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Diagnosing Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Pernicious Anemia: Top 10 Tests

Published on: February 27, 2012 4:57 am

If you feel fatigued, and suspect B12 deficiency, then see your doctor immediately. Before diagnosing vitamin B12 deficiency or pernicious anemia, your doctor will run a vitamin B12 blood test for vitamin B12 levels in your blood, in addition to measuring your red blood cells and homocysteine levels. Here are ten tests still used today to diagnose vitamin B12 and pernicious anemia.

Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms:

Vitamin B12 deficiency can be difficult to catch, because it masks itself as many other conditions. Sometimes, B12 deficiency occurs as a secondary side effect of a primary illness like fibromyalgia, Crohn’s disease, or celiac disease. Other times, vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms are overlooked because of underlying conditions such as depression or diabetes.

The most common symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency and pernicious anemia are:

Constant fatigue that is not relieved by sleep and does not result from overexertion
Depression, long-term
Anxiety
Aggressive behavior that is unusual
Paranoia
Difficulty focusing or paying attention
Memory loss
Frequent forgetfulness
“Brain fog”
Forgetting words on “tip of tongue”
Forgetting numerical codes like phone numbers or PINs
Hallucinations
Painful tingling and numbness in extremities (hands, feet, arms, and legs)
“Pins and needles”
Painful tingling or burning sensation in tongue and mouth
Red, swollen tongue
Altered taste perception
Decreased balance and muscular coordination
Frequent stumbling and dropping things
Diarrhea
Sleep difficulties

What are the Symptoms of Pernicious Anemia- B12 deficiency?

10 Tests that diagnose vitamin B12 deficiency and pernicious anemia

1) Serum vitamin B12 level: First, your physician will request a vitamin B12 blood test to determine if your vitamin B12 blood (cobalamin) levels are indeed low. Usually, if test results are positive, then vitamin B12 supplementation begins immediately.

The vitamin B12 blood screening is the most important test for diagnosing vitamin B12 deficiency, and if you respond well to vitamin B12 supplements, then further testing is not usually required.

However, if your doctor suspects pernicious anemia, then he might order one or more of the following additional tests:

2) Complete blood count (CBC): A blood test to screen the amount of red and white blood cells. With pernicious anemia, your red blood cells become engorged and misshapen, resulting in low distribution of red blood cells throughout your body.

3) Serum folate level: Many people who have vitamin B12 deficiency also are deficient in the B vitamin folate.

4) Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH): Your doctor might order a blood test measuring LDH levels.

5) Reticulocyte count: This test looks for reticulocytes (slightly immature red blood cells).

6) Homocysteine test: High homocysteine levels in your blood may indicate vitamin B12 deficiency, folate deficiency, or vitamin B6 deficiency.

7) Gastrin level: a test measuring the amount of the hormone gastrin in your blood may help doctors diagnose the cause of vitamin B12 deficiency.

8) Methylmalonic acid (MMA) test– With vitamin B12 deficiency, methylmalonic acid levels go up. The MMA test provides more proof of the existence of vitamin B12 deficiency.

9) Intrinsic factor antibody test: Pernicious anemia is an autoimmune disorder in which sufferers are not able to product intrinsic factor, a necessary hormone for absorbing vitamin B12. Before diagnosing pernicious anemia, your doctor has to confirm the existence of an antibody in your system that inhibits intrinsic factor production, thereby causing vitamin B12 deficiency.

10) Bone marrow staining: Sometimes, your physician might require a bone marrow biopsy in order to determine other potential causes of pernicious anemia or general red blood cell disorders.

Do you have Franken-DNA from Pernicious Anemia?

What about the Schilling test for vitamin B12 deficiency?

In the past, doctors have used the Schilling test to diagnose vitamin B12 deficiency. The Schilling test involves swallowing harmless, radioactive doses of vitamin B12 and tracking its progress in your body. However, because it involves fasting and the use of low-dose radiation, and because it may cause side effects like nausea, the Schilling test is rarely used.

Schilling test—a test in which a harmless amount of radiation is used to assess whether a vitamin B12 deficiency exists (rarely used)

Vitamin B12 supplementation

Once diagnosed with vitamin B12 deficiency, your doctor will likely prescribe vitamin B12 shots, beginning with 1000 mcg of vitamin B12 per week.

These B12 shots are only available upon prescription.

After the first month, B12 shots may be decreased to once per month, upon doctor’s orders.
If B12 deficiency symptoms (fatigue, muscular pain, and brain fog) continue despite vitamin B12 injections, you may supplement with additional over-the-counter (OTC) vitamin B12.
Once your vitamin B12 levels are normal, your doctor will likely stop vitamin B12 shots in favor of OTC vitamin B12.
Sublingual vitamin B12 are an OTC option that may require supplementation two or three times per day. Side effects may include unpleasant taste and burning, tingling sensation on the tongue.
Note: Sublingual vitamin B12 must be dissolved under the tongue as indicated; if they are chewed or swallowed, then vitamin B12 will not be absorbed.

Please tell us…

Aside from taking the blood test for vitamin B12, have you received any of the other tests mentioned?
Please share your experience with vitamin B12 supplementation.
We welcome all comments, questions, or suggestions!

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What about Vegan Vitamin B12?

Published on: February 23, 2012 5:07 am

The richest food sources of vitamin B12 come from meat, fish, and milk sources. Some vegan vitamin B12 sources are available, but for maximum vitamin B12 benefits, you would have to eat a lot of tofu to get close to 1000 mcg of vitamin B12 per week. How can you avoid vitamin B12 deficiency on a vegan diet?

Are you getting enough vitamin B12?

The RDA for vitamin B12 is minimal- only a few mcg of B12 per day. However, according to various scientific studies, people who receive doses upwards of 1000 mcg of vitamin B12 per week reported experiencing increased stamina, mental focus, and feelings of wellbeing.

Non-vegan sources of vitamin B12:

Clams: One 3-ounce serving of cooked clams contains 84.1 mcg of vitamin B12.

Liver: After clams, liver is the richest source of vitamin B12. A 3-ounce serving of cooked lamb liver contains a whopping 72.8 mcg of vitamin B12.

Fish eggs: A 3-ounce serving of whitefish caviar provides 56.4 mcg of vitamin B12.

Mackerel: Mackerel has 19 mcg of vitamin B12 per 100 grams.

Vegan sources of vitamin B12:

Soymilk: An 8-ounce cup of soymilk provides a mere 2 mcg of vitamin B12, give or take.

Tofu: A typical serving of tofu provides 1.86 mcg of vitamin B12.

Marmite: Yeast spreads contain 0.5 mcg of vitamin B12 per 100 grams, or 0.03 per teaspoon.

Are you at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency?

There are many ways to get vitamin B12 deficiency, but they generally boil down to this:

Either you don’t eat enough foods that have vitamin B12, or you eat plenty of fish and meat, but you’re not digesting the B12.

On Becoming Vegan: Avoiding Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Others

Reasons for not digesting vitamin B12

If your body is unable to digest vitamin B12 naturally from food, then you are at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency, even if you eat plenty of clams.

Your only option is to supplement with vitamin B12 for life.

Factors that inhibit vitamin B12 absorption include:

Autoimmune disorder (Crohn’s disease, fibromyalgia, celiac disease)
Lack of intrinsic factor (a hormone necessary for digesting vitamin B12)
Drug interaction (metformin, PPIs)
Gastrointestinal surgery (gastric bypass)
Alcoholism
Old age

Getting extra vitamin B12

If you don’t have B12 deficiency, but you want to boost stamina, maintain a healthy weight, or enhance cognitive functioning by increasing vitamin B12 levels, then your choices are:

Become a seafood lover, or
Supplement with vitamin B12 for life.

Which B12 supplements are available?

There are different kinds of B12 vitamins, some of which require a doctor’s prescription.

Vitamin B12 shots: If diagnosed with vitamin B12 deficiency or pernicious anemia, then your doctor might prescribe 1000 mcg of vitamin B12 injections per week, or as needed. A prescription is required, and many patients find that their fatigue symptoms return before the next scheduled vitamin B12 shot.
Sublingual vitamin B12: Vitamin B12 tablets that dissolve under the tongue are available with or without prescription. Vitamin B12 pills are not efficient ways to access vitamin B12, and they often require you to take 3 doses throughout the day.
Side effects of sublingual vitamin B12 may include burning sensations on tongue and unpleasant taste.

Please tell us…

How do you get your vitamin B12- from supplements in pill form, vitamin B12 shots, or otherwise?

We’d love to hear from you- please feel free to leave your comments!

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Eating 1000 mcg of Vitamin B12 foods: How many Clams is that?

Published on: February 22, 2012 4:59 am

Vitamin B12 increases stamina, restores mental alertness, and promotes healthy muscle tone. To maximize on the benefits of vitamin B12, you need to eat plenty foods that have vitamin B12 every day, preferably totaling 1000 mcg of vitamin B12 per week.

Foods that are rich in B12 include meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and milk. But what if you choose to follow a vegetarian or vegan diet? Are there any natural vegan sources of vitamin B12?

Judge for yourself -see our no-nonsense list of foods that provide maximum vitamin B12.

How much vitamin B12 do I need?

According to the current RDA, you only need one or two mcg of vitamin B12. However, that amount doesn’t suffice for people with vitamin B12 deficiency, or people who need extra B12 for energy, sports endurance, or mental focus.

To avoid getting B12 deficiency, or just to boost stamina and promote well-being, many scientists recommend taking between 1000 mcg -3000 mcg of vitamin B12 per week. (Read Will Vitamin B12 Boost Energy if I don’t have B12 Deficiency? YES!)

Which foods have the most vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 naturally occurs in protein foods like beef, chicken, fish, shellfish, eggs, and dairy products. If you follow a diet that excludes meat, fish, and milk, such as a vegan diet, then you may opt for plant-based foods that are infused with vitamin B12. To get enough B12 to avoid deficiency, you might need to supplement with extra vitamin B12 as well.

How many clams do I have to eat?

Here is the nutritional data for foods that are rich in vitamin B12, starting with the highest- clams.

Clams

One 3-ounce serving of cooked clams contains 84.1 mcg of vitamin B12. To get to your weekly dose, you would have to eat 11 servings of cooked clams each week. Hope you’ve got recipes!

Liver

After clams, liver is the richest source of vitamin B12. A 3-ounce serving of cooked lamb liver contains a whopping 72.8 mcg of vitamin B12. You would have to eat nearly 14 servings of liver pate each week, or 2 servings per day, to get the most vitamin B12 for your money. Want onions with that?

Fish eggs

Caviar is usually savored in small doses, but to get 1000 mcg of vitamin B12 from this luxurious treat, you would need to eat 17 3-ounce servings of whitefish eggs each week. Don’t forget the crackers.

Octopus

In some countries like Hawaii and Japan, octopus is a common staple, much like burgers and fries in the US. Three ounces of cooked octopus provides about 30 mcg of vitamin B12. To reach 1000 mcg, you would need to eat 33 helpings of cooked octopus. (Unless you prefer your octopus raw, in which case you would need to eat about 58 servings of octopus sushi each week.)

Mackerel

Among the finned creatures of the sea, mackerel is the fish that has the most vitamin B12, at 19 mcg per 100 grams. That’s 52 weekly servings of fish per week. (Can you say Holy Mackerel?)

Beef

Let’s face it- most of us don’t eat a lot of seafood or beef liver. Most of your dietary stores of vitamin B12 are probably going to come from good old-fashioned beef. (It’s what’s for dinner.)

Choose lean cuts of beef- not only are they healthier for your heart, but they also contain the richest amounts of vitamin B12 on the butcher aisle. Lean beef chuck shoulder contains 5.25 mcg of vitamin B12 per 3-ounce serving. To get even close to 1000 mcg of vitamin B12, you would need to eat over 80 beefsteaks per week. Hope you like chewing!

One double-cheeseburger contains 2.1 mcg of vitamin B12.

One cup of low-fat milk has 1.2 mcg of vitamin B12.

A serving of low-fat yogurt has 1.1 mcg of vitamin B12.

A beef taco has 0.9 mcg of vitamin B12.

One hard-boiled egg contains 0.6 mcg of vitamin B12.

Coming next: What about vegan vitamin B12?

Please tell us…

How do you get your vitamin B12- from supplements in pill form, vitamin B12 shots, or otherwise?

We’d love to hear from you- please feel free to leave your comments!

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Can Vitamin B12 Deficiency Cause Brain Lesions?

Published on: February 21, 2012 4:07 am

B12 deficiency makes you feel tired and unfocused, as if your brain is melting. It’s not your imagination- brain lesions from vitamin B12 deficiency, as seen through MRIs, are visible proof of the neurological damage caused when low vitamin B12 (cobalamin) levels turn into pernicious anemia.

Vitamin B12 and the Myelin Sheath

One of the many benefits of vitamin B12 includes its ability to protect your nerve cells from harm. Myelin is a fatty substance that surrounds your brain and spinal cord nerves, forming a shield, or sheath, that allows neurons to send nerve impulse speedily and efficiently without exposing themselves to outside dangers. Vitamin B12 helps your body maintain your myelin sheath, thus ensuring continuous communication among your many nerve fibers.

With vitamin B12 deficiency, demyelination (the breaking down of myelin) occurs, resulting in slower nervous impulses and eventual neurological damage. Besides vitamin B12 deficiency, another illness that causes demyelination is multiple sclerosis (MS). Also read: Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Movement Disorders- How They Relate

Symptoms of demyelination

Some vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms that indicate nerve damage include:

Painful tingling and numbness in hands and feet
Difficulty walking
Poor muscular control
Muscular feebleness
Shooting pains
Frequent clumsiness
Poor bladder control
Poor vision
Chronic fatigue

Brain lesions caused by vitamin B12 deficiency

Several scientific studies have proven that the appearance of “cerebral white-matter lesions” in an MRI may indicate nerve damage caused by vitamin B12 deficiency.

In a 2009 study on plasma vitamin B12 and brain lesions, scientists attributed elevated homocysteine levels (a side effect of vitamin B12 deficiency) to a high correlation of white-matter brain lesions, noting a steady increase of severe brain lesions with declining levels of vitamin B12 in the blood.

In a separate report on encephalomyelopathy due to vitamin B12 deficiency, a 39-year-old man who had pernicious anemia and vitamin B12 deficiency was admitted to hospital after suffering seizures, partial paralysis, vision problems, gait ataxia, and numbness in his extremities (legs, feet, arms, and hands). Anti-epilepsy drugs reduced some of the symptoms, but not all.

Scientists then discovered multiple brain lesions in his MRI, and prescribed vitamin B12 supplements.

Supplementation of vitamin B12 provided the significant results that the scientists were expecting.

Scientists concluded that vitamin B12 deficiency should be considered as a cause of seizures, in addition to epilepsy.

Please tell us…

Do you suffer from weak muscles, frequent numbness, fatigue, and chronic pain?
Have you had your B12 levels checked?
Do you currently receive vitamin B12 shots, but wish you still had more energy?

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Four Reasons to check your Vitamin B12 Levels with Crohn’s Disease

Published on: February 20, 2012 4:57 am

If you suffer from Crohn’s disease, then check your vitamin B12 levels often. One side effect of Crohn’s is pernicious anemia from vitamin B12 deficiency, in addition to Crohn’s symptoms like stomach cramping, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Not surprisingly, there are several reasons why vitamin B12 deficiency occurs with Crohn’s disease. Here are the four top reasons to check your vitamin B12 levels if you suffer from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

1- Symptoms of Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease, sometimes called ileitis, is an illness of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that damages the bottommost part of the small intestinal, the terminal ileum. Symptoms of Crohn’s disease include chronic diarrhea caused by swelling of the small intestine, excruciating stomach cramps caused by intestinal strictures, fever, weight loss, and rectal bleeding.

The ileum is an important part of your digestive system for vitamin B12 absorption– without it, your body would be unable to extract vitamin B12 (cobalamin) and dispense it into your blood supply.

If Crohn’s disease has caused irreparable inflammation of your terminal ileum, you are at high risk for symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency.

Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms include:

Chronic fatigue
Depression
Anxiety
Short-term memory loss
Difficulty concentrating
Unclear thinking, or “brain fog”
Muscular twitching
Painful tingling and numbness in hands and feet
Sore, red tongue
Burning mouth sensations
Frequent clumsiness and stumbling

Once vitamin B12 deficiency is diagnosed, you may choose to take vitamin B12 shots, which are only available upon prescription.

2- Crohn’s disease medications

Whenever digestive disorders are present, vitamin B12 levels are low. Certain medicines used to treat Crohn’s disease may cause symptoms that typically interfere with vitamin B12 absorption, such as diarrhea, vomiting, and acid reflux.

These medications often include anti-inflammatory drugs such as mesalamine medicines and immune system suppressors, such as Methotrexate (Rheumatrex).

Crohn’s- 9 Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD) Myths to Ignore

Only vitamin B12 supplements that bypass the digestive system can provide the benefits of vitamin B12.

Left untreated, pernicious anemia from B12 deficiency can cause neurological damage, osteoporosis, and in extreme cases, death.

3- Gastrointestinal (GI) surgery

Any GI surgery that involves removal or reduction of the ileum results in vitamin B12 deficiency. In Crohn’s disease, resection surgeries such as ileostomy necessitate lifelong supplementation of prescribed vitamin B12 shots.

Similarly, gastric bypass patients can no longer digest vitamin B12 in the stomach, and must get vitamin B12 injections indefinitely.

Sometimes, even routine vitamin B12 shots don’t provide full relief from B12 deficiency symptoms like fatigue, depression, nerve pain, and brain fog.

In such cases, many opt for nonprescription OTC vitamin B12 for extra energy and mental stamina between vitamin B12 jabs.

4- Crohn’s and diet

People suffering from IBD (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis) are required to follow restrictive diets excluding many foods that may irritate the digestive system. Fruits and vegetables that are uncooked may be red flag items, in addition to food sources of vitamin B12, such as meat, poultry, fish, milk, and eggs.

Ten Foods to avoid if you have Inflammatory Bowel Disorder

Additionally, stomachaches, nausea, and diarrhea make it hard for Crohn’s disease sufferers to eat nutritious, filling meals. As a result, people with Crohn’s often suffer from excess weight loss and malnourishment.

One of the leading types of malnourishment today is pernicious anemia from vitamin B12 deficiency.

Besides Crohn’s disease patients, other people at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency are:

People who lack intrinsic factor (IF)
Diabetics on metformin
GERD patients using protein pump inhibitors (PPIs)
Patients with secondary gastrointestinal symptoms, such as fibromyalgia, celiac disease, autism, or migraine sufferers
Gastric bypass patients
Elderly individuals
Alcoholics
Vegans

Please tell us…

Are you a Crohn’s disease patient? If so, what vitamin B12 supplements do you use?

Please tell us if you have found this article helpful and informative. As always, we welcome your comments!

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

Published on: February 17, 2012 3:11 am

If you have vitamin B12 deficiency, then it’s crucial that you take vitamin B12 for stamina, mental alertness, athletic performance, and minor pain relief. Untreated, B12 deficiency can cause nerve damage, fatigue, decreased energy, memory loss, depression, and anxiety.

But what if you don’t have B12 deficiency? According to many cited studies, the benefits of vitamin B12 in boosting energy and sports performance to people who don’t have vitamin B12 deficiency are still abundant.

Why you need vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) performs many important, necessary biochemical functions in your body…

Vitamin B12 aids in DNA synthesis, so that your red blood cells develop normally. Without vitamin B12, your red blood cells become deformed, and are unable to leave your bone marrow, and stay there, resulting in insufficient oxygen throughout your body and causing chronic fatigue and low energy.
Vitamin B12 protects your nerves by helping to maintain your myelin sheathe, which insulates each nerve cell. Without B12, your nerve cells would be exposed and vulnerable, resulting in severe neurological damage such as peripheral neuropathy.
Vitamin B12 is used to convert proteins and carbohydrates into energy. Without sufficient vitamin B12, you experience symptoms like fatigue, attention problems, muscular feebleness, irritability, and brain fog.
Vitamin B12 helps your body repair cells. Researchers who studied athletic performance with vitamin B12 deficiency noticed a high correlation of poor energy levels, decreased sports performance, torn muscles, and inability to build proper muscle tone. But after vitamin B12 supplementation, scientists noticed increased stamina, improved muscle tone, and restored athletic abilities.

Vitamin B12- the energy vitamin

In a famous study focusing on the use of high-dose vitamin B12 in the cyanocobalamin form for sustaining energy levels, scientists found that supplementing with 2,500-5,000 mcg of vitamin B12 every few days (far exceeding the RDA for vitamin B12) resulted in 50%-80% increase in stamina, mental alertness, and general feelings of wellbeing after only a few weeks.

5-Hour Energy Drinks with Vitamin B12- What’s the Catch?

Vitamin B12 feels good

In a double-blind crossover study focusing on vitamin B12 for treating tiredness, people who had low energy but did not suffer from vitamin B12 deficiency or chronic fatigue syndrome were given 5,000 mcg of vitamin B12 or a placebo two times per day for two weeks.

While the placebo had no effect, tired individuals who received the vitamin B12 injections noticed a significant increase in energy, mental focus, and improved mood.

Similarly, a separate study on people with normal vitamin B12 levels found that regular supplementation of high-dose vitamin B12 resulted in significantly better mood, increased energy, and improved cognitive functioning, versus the placebo, which had no effect on mood or energy.

In this study, doses varied from 3,000 mcg of vitamin B12four times per week to 9,000 mcg of vitamin B12 per day.

How much vitamin B12 do I need?

The USRDA for vitamin B12 for healthy individuals ranges from .4 mcg –2.8 mcg of vitamin B12. However, that’s not nearly enough to avoid vitamin B12 deficiency, the standard prescribed vitamin B12 shot amounting to 1000 mcg per week. And that’s just to prevent neurological damage and cognitive impairments.

To maintain healthy energy levels with vitamin B12 (even if you’re not deficient) you might need to take anywhere upwards of 3,000 mcg of B12, several times a week. Since there is no upper limit established for vitamin B12 supplementation, there’s no danger of overdosing on B12.

Please tell us…

Are you a bodybuilder who uses vitamin B12 shots for increased energy and muscle mass?

Do you suffer from low energy and chronic fatigue, though you haven’t tested positively for vitamin B12 deficiency?

We welcome your comments!

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I have Fibromyalgia…Which Supplements should I take?

Published on: February 16, 2012 4:27 am

Fibromyalgia is an autoimmune disorder that causes chronic pain, fatigue, and gastrointestinal problems. People with fibromyalgia symptoms experience excruciating muscular soreness in the absence of visible inflammation. In addition to taking prescribed medications for fibromyalgia, you should also include natural supplements for optimal health.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)

If your body had a battery, Vitamin B1 would be the juice that keeps you ticking. Vitamin B1 helps your body manufacture adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, an essential molecule that gives your body the energy it needs to keep your heart pumping and your lungs breathing.

Dose: For fibromyalgia, Crohn’s disease and folate deficiency, take at least 200 mg of thiamin per day for optimum health.

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)

Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that is only found in protein foods like meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and cheese. Your body needs vitamin B12 for red blood cell circulation, nervous system maintenance, DNA synthesis, healthy cognitive functioning, and energy production.

If you have fibromyalgia, then you need to watch for vitamin B12 deficiency, since gastrointestinal disorder symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting that are common with fibromyalgia, and can interfere with vitamin B12 absorption.

Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are constant fatigue, depression, confused thinking, painful tingling-numbness in the hands and feet, sleeplessness, frequent clumsiness and stumbling, and sore, burning tongue.

Dose: For fibromyalgia and vitamin B12 deficiency, 1000 mcg of non-dietary vitamin B12 supplements per week provide optimal health.

Also read: Pernicious Anemia and B12 Deficiency- Historically Fatal, Still Formidable

Magnesium

Like vitamin B1, magnesium is another nutrient that helps your body produce ATP for energy. Magnesium aids in muscle relaxation and keeps calcium from entering the blood supply.

Magnesium is highly recommended to relax muscular tension in people with fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, and PMS.

Dose: Take 600 mg daily for optimum health.

Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol)

Your body needs two forms of vitamin D to survive- Vitamin D2, which is manufactured by plants, and vitamin D3, which your skin produces upon exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D aids in calcium absorption for building strong healthy bones and retaining bone mass.

Dose: For fibromyalgia and other autoimmune diseases, take 1,000 IU per day for optimum health.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)

DHA occurs naturally in fatty fish, and is essential for healthy brain development in infants and cognitive functioning in adults. DHA is also used successfully to life the mood and increase mental clarity in people who suffer “brain fog,” as evidenced by this study on Health benefits of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Dose: For fibromyalgia, depression, rheumatoid arthritis, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), take 900 mg per day for optimum health.

D-ribose

D-ribose is a sugar that your body produces. For people who suffer from fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, taking extra D-ribose supplementation is helpful for boosting energy and building strong muscles. D-ribose is also taken for improving endurance levels for sports and for muscular flexibility after strenuous workouts or with symptoms of fibromyalgia. Additionally, D-ribose increases muscular strength for people with heart disease.

Dose: For fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and coronary artery disease, take 500 mg three times per day for optimum health.

S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe)

Pronounces samm-ee, SAMe is a compound that your body produces for various essential functions, including maintaining your immune system and accessing important brain chemicals like serotonin, melatonin, and dopamine. If you suffer from vitamin B12 deficiency, folate deficiency or methionine deficiency, than your SAMe levels are probably low.

SAMe is healthful for people suffering from fibromyalgia symptoms such as muscular pain, chronic fatigue, and depression, according to many studies, including this double-blind study on oral S-adenosylmethionine in primary fibromyalgia.

Dose: For fibromyalgia, vitamin B12 deficiency and chronic fatigue, take 800 mg per day for optimum health.

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)

5-HTP is a chemical that your body produces from tryptophan, which is then converted into serotonin, which your brain uses throughout the day to transmit messages within the nervous system.

5-HTP is useful for promoting good health in people with chronic depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, obesity, migraine headaches, and chronic pain associated with fibromyalgia, as evidenced by this double-blind study.

Dose: For depression and fibromyalgia pain, take between 100 to 300 mg three times daily for optimum health.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that destroys free radicals. Vitamin E is recommended for heart health. Other studies suggest that vitamin E supplementation might be helpful for people with restless legs syndrome, immune disorder, and chronic pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis, peripheral neuropathy, and fibromyalgia.

Dose: For fibromyalgia, take between 50 IU and 800 IU daily for optimum health.

Capsaicin (Cayenne)

Capsaicin is a natural muscle relaxant that occurs naturally in many pepper varieties, but most abundantly in cayenne pepper. Capsaicin cream is used by people with chronic pain from shingles, fibromyalgia, peripheral neuropathy, and back pain.

Dose: When desired, you may apply liberal amounts of capsaicin cream.

Melatonin

Melatonin is a natural hormone produced by the pineal gland that promotes restful sleep. Melatonin supplements are helpful for people who don’t produce enough melatonin at nighttime and suffer from sleep disorders as a result. If fibromyalgia pain is keeping you up nights and causing insomnia, taking 3 mg of melatonin ½ hour before bedtime might help you get back to a normal sleep schedule, according to this report on melatonin in patients with fibromyalgia.

Please tell us…

Do you suffer from fibromyalgia? Have you had your vitamin B12 levels tested? Do you currently take any natural supplements for fibromyalgia that are not listed here? We welcome your comments!

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Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Pregnancy, Part II: Taking Care of Baby

Published on: February 15, 2012 2:25 am

Did you have vitamin B12 deficiency or pernicious anemia during your pregnancy? If you’re currently breastfeeding your baby, it’s crucial that you continue to check your vitamin B12 (cobalamin) levels. Here’s the scoop on taking care of baby with vitamin B12 deficiency.

Breastfeeding with B12 deficiency

Even after giving birth, if you breastfeed and have vitamin B12 deficiency at the same time, then your baby is also at high risk for getting vitamin B12 deficiency, regardless of how often you nurse.

Many studies have been conducted documenting the dangers of exclusive breastfeeding while suffering from vitamin B12 deficiency.

In them, researchers noted some disturbing symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency in infants, such as failure to thrive.

Most of these symptoms were alleviated only after B12 levels were restored to normal through immediate supplementation of vitamin B12.

Symptoms of B12 deficiency in infants

In numerous studies, exclusively breastfed infants of mothers with vitamin B12 deficiency showed the following symptoms:

Failure to thrive
Irritability
Lethargy
Low muscle tone (hypotonia)
Poor muscular coordination (ataxia)
Feebleness
Anorexia
Developmental delays
Pernicious anemia

Permanent damage caused by B12 deficiency

Untreated, vitamin B12 deficiency can cause:

Permanent neurological damage
Gastrointestinal disorders
Increased risk for heart attack and stroke
Bone loss
Death- Are Vegans in France Responsible for Breast-fed Baby’s Death?

Breast or bottle- it’s still up to you

The decision to breastfeed or bottle-feed is a personal decision, but vitamin B12 deficiency should not be the deal breaker.

You can rest assured that your baby is getting all the nourishment it needs, as long as you continue to maintain healthy vitamin B12 levels.

Remember, it’s not possible to take too much vitamin B12, as there are no harmful side effects to taking large doses of vitamin B12.

Not having enough vitamin B12 in your blood supply, however, can be detrimental, even deadly.

Please tell us…

If you have pernicious anemia, did you find out only after years of suffering, or were you warned about it from family members?

Have you been putting off having a baby because of low energy from vitamin B12 deficiency?

As always, we welcome your comments!

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Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Pregnancy, Part I: Planning a Baby

Published on: February 14, 2012 8:07 am

Have you been tested for vitamin B12 deficiency during pregnancy? If not, you should. If you have vitamin B12 deficiency or pernicious anemia, you can still have a normal pregnancy and give birth to a happy, healthy baby. Here are some crucial facts about vitamin B12 deficiency and pregnancy.

Vitamin B12- What is it?

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is an essential B-vitamin that occurs naturally in animal-based foods: beef, chicken, halibut, crabmeat, clams, and Swiss cheese are among the richest food sources of vitamin B12.

Your body (and your baby) needs vitamin B12 for many vital functions:

Red blood cell production
Protection of the nerve cells
Cognitive functioning
Bone health
DNA synthesis
Homocysteine control
Energy production

What are the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency?

The following symptoms may indicate the beginning of vitamin B12 deficiency:

Fatigue in the morning after sleeping the whole night- this is because your brain is not getting enough oxygen
Memory loss from reduced cognitive skills
Brain fog
Painful tingling in the arms, hands, feet, legs, and tongue- this is a sign of neurological damage
Depression and anxiety– vitamin B12 deficiency compromises emotional wellness.
Heart palpitations
Shortness of breath
For more, read: Vitamin B12 Deficiency- 4 Causes, 1 Solution

Is vitamin B12 deficiency harmful for my baby?

Numerous studies have been conducted linking vitamin B12 deficiency with the following complications:

According to a National Institutes of Health study, women who have vitamin B12 deficiency before getting pregnant of after conception increase their baby’s chance of suffering from neural tube defects such as spina bifida by five times.
Increased homocysteine levels resulting from insufficient vitamin B12 are linked with miscarriages, preeclampsia, and high risk for heart disease.
Babies born to women with vitamin B12 deficiency are 15% more likely to suffer from insulin resistance, according to a University of California, Davis study.
Also read: Babies, B12, and Fertility- B12 Deficiency during Pregnancy

Am I at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency?

Most healthy people who eat foods rich in vitamin B12 don’t have to worry about becoming deficient. Still, vitamin B12 malabsorption is the leading nutritional deficiency, and that percentage is climbing, so it’s worth understanding the risk factor involved.

People who are at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency include:

People with pernicious anemia, an autoimmune disorder involving the inability to make intrinsic factor, a necessary hormone for absorbing vitamin B12
Anybody who has had gastric bypass surgery
Anybody who has had the ileum removed through gastrointestinal surgery
Diabetics who take metformin
People taking protein pump inhibitors (PPIs) for GERD
People with illnesses or conditions that affect the digestive system, such as celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, fibromyalgia, ulcerative colitis, migraines, chronic fatigue syndrome, autism, food allergies, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Alcoholics
Elderly individuals

Don’t I get enough B12 from prenatal vitamins?

Yes and no. If your stomach is able to manufacture intrinsic factor and thus digest vitamin B12, then you probably get the bare minimum dosage from prenatal vitamin supplements.

However, if you have pernicious anemia, or if you suffer from a gastrointestinal disorder, then it doesn’t matter how many vitamin B12 pills you swallow; all dietary sources of vitamin B12 are indigestible. Without intrinsic factor, your body cannot access vitamin B12 unless it is inserted directly into the bloodstream.

Pregnant Moms and Low B-12 Levels: Let ‘em Eat Steak!

Get tested for B12 deficiency

Before you start planning a family, get tested for vitamin B12 deficiency. Unfortunately, most physicians don’t automatically check for vitamin B12 deficiency, so you’ll need to request a B12 blood screening.

If you are diagnosed with vitamin B12 deficiency or pernicious anemia, then your doctor will most likely prescribe routine rounds of vitamin B12 shots, which must be inserted intramuscularly. In order to keep from getting deficient again, you may need to continue receiving B12 shots for life.

Please tell us…

If you have pernicious anemia, did you find out only after years of suffering, or were you warned about it from family members?

Have you been putting off having a baby because of low energy from vitamin B12 deficiency?

As always, we welcome your comments!

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5 Ways to Ruin your Memory without getting Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Published on: February 13, 2012 4:00 am

If you didn’t know, one of the many symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency is memory loss. So if you’re suddenly experiencing forgetfulness, then you should do is take a blood test for vitamin B12 deficiency. But aside from “B12 brain fog,” what are some other factors that affect your memory?

Here are five things you shouldn’t do if you’re worried about memory loss, even if your B12 levels are strong.

Go to bed late every night

In 2005, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn that 28% of people don’t get enough sleep, and that number is probably higher today.

More recently, a study whose findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences concluded that sleep deprivation is strongly linked with decreased “visual short-term memory.”

Another study published by the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry found that children between the ages of 6 and 13 who don’t receive enough “quality” sleep score poorer on memory-related tasks than adolescents who sleep sufficiently and soundly.

Take up smoking

Cigarettes aren’t just bad for your lungs and your heart; according to various scientific studies, smoking cigarettes also contributes to memory loss.

A few years ago, UCSF conducted a study indicating that smokers are twice as likely to suffer Alzheimer’s disease as are nonsmokers.

Know what else contributes to memory loss and brain shrinkage? That’s right- vitamin B12 deficiency.

Can Vitamin B12 Deficiency cause Dementia?

Indulge in alcohol

We already know that alcoholics are susceptible to vitamin B12 deficiency, in addition to numerous other health problems. And we’ve all heard about the “day after” scenario, when you wake up after a night of alcoholic binging without any memory of what occurred the night before.

Well, researchers wanted to know if people who drink alcohol suffer from memory loss, even when they’re sober. In one test published by Alcohol and Alcoholism, researchers noted delayed recognition in participants within a few weeks of alcohol consumption, even when their blood alcohol levels were near zero.

Eat a high fat, low carb diet

If you need another excuse to switch to a low-fat diet, it might help to know that it will make you smarter. In several studies, test rats that were fed fatty foods saw a 25% decrease in their thinking skills, compared to when they ate a healthy, low-fat diet.

More surprisingly, a study by Tufts University found that women who ate a low-carb diet scored poorer on memory tests than those who chose to follow the standard American Dietetic Association (ADA) dietary guidelines.

Brainy People are high on B12, according to Brain Health Study

Forgo exercise

In a study focusing on the effect of exercise on the hippocampus, the part of your brain involved in memory, researchers found that following a fitness regimen that included regular exercise is effective for maintaining brain mass, increasing oxygen to the brain, and boosting memory skills. The results of the study were published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Can Aerobics Cure Alzheimer’s Disease?

Please tell us…

Have you been experiencing recent short-term memory loss? Is so, have you tried getting your vitamin B12 levels tested? Aside from memory loss, other symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are chronic fatigue, depression, anxiety, confusion, brain fog, painful tingling in your hands and feet, sore tongue, eye twitching, and more.

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Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms:

10 Tests that diagnose vitamin B12 deficiency and pernicious anemia

What about the Schilling test for vitamin B12 deficiency?

Vitamin B12 supplementation

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Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency and pernicious anemia:

Are you getting enough vitamin B12?

Non-vegan sources of vitamin B12:

Vegan sources of vitamin B12:

Are you at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency?

Reasons for not digesting vitamin B12

Getting extra vitamin B12

Which B12 supplements are available?

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Read more about vitamin B12 and vegan diet:

How much vitamin B12 do I need?

Which foods have the most vitamin B12?

How many clams do I have to eat?

Coming next: What about vegan vitamin B12?

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Read more about vitamin B12 in food:

Vitamin B12 and the Myelin Sheath

Symptoms of demyelination

Brain lesions caused by vitamin B12 deficiency

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Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms:

1- Symptoms of Crohn’s disease

2- Crohn’s disease medications

3- Gastrointestinal (GI) surgery

4- Crohn’s and diet

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Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency and Crohn’s disease:

Why you need vitamin B12

Vitamin B12- the energy vitamin

Vitamin B12 feels good

How much vitamin B12 do I need?

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Read more about vitamin B12- the energy vitamin

Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)

Magnesium

Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol)

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)

D-ribose

S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe)

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)

Vitamin E

Capsaicin (Cayenne)

Melatonin

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Read more about fibromyalgia and vitamin B12 deficiency:

Breastfeeding with B12 deficiency

Symptoms of B12 deficiency in infants

Permanent damage caused by B12 deficiency

Breast or bottle- it’s still up to you

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Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency in infants:

Vitamin B12- What is it?

What are the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency?

Is vitamin B12 deficiency harmful for my baby?

Am I at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency?

Don’t I get enough B12 from prenatal vitamins?

Get tested for B12 deficiency

Please tell us…

Spread the love…

Read more about vitamin B12 deficiency:

Go to bed late every night

Take up smoking

Indulge in alcohol

Eat a high fat, low carb diet

Forgo exercise

Please tell us…