Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Question: How can vegans avoid vitamin b12 deficiency? Plant sources of vitamin b12 contain analouges which can counter its effects, supplements and fortified foods haven't been proven to be effective. Also plants do not contain complete protiens replete with all the essential amino acids...even flax seeds do not provide a complete source. These are basically the only reasons preventing me from going veg, I am willing to sacrifice my tastebuds but not my health.

Answer: Your body stores B12 for a long time and it is rare to have a deficiency if you eat foods fortified with B12 like soymilk and some cereals. I take a vegan vitamin with B12 just to be on the safe side.

Question: what kind of food do I need to eat to gain vitamin B12? I am having vitamin B12 deficiency.? what kind of vegitables, fruits or energy drinks does have vitamin B12? Appreciate your ideas and help on this. and want to know if this is real big problem or any one faced this kind of health issues?

Answer: I wouldn't bother eating extra stuff every day just for the B12. They sell B12 supplements at Walmart and stuff, and they're super cheap. like $2 a bottle. Or just take a multi-vitamin every day. they usually come with 100% of your daily value of every vitamin you need to maintain good health. :)

Question: can anyone explain about B12 vitamin deficiency? my doctor just called to tell me that i have the above problem. .My vitamin B12 is extremely low. they said i will have to take folic acid for 7 days & then get a shot once a week & then once every 2 weeks, Then it will be once month..does anyone know what causes it ? they told me it would make you feel very tired. i do feel that way, but i never contributed to a vitamin deficiency.does it cause any other type of symptoms? thank you doris p.

Answer: I am 45 and was diagnosed with Pernicious Anemia about 13 years ago. It is a B12 deficiency that requires I take monthly shots of B12. If that is what you have, then it is actually a disorder of the stomach. Your stomach doesn't have the enzyme that absorbs B12 from what you ingest. My understanding is that taking vitamins or anything oral will not work because your stomach won't absorb the B12. That is why shots are required. I have always been told it is an older person's disease, but I was only 32 when I was diagnosed. When I was diagnosed I was tired and also got very winded walking across the room. It felt like I had the just gotten over the flu or something. I have also noticed (not that this makes any sense at all) that when I wait too long to take my shot I tend to get a twitchy eye. I am almost positive that is not listed as a symptom, but it is a personal symptom and I pay attention to it. Hope this helps.

Question: what to do about Vitamin B12 deficiency? ok i am pretty sure that im running low on vitamin b12....i have all the symptoms and im pretty freaked out...what is the best way to fix this....im very scared about it.....what kind of foods can i eat and what vitamins can i take...and how long it will take to fix....im 12 years old...a girl...please help if you know anything!

Answer: I am Vitamin B-12 deficient, I go every week for a shot of B-12 because I have an eating disorder and can't eat the foods I need to get the vitamins I need. I think if I were you I would buy Vitamin B-12 supplements OTC and take one (or the recommended dosage) everyday. I liked B Complex better than B-12 because B Complex has all the B's in it you need. Find a list of foods that are high in B-12 and eat them. You can't get too many B's so don't worry but never take more than the recommended dosage.

Question: Can a Vitamin B12 deficiency bring around an OCD? I 'm trying to help a friend deal with a particularly bad Mental OCD; and I read somewhere that certain vitamins can influence OCD's and stuff... what kind of vitamins should she take that could help her mentally?

Answer: Yes, in fact a year after vitamin B12 treatment (was very B12 deficient), my OCD symptoms were gone. I found the most effective at boosting B12 levels was oral B12 under the tongue spray. This is pain free and 900% more effective than tablets. Vitamin B12 is essential in the serotonin pathway. Vitamin B12 deficiency affects mental health and symptoms include depression (including post-partum depression), irritability, apathy, anxiety, mania, OCD, paranoia, psychosis, personality changes, hallucinations, violent behavior, bipolar, schizophrenia....in children - autistic behavior, developmental delay. OCD: Deficiencies, not genes>>> http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=763953 How to increase serotonin levels>>> http://www.cqfz.net/articles/mental-health-and-b12-is-an-issue.html http://www.understand-andcure-anxietyattacks-panicattacks-depression.com/5-htp.html http://ezinearticles.com/?Easy-and-Natural-Ways-to-Raise-Your-Low-Serotonin-Levels&id=795255 http://www.integrativepsychiatry.net/serotonin.html

Question: How long after taking glucofage or Byetta could a vitamin B12 deficiency occur?

Answer: These researchers examined aspects of metformin use associated with vitamin B12 deficiency. They used a centralized laboratory system to identify 155 patients with vitamin B12 levels <150 pmol/L (<203 pg/mL), elevated HbA1C levels, and metformin use for at least 1 year, as well as 310 diabetic patients without vitamin B12 deficiency while taking metformin. After adjustments for confounders, B12 deficiency correlated strongly with metformin dose (odds ratio, 2.88 for each 1-g/day dose increment) and duration (OR, 2.39 for metformin use lasting >3 years vs. <3 years).

Question: If I get anemia for vitamin b12 deficiency, will Iron supplements help me to cure that anemia? I am asking this because most of the doctors just prescribe iron supplements without examining the reason of anemia.

Answer: You need intramuscular injections of Vitamin B12 for Vitamin B12 deficiency.

Question: vitamin b12 deficiency and shrinking brain? I have read in the subject. The thing is that I've been a vegetarian for about two years and i don't think i have gotten enough vitamin b12. i mean, i ate eggs, but only occassionaly. i'm really cared now because of the whole thing that the brain shrinks when there is a vitamin b12 deficiency, seeing as that vitamin is extremely important to brain function. and the brain shrinking can cause all sorts of problems. for two years of being deficient, can my brain really have gotten smaller? and is it reversable???

Answer: Don't worry I was B12 deficient for a while - I got pins and needles and numbness in my hands and legs which is a sign of nerve damage. This was when I was vegan and I felt better once I started taking supplements (and I am no longer vegan). Whilst vitamin b12 deficiency is serious and bad for you I think my brain is fine as I am doing a maths degree and haven't noticed any problems with my brain. I was probably deficient for about 2 years but your body can store some so in 2 years you won't have done serious damage. In fact the NHS website states that: "It can be stored in the body in small amounts, and around 80% of this is stored in the liver. It may take three or four years for the symptoms of deficiency to develop." Do you drink milk? If you do you are not likely to be deficient as half a pint of milk contains over half your RDA of b12 but you should consider getting fortified foods like cereal or drinks like horlicks, ovomaltine and milo that have vitamin b12 - a mug of one of these drinks will give you 20% of your RDA. Also one teaspoon of marmite has 60% of your RDA of B12. Adding one of these foods/drinks to your diet daily will ensure you're getting enough. The RDA is 2.4 micrograms.

Question: What is the name of the protein that is destroyed when somebody has vitamin B12 deficiency?

Answer: Vitamin B12 deficiency is sometimes called pernicious anemia. Vitamin B12 normally combines with a protein in the stomach called intrinsic factor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intrinsic_factor. Without intrinsic factor, the Vitamin B12 cannot be absorbed by the ileum http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Illu_small_intestine.jpg and passes through the gastrointestinal system undigested, leading to a B12 deficiency. Although B12 deficiency doesn't destroy intrinsic factor, intrinsic factor is a protein that can cause B12 deficiency if your body doesn't produce it. Lack of intrinsic factor can be caused by autoimmune diseases such as diabetes or thyroid disease, Since Vitamin B12 is stored in the liver, it can take some time before low intrinsic factor actually causes B12 deficiency signs/symptoms.

Question: do you recover from a vitamin B12 deficiency illness? parent very ill with a vitamin B12 deficiency. injections don't seem to be having any effect. has problem with dementia. will this improve?

Answer: yes

Question: Vitamin B12 deficiency due to cerebellar damage? My anatomy instructor who is also a doctor told us that he believes a damaged cerebellum can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency. I looked on the internet and found that there is credence to this via research papers. Can anyone tell me exactly why this deficiency of folate occurs though? I just found that damage of cerebellum can result in Vitamin B12 deficiency...I am just not sure as to why. sorry i meant to say that the deficiency causes the damage of cerebellum

Answer: Firstly folate and B12 are two different things though both can be causes of megaloblastic anaemia and both are B group vitamins. Severe B12 deficiency cause neural damage. If a person has an intrinsic factor deficiency (a protein that binds and transports B12 from the gut into the bloodstream) they can get pernicious anaemia ie. they are B12 deficient even though they may eat lots of vitamin B12. I haven't heard of the damage being the other way around either.

Question: Can anyone fully explain the condition vitamin b12 deficiency and it's effects? I was diagnosed 4 years ago and have to be injected every 3 months,i obviously know some symptoms because i've had them,but when i ask the nurse she's rather vague with anything she tells me.

Answer: The condition is commonly asymptomatic, but can also present as anemia characterized by enlarged blood corpuscles with characteristic changes in neutrophils, known as megaloblastic anemia. Early and even fairly pronounced deficiency does not always cause distinct or specific symptoms. Common early symptoms are tiredness, a decreased mental work capacity, weakened concentration and memory, and irritability and depression. Sleep disturbances may occur, because B12 may be involved in the regulation of the sleep wake cycle by the pineal gland (through melatonin). B12 deficiency can also cause symptoms of mania, psychosis, fatigue, memory impairment, irritability, depression and personality changes.

Question: What are the physical signs of a B12 vitamin deficiency? Facts only please :-) Link it if you can. Hey lo :-) what's this lingo now?

Answer: Ey up, Me. According to NHS Direct: Soreness of the tongue, ·Loss of weight, ·Pale skin, often with a lemon tint, ·Intermittent diarrhoea, ·Menstrual problems, and ·Poor resistance to infections. If the deficiency goes on too long, the nervous system is liable to be affected, causing: ·Tingling of the fingers and toes, ·Muscle weakness, ·Staggering, ·Tenderness in the calves, and ·Confusion. http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=42§ionId=10 Phew! Never had any of those. Well, maybe a little staggering, but it wasn't from vitamin deficiency !

Question: why do chronic alcoholics suffer from Vitamin B12 deficiency?

Answer: the b complex of vitamins is a water soluble complex and gets washed out by stress created by toxicsludge alcohol ....... not just alcohol either ... excessive amounts of caffeine, sodas and pop, processed sugar, processed salt, animal protein and saturated fat will wash out your b complex of vitamins too .......... ;0) alcohol will also acidify your bloodstream prompting your body to rip the precious minerals calcium and magnesium right out ofyour bones in an attempt to neutralise it .... ick. alcohol wrecks everything. peace baby ♥

Question: Iam a vegetarian and eat egg and milk also. I have B12 vitamin deficiency. What to eat to overcome B12 ? I am in my 40s and I lack B12 vitamin. Doctors told me that it will happen since I am a vegetarian. I am vegetarian but also eat egg and milk.I have this B12 problem for the past one year. I cant continue for long with B12 injections/tablets but want to get B12 in my daily food. Can you please tell what fruits/vegetables/nuts/grains etc should I include as part of my daily food to have intake of sufficient B12 vitamin. I shall be thank ful if you can help me in suggesting/advising me of the food I should eat daily for this purpose.

Answer: Vitamin tablets are ok, but you pass most of it out in your urine anyway. Nutritional yeast is a great source, as is some seaweed, but both of those are medically disputed sometimes, so see how your body reacts. Fortified foods eaten at frequent intervals (so you don't pass it all out) are the only solution if you're deficient...I was told once that it needs to be taken in combination with iron and fat to be fully absorbed, but again, see you how react. Make sure to vary your sources, too. The link below is really comprehensive. As it will tell you, b12 isn't found in any fruits/vegetables, only in microorganisms. Do what they recommend and you'll be fine in a few weeks.

Question: Can you have iron and vitamin B12 deficiency anemia at the same time?

Answer: Hi, Yes, anemia usually means a deficiency in either iron, b12 or folate. It could be any one of those or any combination of the three. So it is definitely possible to have both iron and b12 deficiency at the same time.