Vitamin B12 Deficiency

So, next time you or someone you know is “having a senior moment”, remember: it might not be “just aging”. It could be B12 deficiency - Chris Kresser

Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Vitamin B12 Deficiency

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Can't Beat Fatigue? You May Be Low in B12

Fatigue is one of the most common concerns that initially prompts a new patient to book an appointment at my clinic. While the cause can range from insomnia or excessive stress to food allergies or a hormonal imbalance, more often than not I find that low levels of vitamin B12 (and often iron, which can go hand in hand) are at least partially to blame.

Since it's a water-soluble vitamin, the body is unable to store extensive amounts of B12 and must therefore get a regular supply from the diet or supplements. This can be difficult for some people, especially if you are vegetarian or vegans, or you have absorption issues (such as celiac or chrohn's disease). The good news is that it's…

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Resources

 Can't Beat Fatigue? You May Be Low in B12

Not all vitamin B12 supplements are created equal. A compromised digestive system can affect your absorption of certain vitamins and minerals, so I prefer to boost a patient's vitamin B12 levels through lozenges or vitamin B12 injections -- both of these methods allow nutrients to bypass digestion and enter directly into the bloodstream.

B12 Awareness

B12 Awareness is bringing vitamin B12 deficiency to the forefront by educating the public and health care community to the dangers of B12 deficiency. An estimated 15% to 25% of older adults have a B12 deficiency, but many of them are never tested or diagnosed.

B12 Deficiency

This site was created as a hub to bring all the key websites on vitamin B12 deficiency together in one place.

B12.com

Norman Clinical Laboratory, Inc. (NCL) provides a means to test individuals through the mail for cobalamin (vitamin B12 ) deficiency.

B12d.org

The B12 Deficiency Support Group (B12d, for short) is a charity. Our aims are to: • Raise awareness of this condition amongst doctors and the general public, so that people can be diagnosed appropriately • Explain the signs and symptoms that a doctor or person who is diagnosing themselves should look out for, and how to make sure that you reach the right diagnosis and don't confuse B12 deficiency with something else • Ensure treatment is tailored to the needs of the patient, and where possible, make treatment available free at the point of need

MayoClinic

The human body stores several years' worth of vitamin B12 in the liver, so low levels in the body are rare. Decreases in vitamin B12 levels are more common in the elderly, HIV-infected persons, and vegetarians. Inability to absorb vitamin B12 from the intestinal tract can cause a type of anemia called pernicious anemia. Fever and symptoms of "excessive sweating" have been reported with anemia due to low levels of vitamin B12; however, these are fixed with vitamin B12 treatment.

NHS

Vitamin B12 or B9 (commonly called folate) deficiency anaemia occurs when a lack of vitamin B12 or folate causes the body to produce abnormally large red blood cells that cannot function properly.

Patient

Vitamin B12 is present in meat and animal protein foods. Absorption occurs in the terminal ileum and requires intrinsic factor (IF), a secretion of gastric mucosal (parietal) cells, for transport across the intestinal mucosa. In pernicious anaemia, IF production is deficient. It is believed to be an autoimmune disease. Helicobacter pylori infection has been mooted to be an initiating factor, with subsequent autoimmune changes affecting the gastric mucosa. Genetic susceptibility to this process has been suspected.

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