Could this help someone you know....
 

Recently I started reading on Vitamin B12 deficiency because my son was diagnosed as having a low level. I was just shocked at the medical problems this vitamin deficiency can cause or contribute to if the level is too low. The deficiency can develope from inadequate dietary intake or impaired absorption. The malabsorbtion can be for many reasons such as in deficiencies in pepsin, low levels of hydrochloric acid (from acid reducers) , R-protein, pancreatic enzymes, lack of intrinsic factor, calcium and cell receptors can all lead to B12 deficiency through blocked absorption. The good news it's easily treated with B12 in the form of " Methylcobalamin".

I was especially surprised that a vast number of the elderly that are having dementia/ and or Alzheimer symptoms are really in need of B12!! So if you know someone who has developed memory loss, poor cognitive function it might be worth checking and/or treating with B12......

Doctors tend to not look for this, so you would have to ask for a simple MMA test to check your level. But from my reading the test is only one way to diagnose a B12 deficiency, it's also based on your symptoms. In some cases even if the MMA test indicates a normal level but the symptoms indicate otherwise, treatment with B12 may be indicated. Some will need a higher dosage than others. Vegetarians are particularly at risk because B12 comes mainly from eating animal protein.

These are some of the signs that can be B12 related....

SIGNS OF B12 DEFICIENCY
Poor growth/failure to thrive in infants
Premature grey hair
Disturbed carbohydrate metabolism
Fatigue
Weakness
Weight loss
Constipation
Infertility
Vision problems
Loss of hearing and tinnitus
Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet
Impotence
Incontinence
Hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation
(dark and light patches in the skin)
Neuralgia, neuritis and bursitis
Anemia, including pernicious anemia**
Psoriasis and other skin problems
Brain degeneration
Insomnia
Irrational or chronic anger
Violent behavior
Lack of balance/abnormal gait
Combat fatigue
Any emotional disorder up to and including insanity
Gastritis##

When a person has a B12 deficiency it can cause these symptoms and may contribute to developing other medical problems, two of them are pernicious anemia or atrophic gastritis which will create additional symptoms of their own.

** Pernicious anemia,this is what my son has...It's from the lack of a protein in the stomach that helps the body absorb vitamin B12. The protein is called intrinsic (in-TRIN-sik) factor. Intrinsic factor is made by special cells called, parietal (pa-RI-e-tal) cells, in the lining of the stomach. In some people, these cells are destroyed by the body's immune system or as a result of stomach surgery. When this happens, intrinsic factor is not produced and vitamin B12 cannot be absorbed. This is the most common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency. So the anemia will have symptoms of it's own in addition to the B12 deficiency symptoms ....

Early symptoms of pernicious anemia include paleness, weakness and fatigue; severe anemia causes shortness of breath, dizziness and a rapid heart rate.

## Atrophic Gastritis an inflammation and deterioration of the stomach lining. Atrophic gastritis reduces the secretion of the stomach acid that is needed to separate the B12 from protein, a problem made worse by antacid reducers. and aging. Signs could be.... indigestion, nausea, heartburn, abdominal pain, vomiting, possibly of blood (called hematemesis) or material that looks like coffee-grounds, dark stools. It is also frequently associated with an infection by the bacteria, Heliobacter pylori. So a test to rule out H.pylori might be done.

Here are a couple of sites to begin reading from

Vitamin B12: Vital Nutrient for Good Health

Could YOU Have Vitamin B 12 Deficiency Symptoms

Vitamin B12: Are You Getting It?

I just wanted to post this in hopes that this info can help someone who is suffering and the doctor has been unable to find the cause. After doing the reading I have done I now believe my deceased father was suffering from B12 deficiency and the doctor never checked.....how sad.....

Also, Vitamin D deficiency is just as important for improved health, I will be having my D and B12 checked.....:)

I started on a vit B complex tablet months ago due to constant tiredness but got lazy and stopped. Thanks for the reminder.

If a person has a B12 deficiency a mutivitamin supplement will be useless in this case. The dosage in the general "B" supplement would not be sufficient in the dosage to help a person with this problem. Some people with this condition will need B12 injections, if the condition is severe......The B12 will not be absorbed from the mutivitamin just as in the B12 is not absorbed from the protein eaten..... Mal-absorption is the problem....

A sublingual ( under the tongue) B12 is a good choice for supplementing for the deficiency. If you have unexplained tiredness, weakness, insomnia, anemia, brain fog, forgetfulness or been diagnosed with Chronic fatigue, or fibermyalgia(?) it's worth checking the B12.....

Thanks for posting this information B.J.

I wanted to add that a B12 deficiency in our precious yorkies can also lead to many illnesses. Bouts of pancreatitis can easily lead to a B12 deficiency which in turn can lead to lymphangiestasia and PLE!!!!!!!!

Hi Jodie....I hadn't thought of our yorkies and the deficiency.....Thanks,now I have to read some more...;)

I always knew that being deficient in vitamins and minerals could cause issues with our health. But I was really surprised and shocked of the seriousness of the B12 deficiency ( and the D too)....Especially the dementia cases that can/may be helped by this.......

I can't stress this enough, this is not a problem solved by a multi -vitamin, this is something totally different...Keep up the reading.....Reading is power....;)

B12 Works...
 

Hi BJ,
Your correct on the B12. I self inject once of week due to medical issues and it really makes a difference.
Great information for all that suffer from other health problems.

Thank you for the post,
Kathleen ... Mom To My Little Girls: Punken Pie :doghop:
Breese Be Be :littleang Lil Ol Tuffy RIP: :lovewings

Unfortunately, I learned about B12 deficiencies in yorkies the hard way!!! Sissy was diagnosed with early stage PLE last fall. A B12 deficiency is just one piece of that. She was only weekly B12 injections for four months and now gets just one a month. Thankfully, we caught it very early and some dietary changes and supplement additions have been very helpful.

Also, multi-vitamins and vitamins in general are not created alike. In order to get a benefit of any kind, you need to have absorption and the vast majority of vitamins are poorly manufactured and you only absorb about 5% of what the label says. Look for quality, fermented, whole food products. These are your best bang for the buck - even if you take less than what is recommended.

Thanks for posting this. I have very low levels on B12 and have to take about 5000mcg's a day. It took a long time before we figured out what my problem was.
I think a lot of people overlook this or don't think it's important. Having low B12 can lead to a lot of problems, I wish I would have known earlier. I am 23 years old and already have quite a few gray hairs along with stomach issues that are all caused because over the years my body has not absorbed enough B12.

Hi,
I'm a non-absorber myself and take B12 injections. Sometimes your system can't process tablets.

Kathleen.. Mom To MY Little Girls: Punken Pie Breese Be Be
Lil Ol Tuffy RIP:

You ladies are so lucky you found the source of your health issues....Sadly a lot of people will go undiagnosed......

I was just as surprised to read that people on acid reducers ( prevacid, prilosec etc.etc. ) will most likely be B12 deficient because they are reducing their hydrochloric acid .......Most of their doctors are clueless that this occurs.....

This is very helpful! My mom just had a mild stroke and her B12 was depleted. I had to help with her injections. Thank you all for sharing.

I understand issue about the multi-vit pill, I take a supliment called 5HTP, due to a problem with tension in my neck muscles which contains vit B12. I'm currently awaiting x-ray results to see if the cause is spinal, though many of my symptoms are similar to B12 deficiency. I'm expecting the next step to be a blood test or something, my worst nightmare as I'm terrified of the idea. Just hope they sort me out as I hate giving in to pain or anything but it can be very tiring.

Wow that list is shocking. Thank you so much for taking the time to post this. So many of those conditions are often treated as their own problem, not as if something else is the underlying cause. I had some blood work 2 weeks ago, of course I don't remember if B12 was on the list. I will be sure to specifically ask the doctor if it was and what the result was.

This was wonderful! Thank you for sharing this information with us. I take a sublingual B12 as well. Something that is not mentioned above is canker sores in your mouth. The B12 always helps with there as well.