Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 may be the king of all the B complex vitamins. First, it builds on the work of some of the other Bs. Next, it is vital in so many components of the body. It’s safe to say that B12 is absolutely necessary.
Vitamin B12 is unusual in that it’s the only vitamin to contain trace amounts of cobalt — hence it’s sometimes also called cobalamin. But that’s not a name that’s often used on labels.
What B12 Does
One interesting thing this vitamin does is normalize the level of homocystine in your body. An excess of homocystine has been linked to heart disease and strokes. You need some homocystine in your body, but too much is very definitely a bad thing. B12 can help with that.
The B12 vitamin is used by the nervous system to keep it operating smoothly, to keep the sheathe on the nerves in good condition.
B12 is also involved with DNA replication, creating and maintaining red blood cells and strengthening your immune system. It touches virtually every vital area of your body.
You May Be at Risk If…
Lots of people are at risk, but the ones most need to be concerned are:
- Those age 60 and over
- Have any form of anemia
- Suffer from any auto-immune deficiency diseases
- Have had gastric surgery, including gastric bypass
- Have any gastrointestinal disease
- If you take prescription medications
- Regularly drink more than two alcoholic beverages a day
- Unbalanced/poor diet
- Have recently had dental or other surgery (anesthetics can deplete your body)
- Vegan or vegetarian — B12 is only found in meat and dairy products
- Pregnant, recently pregnant and nursing women
Symptoms of a B12 Deficiency
Now keep in mind that this can be a scary list, and not everything on it means you are deficient — these symptoms can have other causes as well. But if you do have any of these symptoms, you may want to have your doctor screen you for a deficiency.
- Confusion, depression, “foggy” thinking, forgetfulness
- Paranoia, bipolar disorders
- Tingling and pain in the extremities
- Loss of coordination
- Dementia
- Incontinence
- Loss of vision
- Chronic fatigue
- Dizziness, vertigo
- Tremors
In addition, a Vitamin B12 deficiency can mimic multiple sclerosis (MS), the beginning stages of Parkinson’s and early onset Alzheimer’s diseases.
With these symptoms, it really makes you wonder how many people are in nursing homes because they are deficient in B12 and not because they are simply “getting old”.
Where is it Found Naturally?
The foods you can get B12 from include:
- Beef liver
- Meat
- Poultry
- Fish
- Dairy products
- Fortified cereals, grains and breads (note: these don’t naturally have B12, but usually have it added in processing for market).
If you are a vegan it’s extremely important that you take a B12 supplement of some kind.
Toxicity
It’s extremely difficult to overdose on Vitamin B12, even in extremely high doses. There are no known deaths from massive intake of B12.
However, like with any good substance, it’s not wise to get carried away with your dosage.
Jules said
I have been diagnosed with Insomnia. I can fall asleep but have trouble staying a sleep. I have tried, Abien, Ambien CR and Lunesta. They each will work for about a week and then I receive no benefit. I am currently on Lexapro (morning) and Xanax (night). I have been able to sleep but feel tired througout the day and not myself. There are times when Xanax at night will not work. I have had blood work done and am low in B12. I have been taking a supplement. Is there any coorelation between low B12 and insomnia? Any other ideas?
Thank you!
Jules
julessmith@comcast.net
Cali said
Hi Jules,
Spot on! Did you know that Vitamin B is used for weight control? I presume it enhances metabolism. I have recently been on a course of B12 injections have also experience mild insomnia and loads more energy during the day – I usually have NO problem with sleep! I have used melatonan to help me sleep – a brilliant anti oxidant, also used for anti aging. Another great remedy for sleep is cal-mag. Dr Vogel makes a great multi mineral complex which you can drink about 30-40 mins before bed time – all healthy.
Cali
Gail said
Jules,
There may or may not be a correlation between low B12 and insomnia, but there difinitely is one between the medications you are taking and B12 in your body. While B12 is only stored in your body in tiny amounts (a reserve, so to speak), the medications you are taking both affect your intake and leach your reserves.
When taking a B12 supplement, make sure it is sub-lingual. A B12 tablet you just swallow whole will do nothing for you. And naturally, make sure to eat more of the foods that contain B12.
Low B12 isn’t anything to joke aroound about. I have friends that went undiagnosed for a long time, and once the correct diagnosis was made and they got the B12, they were amazed at how much better they felt! But untreated B12 can lead to all sorts of nervous system disorders.
Maria T. Acosta said
I’ve been diagnosed with b12 def, I’m taking folbee and is not helping me. I’m very nervous all the time, not eating What should I do?
Gail said
Maria, you should check with your doctor. You may be having side effects from folbee. It wasn’t a medication I was familiar with, so I took a look at it online. I must say, taking it without food doesn’t seem like it would be of any use for the B12 component — it would need to be taken with food (preferably during or immediately after a meal).
I’m not sure what else is in folbee, due to the overdose caution. Seems like more than just B12, folic acid and B6
Since I don’t know if your doctor prescribed folbee for another reason, all I can really say is to check back with your physician because of the way you feel. But with a strictly B12 deficiency, all that’s needed is a sublingal B12 or a B12 injection.
Darlene said
My husband had a gastric bypass in 1987 has never taken any B-12
He doesn’t take anytype of vitamin. Has been diagnosed as Bi-Polar,suffers with major depression. Feels tired all the time.
Has leg and shouder pain. Takes Prilosec daily. Has mood swings.
trouble sleeping and when he does finally sleep it is usually for 12 to 14 hours. He is diabetic and takes both metoformin and glyburide.Tingling in his hand sometimes. Could he have a deficiency in B-12? He also takes antidepressants Has had a triple bypass. I don’t think that he has ever been check for problems with B-12
Gail said
Hi Darlene, unless your husband has been getting B12 shots since his gastric bypass, it a virtual certainty that he has a B12 deficiency. B12 needs plenty of gastric juices to break it down, in order to be assimilated properly by the body.
I would urge him to get tested ASAP for a B12 deficiency so he can get the B12 injections. In his case, since the digestive system is so compromised, sublingual B12 won’t do a lot of good. It will have to be in the injected form.
karen j said
For the past couple years i have been suffering from a variety of symptoms. Dizziness, chestpains, but the most devastating has been losing my hair. I recently had two children in the past three years and my thoght is that there has to be a correlation between the two, but i can’t get any answers. I don’t know what i should do, what do you think?
Gail said
Hi Karen, between the physical effects of two pregnancies in three years, raising children is stressful. And while I suspect B12 is a player in this, it could also be a form of anxiety attack (certainly not uncommon).
You didn’t really say, but I assume you’ve seen a doctor for evaluation and perhaps tests? If not, that’s the very first thing to do. And along with the regular blood tests, you need to have deficiencies of vitamins B12 and D checked.
Did you have any sort of anesthesia with the births? If so, the effects of anesthesia can be quite long-lasting, around even months after the event. And of course, anesthesia tends to deplete the body of B12.
So my first thought would be vitamin deficiencies, followed by anxiety. You’ll want to talk to your doctor about both.
Best wishes to you and your little ones!