soluble organic compound that is essential to a number of microorganisms and animals, including humans. Vitamin B12 aids in the development of red blood cells in higher animals. The vitamin, which is unique in that it contains a metallic ion, cobalt, has a complex chemical structure hydroxocobalamin (C62H89CoN13O15P) a member of the vitamin B12 group used in treating and preventing vitamin B12 deficiency I would suggest looking into methylcobalamin. Can be found in tablet form and no need of injections. Edit: By the time that I finally found the one site that I listed in my source, seems that the first answer got several thumbs down - which I was NOT part of.

Question: How much vitamin B-12 should a person take per day? how many mcg's of b-12 should a person have per day? in vitamin form

Answer: 50mg

Question: Is vitamin b 12 deficiency life threatening? I'm almost certain I have b 12 deficiency. I have almost all the symptoms and I'm really worried if this could be life threatening. Is it absolutely necessary to go to the doctor and get shots or can you naturally boost the level of the vitamin by eating certain foods?

Answer: Vitamin B deficiency is common because our bodies cannot store this vitamin group. So, it is likely to be depleted especially if you drink alcohol. I suggest that you just go to a pharmacy to buy a Vitamin B supplement. I'm actually taking Vitamin B1, B6, B12 in one tablet so I'm pretty sure it's readily available over the counter and it's not even expensive.

Question: Vitamin B 12 deficiency and post Lyme disease? I went on antibiotics and now I'm off of them. I have still been having headaches and fatigue, sometimes its hard to concentrate. I did a blood test and there is no sign of active Lyme in my system. So i did not know what was wrong. I been taking vitamin b 12 supplement and noticed these symptoms are getting better. Is there a link between B 12 deficiency and the Lyme bacteria?

Answer: Several common features of modern life accelerate the decline of vitamin B12 in serum through life, including the following: * Microwave ovens In one test, microwaving milk degenerated 30% to 40% of milk's vitamin B12 in six minutes; with conventional heating, 25 minutes of boiling was needed to depress B12 that much. (67) More importantly, the heat of microwaving destroys all the enzymes in ingested food, which are required to enable absorption and utilization of food. And so by eating microwaved food, both at home and in restaurant and take-out meals, tens of millions of Americans are making themselves increasingly vulnerable to AD, as well as to cancer. * The Western diet B12 ingestion and stores tend to be insufficient among millions who have for decades eaten RDA-fortified, yet vitamin- and mineral-depleted, processed Western diets, which are also big sources of disease-creating free radicals. (69) Too low levels of omega-3 essential fatty acids in Western diets, harmful in many ways, must also contribute to insufficient B12 levels. (70) Omega-3 supplementation may yield its benefits largely through augmenting vitamin B12. Too-low levels of acetyl-carnitine and folic acid also appear to worsen risk of the condition. (71,72) It's worth noting that in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model, a diet rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids, specifically DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), has been shown to potentially slow or even prevent Alzheimer's disease. (73) At modest cost, we can easily ingest DHA in fish oil or [Carlson's] cod liver oil. Also worth considering is the role of trans-fatty acids (TFA) found in products labeled "zero trans-fats" with EPA approval. In a study of over 800 senior citizens, those with high TFA were twice as likely to suffer symptoms of Alzheimer's disease compared to those with the lowest TFA intake ([email protected]; accessed 2/17/06). *Hypochlorhydria.i.e. insufficient hydrochloric acid Most commonly, B12 insufficiency results directly from hypochlorhydria--insufficient hydrochloric acid (HCl) in the stomach--or by achlorhydria--no HCI at all. The acid should be concentrated enough to dissolve a nail in an hour. (77) Hypochlorhydria is likely caused by zinc/vitamin B6 deficiency (78) and a shortage of ionized calcium. (79,80) (Both deficiencies are typically present in older people.) Lack of enough pepsin or HCl in the stomach to generate the bond between B12 and its carrier protein typically shows with atrophic gastritis. (81,82) Both are also risk factors for gastric cancer. (83) Incomplete digestion of foods due to hypochlorhydria and low pepsin production also can be involved in subsequent allergic response in asthma.

Question: If my Vitamin B 12 is low but my HB is normal does this still mean im Anaemic? I am 33 weeks pregnant and just had my bloods checked for anaemia. My HB is normal but my vitamin b 12 is very low. Does this mean I am still anaemic and how is this treated? My HB is low but not low enough to count as iron deficient, but does the vitamin b 12 been so low mean I am anaemic?

Answer: You aren't anemic yet. However, you will become anemic soon. You should eat foods that have Vit. B12-like meat and dairy. You could also talk to your doctor about a supplement.

Question: Is vitamin b 12 safe for your liver and kidney and what is the side effects also,what can eat is as strong as ? Is vitamin b 12 safe for your liver and kidney and what is the side effects also,what can eat is as strong as ? What can you that will fight bacteria ,how safe is taking vitamins

Answer: Yes, it's perfectly safe for your Liver and Kidneys... it's a water-soluble nutrient that you need for daily basic health. Since it's water-soluble, your body excretes out what it can't use. As long as you aren't allergic to B-12 (which is incredibly rare), the only "side effect" would be if you overdosed on it, but that would take like a whole handful at once. It helps with energy because it helps in the formation of the red blood cells that carry Oxygen to different parts of the body, plus it helps with Cardiovascular health when it's taken with B-6 and Folic Acid (which together help fight Homocysteine). As far as fighting bacteria, part of that depends on what bacteria (whether your immune system would be enough to fight it or if you would need other support). The B Vitamins and Vitamin C are water soluble, so they are perfectly safe to take in most doses. Vitamins A, D, E, and K (the fat-soluble vitamins), plus the minerals can build up in your system and shouldn't be taken in too high of a dose... but as long as you take them in appropriate doses, they are perfectly safe. I'm not sure what you mean by "what can eat is as strong as". Feel free to E-mail me if you have any other questions.

Question: Where to buy needles for injections. I'm not a drug person, my husband needs a vitamin-B-12 injections ? We are not doing drugs. My husband has a serious lower back problem after a car accident. I can't afford insurance for him. He needs to get injections like vitamin B-12, B-1, B-6. I can be a nurse because I can do shots. Where to buy syringes and needles with no prescriptions ? Thanks.

Answer: Really, he needs this? was this determined by a real doc or a quack. Vit B defiency is measurable in the blood and can be corrected with diet , unless he has pernicious anemia, stomach problem. usually that sm red liquid is inert or placebo... not always, can't see why he would need this for back problem..

Question: How well does the B-12 Vitamin (Dots) work? I have experienced for a long time now that I have no energy, I have heard alot of people take the B-12 vitamin for this main reason to give them energy. How true is this? And is there any side effects ?

Answer: My mom used to force me to take the B-12 dots. Long story short, they didn't work. (There were no side effects though, although it got kinda annoying waiting for them to dissolve sometimes) What did work for me though, was the Emergen-C powder drinks. They are also high in B-12 as well as many other minerals and vitamins. However, it also depends on the person and what is causing the fatigue. I recommend using Emergen-c first (because it's cheaper) and see if it works. If it doesn't, dry the dots.

Question: What are some of the side effects of a very low vitamin B-12 level? I have had radiation and now have a very low B-12 blood level. I am told the this can result in pain associated with neuoropothy but is often misdiagnosed as such and is in fact, theresult of the B-12 low levels.Any help?

Answer: Tiredness and lethargy, anaemia.

Question: is Nature Made brand vitamin B-12 vegan? or does it have and animal products in it? if its not, are there any other B-12 supplements that are?

Answer: There is no plant that contains usable vitamin B12. Some research studies are misleading... Here's what I mean... The testing that's normally done to figure out of a food item has any vitamin B12 is to place certain microorganisms on the item and see if they grow. If they grow and colonize, there's B12. If they don't grow, there's no B12. On some plants like tempeh and spirulina, these microorganisms do grow, meaning that they have B12. BUT, this is not a form of vitamin B12 that humans can use. What I mean is, it's a derivative of B12 that's not used in the same way as the normal B12 we get from animal products. It's actually called "false B12". In fact, this "false B12" can actually block B12 receptors on your cells making it impossible to absorb any true B12 that you can use. The bottom line is that there's no plant on Earth that contains vitamin B12 that you can use. People may be trying to sell you natural B12 that they got from plants, but it's not the B12 your body can use. In fact, it may hinder the ability for you to utilize any B12 that you manage to get (because it's false B12!). With your question, I'm not sure if the Nature Made supplement is "vegan" - I looked online and couldn't really tell what their claims are. But chances are that if it's "vegan", it's not B12 that you can use effectively. The only place we can get "natural" B12 is from animal products! In fact, even if they did get vitamin B12 from plants, you wouldn't need to supplement, would you? You'd be getting plenty of it in your diet! (I'm assuming you're a vegetarian). I also noticed that the Nature Made B12 supplement contains 1000 mcg tablets. This is WAY too much! It's not necessary to take high-potency B12 supplements - you only need like 6 mcg (0.000006 g) of B12 per day for healthy living. And even if you don't get that much, you've got a good amount stored in your liver, along with microorganisms in your intestine that synthesize the vitamin daily. The fact is that most clinical deficiencies of vitamin B12 are due to intestinal absorption problems. All I'm trying to say is - make sure you're getting enough B12, but definitely don't overdo it! It's a waste of money to take all this extra B12 because whatever you don't use just ends up in the urine. You can tell that you've had more B12 than you need by the neon-greenish tint of the urine (because B12 reflects a neon-greenish color). The best place to get any vitamin or nutrient is in the actual food it naturally occurs in. But, in the case of vegetarians, it's necessary to take a B12 supplement in the form of a pill or liquid. Just don't overdo it! Hope this helps a little! Here's a lot of other info on vitamin B12 if you're interested... http://www.smart-strength-training.com/vitamin-b12-information.html Ryan

Question: Can taking a Vitamin B-12 supplement hurt me if I don't have a deficiency? I was lacking energy so I thought I'd give it a try. Could it potentially hurt me if B-12 deficiency isn't the problem?

Answer: For the lack of energy try: B-complex, and Vitamin C with bioflavonoids.