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One of the most debilitating symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency is the persistent brain fog.  Memory loss, disorientation, and general sluggish thinking make it almost impossible to remember where we put things or places we need to be. Here are some tips to help you cope with memory loss and vitamin B12 deficiency.

Memory loss with B12 deficiency

We’re too young for dementia. So, why is it so difficult sometimes to remember words that used to roll off our tongues, or summon names of familiar people and places?

Sometimes, cognitive problems indicate a severe vitamin B12 deficiency. Memory loss, in particular, is one of the earliest symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, which also causes other cognitive ailments such as extreme fatigue, confusion, decreased attention skills, and learning disorders.

But I’m too Young for Memory Loss…Right?

To improve your memory for things like passwords, lost items, important dates, and basic vocabulary, it’s important to make sure you’re getting enough vitamin B12 into your blood supply. Ask your doctor for a blood screening for vitamin B12 deficiency.

If diagnosed with low vitamin B12, you may need to add more B12-rich foods in your diet, such as beef liver, fish, or shellfish.

Or, if you are a vegan, or if you are unable to digest dietary vitamin B12, then you may need to take synthetic vitamin B12 injections, in addition to extra non-prescription vitamin B12 supplements, in order to relieve symptoms such as memory loss, brain fog, fatigue, and painful tingling and numbness in the extremities.

Can’t Concentrate? Attention Deficit Disorder and Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Tips for managing memory loss

The following helpful tips and tricks will help you keep track of things like appointments and important passwords, while you work on getting your B12 levels back to normal.

1- Keep lots of notes. Don’t be shy about setting yourself lots of reminders, even for things that you don’t think you’ll forget. Write down a grocery list, and keep a running tally of things you need. Keep notes in places where you can’t miss them, like tacked onto the computer screen, stuck to the refrigerator, or sitting by your alarm clock.

2- Use a day planner. Keep track of your schedule on a calendar, and use it religiously. Take advantage of the many helpful calendar apps that are available for your iPad or smartphone. Use it to keep track of vitamin B12 supplementation, to-do lists, and pick-up times.

3- De-clutter. Streamline your work area, and try to keep all surfaces tidy. Clutter makes it difficult to think clearly and even harder to find things that are probably sitting right in front of your face!

Let the FlyLady show you how to clear your mind and clutter at the same time! Available on Amazon.

4- De-stress. Anxiety makes it hard for us to sleep well or think properly. Stress also fuels guilt and depression, which in turn make it difficult for us to manage our emotions. For less stress, learn how to prioritize your schedule. You’ll be able to remember the things that matter most if you don’t plan too many activities in one day.

5- Ask for help. If you think you might forget to show up at somebody’s party, don’t be too embarrassed to ask for a reminder. After all, which is more mortifying: missing an important deadline, or asking

You think you’re getting enough vitamin B12 in your diet? Guess again. Here are some foods you probably never eat that provide enormous amounts of vitamin B12.

Some of the most popular foods that Americans consume have plenty of vitamin B12 (cobalamin); hamburgers, tuna salad, and chicken nuggets are all good sources of vitamin B12. Why, then, is vitamin B12 deficiency still the leading form of malnourishment in the US?

Where’s the B12?

The short answer is that many people are simply not able to absorb vitamin B12 efficiently from diet. For most people with vitamin B12 deficiency, that is the case.

However, another large part of the problem is the fact that most people don’t eat a variety of protein foods, sticking to the basic staples of ground beef, chicken, cheese, and eggs. These all contain moderate amounts of vitamin B12…

…But the richest sources of vitamin B12 occur in animal-based foods that aren’t part of the standard American diet; recipes that our grandparents probably ate, but have since fallen from grace amidst today’s ready-in-15-minutes, nonperishable, kid-friendly cuisine.

What about Vegan Vitamin B12?

Here’s your B12…

Listed below are some not-so-typical culinary dishes that also contain the highest amounts of vitamin B12.  How many of these items do you eat regularly? How many of these dishes have you never tried, not even once?

1- Clams

-500mcg vitamin B12 per serving. Without a doubt, canned clams, liquid included, pack the biggest punch of vitamin B12.

So, when was the last time you’ve been to a clam bake, or ordered clam chowder at a restaurant?

2- Lamb kidneys

-115mcg vitamin B12 per serving. Braised lamb kidneys are next in line after clams for the richest source of vitamin B12, unless you’re willing to try raw lamb liver, which delivers 130mcg of nutritious vitamin B12.

Does McDonald’s offer a Quarter Pounder with Chopped Kidneys on their menu?

3- Fish eggs

-108mcg vitamin B12 per serving. Whitefish caviar, native to Alaska, is our third runner-up for best source of B12 foods.

Spread it on toast, or order it at a sushi bar, but don’t expect your kids to eat it with a spoon.

4- Beef liver

-95mcg vitamin B12 per serving. Finally, something more conventional- beef liver can be found easily at your local butcher or supermarket. To get the most out of this dish, pan-fry slabs of liver with caramelized onions.

5- Moose liver

-92mcg per serving. In the mood for something different? Poached moose liver is #5 on our list of vitamin B12-packed food items.

Don’t live in Alaska? You can order frozen moose liver online…

Your turn!

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

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Benefits and Sources of Vitamin B12, and How to Avoid Deficiency

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Foods highest in Vitamin B12

Image(s) courtesy of Dr Joseph Valks/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

It’s not funny anymore- it’s one thing to trip over a low step every once in a while, but when you keep falling over your own feet, then it’s time to re-examine your health profile. Surprisingly, the solution could be as simple as upping your vitamin B12 levels.

There’s a name for that!

The condition is called dyspraxia, and it’s a neurological disorder that makes it difficult for people to use their motor skills efficiently.  “Motor learning disability” impairs your ability to control arm and leg movements and stay coordinated; simple everyday tasks like carrying a food tray, tying your shoelaces, or walking up a flight of stairs without falling are challenging for people with dyspraxia.

It’s a nerve cell thing

Scientists are certain exactly what causes dyspraxia, but they know that it occurs in the nervous system, specifically in the area of motor neurons, cells that control movement and coordination. What other people may call “clumsiness” is really a result of your neurons trying to connect with other nerve cells while transmitting messages to the brain, but being constantly interrupted.

When there is a breakdown in communication between these nerve cells, your brain has difficulty processing information related to physical coordination, resulting in delayed or improper response.

About 10% have some form of dyspraxia, while only 2% have a severe problem with constantly falling down and sporting injuries.

There’s no cure for developmental dyspraxia, but if diagnosed, you may be prescribed a number of treatments that are supposed to help, such as occupational therapy, speech therapy, and perceptual motor training.

If Vitamin B12 Deficiency Mimics Multiple Sclerosis, How do you tell the Difference?

Guess which vitamin feeds your brain cells?

Vitamin B12 is one of the most fundamental nutrients for neurological performance, as it helps to maintain myelin, a fatty substance which coats your nerve cells, providing a smooth surface for enhanced intercellular communication.

One thing that happens when vitamin B12 (cobalamin) levels are severely low is that your myelin shield becomes thinner, making it more difficult for your nerve cells to function properly.

Untreated, vitamin B12 deficiency can lean to demyelination, a complete breakdown in myelin, which causes many MS-like symptoms, such as painful tingling and numbness in the arms and legs, stiff muscle pain, muscle twitches or spasms, difficulty balancing on one leg, constantly dropping things, and impaired gait.

So, if dyspraxia is not inherited from birth, then it’s possible that frequent falling could be a result of low vitamin B12, as one of the many symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency is poor muscle coordination and damage to the peripheral nerve cells that control your arms and legs.

Balance your B12, Balance your Nerves

It’s important to catch vitamin B12 deficiency while the symptoms are still reversible, before there is any actual damage to the nerve cells.

To treat, many doctors recommend constant supplementation of vitamin B12, in doses of 1,000mcg, to be taken in the form of vitamin B12 injections, sublingual tablets, or other non-dietary methods, until symptoms disappear.

Your turn!

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

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Born with it: Clumsiness and Two Left Feet from Dyspraxia

Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Movement Disorders- How They Relate

Sources:

What Is Dyspraxia? How Is Dyspraxia Treated?

Image courtesy of Pink Sherbet Photography/flickr

After bariatric surgery procedures, such as gastric bypass, it’s important to make sure you’re getting enough vitamin B12 (cobalamin), in order to prevent vitamin B12 deficiency, a common debilitating side effect which can be avoided by adhering to strict vitamin supplementation.

Many people considering weigh loss surgery wrongly assume that their struggles with food choices will be over once they’ve completed the operation and lost the desired amount of weight.

Nothing could be further from the truth! Now, more than ever, it’s important to pay close attention to the nutritional values of the food you eat, in addition to adopting a strict regimen of quality vitamin supplements.

Vitamin B12 deficiency after surgery

Untreated, vitamin B12 deficiency can cause severe, irreversible neurological damage, increased risk for heart attack and stroke, and in rare cases, death.

Unfortunately, many bariatric surgery patients are not sufficiently warned to check their vitamin B12 levels continually following their operation.

This cannot be stressed enough! Even if you include plenty of meat products in your diet, once you have elected for bariatric surgery, you will not be able to get the amount of vitamin B12 that you need without supplementation.

This is because part of the gastric bypass procedure involves removal of the ilium, the bottom-most section of the small intestine, which is responsible for digesting vitamin B12.

For this reason, patients of bariatric surgery have difficulty absorbing vitamin B12 from the foods they eat, such as beef, seafood, and poultry.

Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency

Severe vitamin B12 deficiency is one of the leading complications that can arise following any gastrointestinal surgery, including bariatric surgery.

Untreated, vitamin B12 deficiency can result in osteoporosis, hypertension, neurological disorders, poor immune system functioning, and emotional problems.

Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency may include:

• Excessive constant fatigue
• Depression
• Forgetfulness
• Dizziness
• Painful numbness and tingling in the hands and feet
• Muscle twitches, spasms
• Difficulty controlling arm and leg movements
• Vision problems
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Poor appetite

For more, read B12 Deficiency: Don’t Ignore the Symptoms

Getting your B12

Once you have had gastric bypass surgery, your only alternative in order to prevent vitamin B12 deficiency is to supplement with non-dietary vitamin B12.

This includes vitamin B12 injections, sublingual vitamin B12, and other forms of over-the-counter (OTC) vitamin B12 that do not require oral supplementation.

One drawback of using sublingual vitamin B12 tablets is that you have to be careful not to swallow it; not because swallowing vitamin B12 is dangerous (it isn’t), but because once swallowed, it is rendered useless.

If you’re not able to allow the B12 lozenge to rest under your tongue long enough to dissolve, which may take 15 minutes, then this is probably not a good option for you.

In addition to vitamin B12 shots, other forms of non-oral vitamin B12 are also available online without the need for prescription.

Your turn!

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

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10 Mistakes Gastric Bypass Patients Often Make

Gastric Bypass Surgery Better than Banding…or it it?

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Choosing clothes to wear when you suffer from fibromyalgia can be a real dilemma, especially if you need to dress up for a special occasion. Clothing tags, elastic waists, and zippers are torture for the tactile-sensitive. Here are some great clothing options that will help you fashion a more pain-free wardrobe.

A word about allodynia

There are several types of fibromyalgia pain, and one of them is allodynia, a hypersensitivity to sensations that don’t cause discomfort in others. For fibromyalgia patients, it means that certain temperatures or tactile stimuli cause abnormal, adverse reactions, such as shooting pain, itchy rash, or swelling.

The exact cause of allodynia in fibromyalgia is unknown, but scientists have linked it to the peripheral nervous system, theorizing that dysfunctional over-sensitized nerve cells are triggered easily into producing the pain response.

Back to the clothes

Even if you don’t plan on stepping outdoors, it’s important to choose clothes that make you feel good, inside and out and don’t trigger fibromyalgia pain; this means finding soft, comfortable cotton clothing that fits loosely, doesn’t scratch the skin, and doesn’t have any irritating seams or tags.

Looking “put together” does not mean that you have to commit yourself to wearing tight undergarments, rough, scratchy socks, or stiff fabrics!

Tops

Choose large, loose shirts, unless you’re shopping for a sweater. Thick bulky knits are more liable to irritate the skin and trigger pain zones, despite the extra room.

Have a few boxy button-up shirts on hand for flare-up days.

Always layer clothes, especially during extreme temperatures, to avoid a painful heat rash; you can always add an extra layer if you need to.

Bottoms

Hands-down, most fibromyalgia patients prefer low-rise pants over the kind that pinches the waist painfully. Look for draw-string closure instead of an elastic band. And always give them a good test drive in the store before taking them home. Sit, bend, and twist in the dressing room, and see make sure you have enough room in the seat.

For skirts, choose thin, light fold-over waist jersey cotton skirts in a mid-length style. Or, look for a breezy rayon circle skirt.

Undergarments

Ladies, you don’t need to wear whalebone-edged bras that squeeze your ribs in order to get support and feel dressed. Many manufacturers offer comfort bras that are wireless, seamless, and sport wide shoulder straps that still give a good lift.

Feel the fabric for yourself, and ask for assistance in choosing the right size…even if you think you already know. Sometimes, shoulder pain and itchy rashes occur with fibromyalgia because you’re wearing a too-tight or large-sized bra.

For underwear, stick to breathable 100% cotton, especially during the summertime.

Socks

Some manufacturers make seamless socks for the tactile sensitive fibromyalgia sufferer. For dressier occasions, avoid pantyhose, and opt instead for knee-high nylon socks.

Sometimes, diabetic socks are also a good option during a fibro flare-up.

Your turn!

Do you have any pain-free clothing items that you love?

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

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Best Clothes for Fibromyalgia Pain- 6 Helpful Dressing Tips

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A popular sports supplement, Jack3D, was recently banned in England for potentially lethal side effects. Find out what the killer ingredient is, and which vitamin supplements are safe alternatives for maximum energy, metabolic integrity, and sports performance.

A six-pack to die for

Jack3d, by USP Labs, claims to improve your workout by giving you more stamina, boosting your metabolism, and yielding quicker bodybuilding results.

But watch out for some deadly side effects that are linked with the popular sports supplement, which contains a harmful stimulant known as DMAA (dimethylamylamine).

UK watchdog, MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) claims that the hazardous sports supplement constricts your arteries and raises your heart rate, causing hypertension and increasing your risk for heart attack and stroke.

Lethal side effects

Side effects attributed to the energy drink include:

• High blood pressure
• Heart palpitations
• Shortness of breath
• Headaches
• Vomiting
• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Death

Lawmakers get busy

The UK is the first to issue a nationwide ban against the makers of Jack3d, but the US is following suit, as a New York lawmaker has already demanded millions of dollars in a class action lawsuit.

The FDA is also conducting its own investigation on the possibly toxic sports supplement.

Safe, healthy energy

Looking to boost stamina, maintain a healthy metabolism, and build muscle? Look no further than the natural vitamins and minerals that are intrinsically formulated to provide maximum health benefits and prevent flagging energy caused by common vitamin deficiencies.

Your B vitamins are among most essential nutrients for optimized sports performance, and should be included as part of your workout supplementation.

For Energy, Choose Vitamin B12 over Monster Drinks

Thiamine (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), niacin (vitamin B3), pyridoxine (vitamin B6), and cobalamin (vitamin B12) all work together to

• Maintain DNA synthesis
• Convert fatty acids and glucose into energy
• Sustain good muscle coordination
• Ensure red blood cell production for oxygen
• Build protein for strong muscles

For a list of more natural sports supplements, read this- Boost Athletic Performance, Part 2- 12 Vitamins and Minerals

Check your B12 levels!

Out of all the B vitamins, cobalamin, vitamin B12 is the one that’s hardest to maintain. That’s because there are many factors that impair your ability to absorb vitamin B12 from the foods you eat and incorporate it into your bloodstream.

Things like autoimmune disorders, gastric bypass surgery, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), diabetes, migraines, old age, and alcoholism are all strong risk factors for vitamin B12 deficiency.

To make sure you’re getting the most from your workout, supplement with extra vitamin B12 on a weekly basis.

Win Free B12 Patches!

Now through February 10, 2013, enter to win a free month’s supply of the B12 Patch! No obligations to enter, no purchase necessary. Submit your entry on our Facebook page.

Your turn!

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

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Will Vitamin B12 Boost Energy if I don’t have B12 Deficiency? YES!

Boost Energy Now! 20 Practical Tips for Fighting Fatigue

Sources:

Jack3d sports supplement banned in Britain over fears it may have lethal side-effects

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Memory loss doesn’t always mean the D-word: dementia. Cognitive decline can also affect the young. If you’ve been suffering from frequent forgetfulness, brain fog, or disorientation, then it could signify an underlying condition that requires medical attention.

So you’ve been having a hard time remember things, like what you had for breakfast this morning, how much your monthly cable bill is, or your bank’s PIN.  If you’re young or at least middle-aged, and it seems like you’ve been struggling with memory loss for several months or years, then it’s not your imagination, and you’re not alone.

Because memory loss isn’t just for the elderly; there are many causes for forgetfulness in young people under the age of 65, ranging from fatigue and medication usage to vitamin B12 deficiency and chronic illness.

25 Medications that Cause Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Is it memory loss?

It’s one thing to forget your laundry at the dry-cleaning…but if it seems like you’re constantly losing your train of thought, forgetting people’s names, or having a hard time remembering numbers, and if these symptoms are unusual, then it’s a good idea to have it checked out, even if you think you’re too young for memory loss.

Symptoms of cognitive decline, including memory loss, include:

• Difficulty remembering conversations
• Forgetting names and faces
• Losing things constantly
• Brain fog, disorientation
• Confusion about time, dates
• Problems with vocabulary
• Poor judgment
• Difficulty making decisions
• Mood changes
• Disinterest in things you used to enjoy doing
• Trouble learning new tasks
• Decline in math skills
• Problem remembering numbers, amounts

7 Reasons You Have Brain Fog…And What to do About It

Causes of memory loss in the young

As mentioned, dementia isn’t the only cause of severe memory loss that requires treatment. You may be suffering from a vitamin deficiency, you may need to get more rest, or you may be getting too much rest…the list goes on.

This does not constitute medical advice- you should see your doctor immediately and discuss your options.

Here is a list of common causes of non-dementia memory loss:

• Vitamin B12 deficiency, either due to autoimmune disorder, genetic predisposition, vegan dieting, gastric bypass, medication usage, or gastrointestinal disorders
• Cardiovascular illness
• Metabolic Syndrome
• Organ dysfunction (kidney, liver)
• Depression
• Chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia (closely related)
• Extreme stress
• Medication side effect, including antidepressants, statins, or painkillers

Your turn!

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Enter to win a free iPad!

Through February 10, 2013, enter the B12 Patch  iPad 2 Giveaway! Locate the “Vote and Win” tab at the top left-hand corner of our blog page, or submit your entry at the B12 Patch Facebook iPad Giveaway page.

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Boost Brain Health with B12

Prevent Dementia: 12 Natural Vitamins and Herbs

Sources:

The Causes of Memory Loss

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Severe vitamin B12 deficiency can take years to develop; if you’ve been diagnosed with borderline pernicious anemia, then there’s still time for you to prevent permanent nerve damage and boost healthy red blood cells…

B12 deficiency is pernicious and sinister

According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 3.2% of middle-aged individuals have dangerously low levels of vitamin B12, resulting in symptoms such as constant fatigue, memory loss, depression, and painful numbness and tingling in the extremities.

Additionally, a whopping 20% of people from the same age group have borderline pernicious anemia, meaning that their vitamin B12 levels are steadily plummeting, although none of the characteristic symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency have manifested themselves…yet.

Untreated, borderline pernicious anemia, or subclinical vitamin B12 deficiency, can quickly escalate into full-blown clinical pernicious anemia, causing more than just a few debilitating symptoms.

Long-term pernicious anemia can lead to irreversible nerve damage, blood diseases, an increased risk for heart attack or stroke, and in worst-case scenarios, death.

Risk factors

Pernicious anemia is not exactly a disease, but rather a condition that can occur as a result of an underlying illness or other risk factors.

Risk factors for pernicious anemia or any other forms of vitamin B12 deficiency include:

• Gastrointestinal disease (Crohn’s disease, gastritis, stomach ulcers)
• Family history for pernicious anemia
• Family history for autoimmune disorders
• Fibromyalgia
• Migraines
• Gastric bypass surgery
• Removal of ilium
• Alcoholism
• Old age
• Strict vegan dieting

For more, read Seven Stages of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

What are the symptoms of borderline pernicious anemia?

Unfortunately, there are rarely any apparent symptoms when vitamin B12 deficiency is still at the subclinical stage.

Sometimes, a blood test can confirm if vitamin B12 levels are noticeably low, but not always. Most vitamin B12 blood screenings test for total vitamin B12 molecules in your entire body, without distinguishing between “active B12” and dormant B12 which sits in your liver.

If you fall into any of the risk factors for even borderline pernicious anemia, then you should supplement with extra vitamin B12, even if you haven’t noticed any of the telltale symptoms, in order to prevent depletion.

Your turn!

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Enter to win a free iPad!

Through February 10, 2013, enter the B12 Patch  iPad 2 Giveaway! Locate the “Vote and Win” tab at the top left-hand corner of our blog page, or submit your entry at the B12 Patch Facebook iPad Giveaway page.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Like this? Read more:

6 Degrees of Vitamin B12- B12 Deficiency and Autoimmune Disease

Pernicious Anemia and B12 Deficiency- Historically Fatal, Still Formidable

Sources:

Vitamin B12 deficiency can be sneaky, harmful

Natural History and Prevalence of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Why Vitamin B12 Deficiency should be on your Radar Screen

Image courtesy of Thirteen Of Clubs/flickr

Fatigue, memory loss, and chronic pain– these symptoms could signify vitamin B12 deficiency, or they could indicate a separate underlying condition that requires treatment beyond vitamin B12 supplementation. Neurosarcoidosis is one such illness that produces symptoms strikingly similar severe nerve damage from vitamin B12 deficiency.

Cover your bases

You’ve been taking your vitamin B12 supplements religiously, going beyond what the doctors recommend, and still, you feel constantly tired, disoriented, and physically out-of-whack. Do you need even more B12, or is there another explanation for persistent symptoms?

…Perhaps it’s time to discuss with your doctor about other illnesses that sometimes mimic the vitamin B12 deficiency.

Here’s another scenario- Say you’ve been diagnosed with depression, lupus, or neurosarcoidosis, and after months of treatment you still haven’t seen a significant reversal of symptoms. Is it possible that you’re doctor’s missing something?

…Could the solution be as simple as setting yourself up with regulated weekly doses of vitamin B12?

In either case, you may need to be your own health advocate, as many doctors misdiagnose or fail to recognize conditions that are sometimes comorbid with or similar to vitamin B12 deficiency.

Neurosarcoidosis

When sarcoidosis spreads inflammation to the brain and nervous system, neurosarcoidosis can produce symptoms of nerve damage very similar to those experienced by patients of pernicious anemia or other types of vitamin B12 deficiency.

The cause of sarcoidosis is unknown, but scientists speculate that it may result from an immune system dysfunction or genetic disorder.

Symptoms of neurosarcoidosis mimicking vitamin B12 deficiency include:

• Confusion
• Brain fog
• Chronic fatigue
• Memory loss
• Dizziness
• Vision problems
• Altered sense of taste
• Moodiness
• Numbness in the arms and legs
• Impaired ability to control arms and legs

Tests and treatment

To test, a lumbar puncture, MRI or nerve biopsy can confirm neurosarcoidosis.

There is no cure, but treatment for symptoms may involve corticosteroids, hormone replacement, antidepressants, or physical therapy.

Because of the correlation between this illness and immune system functioning, it’s highly advisable to supplement with vitamin B12, as the risk factor for developing vitamin B12 malabsorption increases with any autoimmune disorder.

Your turn!

Are you currently on a vitamin B12 regimen for neurosarcoidosis, or another form of sarcoidosis?

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Like this? Read more:

Top Ten Signs of a Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Is Vitamin B12 Deficiency a Real Illness?

Diagnosing Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Pernicious Anemia: Top 10 Tests

Sources:

Neurosarcoidosis

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Autoimmune pernicious anemia is a disabling condition which causes severe damage to the nervous system. Historically, vitamin B12 deficiency from pernicious anemia was fatal. Today, according to health reports, the mortality rates linked with autoimmune diseases such as pernicious anemia are not as low as you may think.

Scientists study mortality rates

In an English study which focused on mortality rates linked with autoimmune diseases, including pernicious anemia, scientists found that females are more likely to suffer from autoimmune disorders, and that a small percentage of middle-aged women may die as a result of their dysfunctional immune response.

The study was conducted as a means of finding out how many deaths are either caused by an underlying immune system breakdown, or autoimmune disease as a contributing factor.

Because autoimmune illnesses such as pernicious anemia are not treated as pathogenic mechanisms by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), their impact on mortality rates are concealed from the public.

“However, autoimmune disorders are neglected in the ICD classification, because they are listed for the most part individually under separate organ systems. The combined burden of mortality from autoimmune disorders is therefore hidden.” (American Journal of Public Health)

For example, death from a ruptured stomach lining would be classified under organ system, with no indication of whether underlying conditions such as celiac disease, IBD, or pernicious anemia contributed heavily to the cause of death.

Autoimmune pernicious anemia

Researchers included 24 autoimmune diseases in their investigation, including:

• Pernicious anemia
• Addison’s disease
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Multiple sclerosis
• Sjögren’s syndrome
• Celiac disease
• Graves’ disease

Is Vitamin B12 Deficiency an Autoimmune Disorder? Yup.

Results and conclusions

“Autoimmune diseases constitute a leading cause of death among young and middle-aged women. This fact is obscured by current methods used to identify leading causes.” (American Journal of Public Health)

Compared with the oft-cited leading causes of death for women in the US, scientists were able to conclude that immune system dysfunction far surpassed the 10^th leading cause of death for women under 65, and may also have contributed to higher mortality rates in women ages 15 and over than the “official” eight leading cause of death for such an age group.

• The scientists found that 10 women between the ages of 55 and 74 died with autoimmune pernicious anemia as a contributing factor.
• Two young girls under the age of 34 also died partially as a result of pernicious anemia.
• All in all, 121 female deaths were linked with the autoimmune form of pernicious anemia.
• Total deaths associated with autoimmune disorders numbered 9271.

Pernicious anaemia patients “suffering needlessly”

Autoimmune diseases: a leading cause of death among young and middle-aged women in the United States

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