Vitamin Deficiencies: Are You Getting Enough Vitamins? Part 2: Vitamin B12, Methylcobalamin
Did you know vitamin B12 comes in different forms when you get it in supplements at your local health food store?
The most common forms of vitamin B12 are cyanocobalamin, adenosylcobalamin, hydroxycobalamin, and methylcobalamin.
The methyl form of vitamin B12 is the most active and useful to our bodies. Supplementing with the other forms of vitamin B12 provides us less immediate and arguably less overall benefit. Cyanocobalamin is the least useful form of vitamin B12 to us. The cyano- in cyanocobalamin stands for cyanide. A little is not particularly harmful to us, but sure is not necessary. The reason some vitamins and mineral use cyanocobalamin or hydroxycobalamin is to save them money when buying the raw material.
What is the Function of Vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12 is necessary for proper energy metabolism, immune function and nervous function.
Causes of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Naturally-occurring vitamin B12 is found in animal products so vegetarians and vegans are more susceptible to vitamin B12 deficiency without appropriate supplementation.
Deficiency is often caused by stomach irritation because sufficient stomach acid is needed to cleave B12 from our food so we can properly absorb it.
Alcoholism depletes all B vitamins and will lead to deficiencies in vitamin B12 amongst others.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms
The classic vitamin B12 deficiency symptom is pernicious anemia. However, the brain and nerves tend to be affected first. Impaired nerve function can cause numbness, a pins and needles sensation, or a burning feeling in the feet, as well as impaired mental function. Deficiency of methylcobalamin may contribute to age-related cognitive decline.
Vitamin B12 is stored in the liver, kidneys and other tissues so deficiency symptoms may take up to 5 years to show up. If you suspect you are at risk of low vitamin B12 or have tested for low levels in your blood, start supplementing today.
Sublingual (under the tongue) vitamin B12 is the best form to take. When vitamin B12 absorbs under the tongue it avoids the lengthy process of digestion and is directly absorbed into the bloodstream so it can travel to where it needs to go. Sublingual vitamin B12 is the next best thing to intramuscular injections.
Vitamin B12 for cancer
Chemotherapy depletes blood levels of vitamin B12. Blood tests may still show normal vitamin B12 levels during chemotherapy, but they are most likely false. Chemo drugs turn vitamin B12 into an inactive or useless form that still reads as normal on our current blood tests. Anyone undergoing chemotherapy must supplement with sublingual or intramuscular vitamin B12 to maintain healthy levels and help prevent nerve damage (neuropathy), which is all too common with chemotherapy.
For advice on what the proper dosing of vitamin B12 is for you, talk to your Naturopathic Doctor today.
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