Depression and Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Vitamin B12 And Depression
By Christopher Fitch

Feeling a little depressed more than usual is not really that unusual. Depending on the season, weather and daily stress levels, a change in mood is to be expected by most of us. However, serious depression (or clinical depression as it is often termed) represents a true threat to our emotional stability as well as the relationships we have with those who are closest to us. Treating this becomes increasingly important, but if we do not qualify for medication according to our doctor, finding "medical" help might be a challenge.

Something your doctor might mention to you is that your vitamin B12 levels are low. Low B12 levels come with several consequences and depression is one of them. In fact, clinically depressed patients have proven that B12 levels and depression have an inverse relationship. So it may make sense to focus on increasing your daily dosage of vitamin B12. For most of us, that means eating the right foods that are rich in Vitamin B12.

The problem with eating B12-rich foods is that as we age our digestive system has greater difficulty in separating out the B12 and introducing it to our system, a vital process in ensuring that our levels stay positive and, above all else, avoid deficiency. And because the process is a particularly difficult one for our system to execute, no matter how much liver we eat (arguably the food that is richest in B12), we still may witness a drop in B12 levels. In other words, diet alone (no matter how well-intentioned it is) may fail us.

The solution in these cases is to supplements. Often, a One-A-Day vitamin can help us meet our B12 needs on a daily basis and in no time the mild depression that has led us to investigate the issue in the first place will start to ease. Not because of diet, but because we are getting the B12 our systems need.

In some cases (and it seems this is the case more and more often these days) the problem is not necessarily with the foods or supplements, but in the digestive system as a whole. While supplements are frequently easier for our system to process, if the mechanism itself is "broken," then people need to bypass it entirely. And for some people who feel their depression is not getting better but is in fact getting worse, it could be the result of a broken system. This is where B12 injections play a part.

With B12 injections, your medical professional will inject the commercially available B12 supplement straight into your system, bypassing the digestive system as a whole. This is not to say that the dosage will be any different than what you would get from food or supplements, but it will actually reach your system and do its job. This, after all, is the whole point.

So if you are feeling depressed but your mental state is insufficient to warrant heavier, prescribed medication, it is worth asking your medical professional about your B12 levels. If the levels are low, changing your diet to incorporate B12-rich foods and/or taking supplements is usually a wise first step. If that fails, then injections may be your only option.

Learn more about some of the most common Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms that could impact your mood and mental health at B12-Facts.com, a website dedicated to Vitamin B12.

As the editor of B12-Facts.com Christopher Fitch has written about many health related matters, particularly when it comes to sleep health. He has recently taken a keen interest in Vitamin B12 Facts to help prepare for the dreary winter months.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_Fitch
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Do Vitamin B12 Shots Help with Weight Loss?

Are vitamin B-12 injections helpful for weight loss?

Answer

from Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.

There's no solid evidence that vitamin B-12 in any form — including vitamin B-12 injections — improves weight loss.

Vitamin B-12 is a water-soluble B complex vitamin found naturally in a variety of foods, including meat, fish and dairy products. Vitamin B-12 can also be made commercially in a lab. Vitamin B-12 is added to some foods and is available as a dietary supplement in tablet form or as an injection. Vitamin B-12 is commonly prescribed to help treat pernicious anemia and B-12 deficiency.

Some weight-loss clinics offer vitamin B-12 injections as part of their weight-loss programs. Proponents of vitamin B-12 injections for weight loss say the shots give you more energy and boost your metabolism, helping you shed unwanted pounds. But unless you have a vitamin B-12 deficiency, vitamin B-12 injections aren't likely to give you an energy boost. Getting large amounts of vitamin B-12 through vitamin B-12 injections isn't likely to harm your health. But vitamin B-12 can interfere with the effectiveness of some medications, so if you receive vitamin B-12 injections, be sure to let your doctor know.

If you're hoping to lose weight, resist the lure of quick and easy solutions. What counts is a healthy lifestyle. Enjoy healthier foods and include physical activity in your daily routine. If you're worried about your vitamin B-12 level, talk to your doctor and consider eating more foods that are rich in vitamin B-12, rather than turning to vitamin B-12 injections.

B12 injections

Vitamin B12 injections are an effective and tested cure for patients suffering from a deficiency of the vitamin. Although there is much dispute vis-à-vis oral supplementation of cobalamin and nasal sprays, these injections are the classical, prescribed and accepted remedies for speedy recovery.

Patients suffering from pernicious anemia are treated with a regular dosage of vitamin B12 injections. This is due to the fact that they are unable to absorb sufficient vitamin B12 from their dietary food sources and therefore require intramuscular injections to aid absorption. Nowadays, there are substitutes in the form of oral supplementation; however physicians generally resort to this classical treatment.

Research findings show ample evidence to reveal that cobalamin injections of 1-2 mg per day can quickly correct deficiencies. It is not apparent whether smaller amounts, such as the 25 mcg or so found in multivitamins, are sufficient to cure deficiencies. Such a claim is substantiated by the fact that although oral supplementation with vitamin B12 is safe, efficient and inexpensive and most multi-vitamin pills contain 100-200 microgram of the cyanocobalamin form of B12, many multivitamins cannot be chewed, which is important for its absorption.

The body's ability to absorb vitamin B12 is reduced with increasing age. Older people are often detected to have a more potent vitamin B12 deficiency, even in cases where they do not suffer from pernicious anaemia. Moreover, an intake of vitamin B12 from food sources decreases markedly with an increase in age, probably because of a lack of stomach acid. The conventional way of fixing a vitamin B12 deficiency has been through intramuscular injections. Experiments also reveal that vitamin B12 intramuscular injections are useful healers of neurological disorders such as progressive memory loss and lethargy.

To maintain vitamin B12 status, the alternatives to high oral doses of cobalamin (500-1000 micrograms daily) are routine intramuscular injections at a dosage of 1 mg per month. This also helps to lower homocysteine levels in the blood, thereby reducing the probability of heart diseases and strokes.

The utility of vitamin B12 is not restricted to curing deficiencies. Injections can also serve therapeutic purposes. A vitamin B12 injection acts as a stimulant for energizing the body, through cobalamin, which transmits its “anti-stress” elements to the human body. For example a recommended effective cure for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is 6-70mg dose of vitamin B12 intramuscular injection per week for 3 weeks.

Vitamin B 12 provides detailed information on Vitamin B 12, Vitamin B 12 Creams, Vitamin B 12 Deficiency, Vitamin B 12 Injections and more. Vitamin B 12 is affiliated with Topical Vitamin C.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Josh_Riverside

lack of vitamin b12

Vitamin B12 Sources, Functions and Deficiencies

Author: Dr John Anne

Vitamin B12 is known as cobalamin as well, because of its cobalt content. Vitamin B12 aids in maintaining healthy nerve cells and red blood cells. It is an integral element in DNA formation. It functions with the binding of protein in food. During the digestion process, hydrochloric acid in the stomach discharges vitamin B12 from protein contents found in food. As soon as it is released, it binds with intrinsic factor (IF). Later intestinal tract absorbs this combination.





Vitamin B12 Sources





Vitamin B12 is a naturally derived substance. Fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk and dairy products are the wise selection of vitamin B12 sources. Another great source of vitamin B12 is fortified breakfast cereals. This is a perfect choice for vegetarians to satisfy their vitamin B12 needs. Apart from that mixed spices prepared from mollusks and clam can be considered as one of significant vitamin B12 sources. Liver, beef, Trout, Salmon, Yogurt, Haddock, Clams, Tuna, Pork, and Chicken are the great sources of vitamin B12.





The requirement for vitamin B12 in a healthy adult is 2.4μg per day.





Vitamin B12 Functions





Essentially, vitamin B12 functions in various ways. The most important among all vitamin B12 functions is identified with the assistance in the neurotransmitter production. Neurotransmitter is an important element that regulates almost every function in our body and mind. Fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism are also significant vitamin B12 functions. It helps in appropriate DNA replication process. It plays a significant role as a catalyst during hemoglobin synthesis. If you lack vitamin B12 in your daily diet, you may become anemic. It helps in red blood cells production. It helps in converting from homocysteine to methionine. This conversion is crucial in minimizing the risk of cardiac arrest.





Vitamin B12 Deficiencies





Typically vitamin B12 deficienciesmay occur due to two reasons one is inability to absorb vitamin B12 from food substances and the second reason is an inability to consume foods rich in vitamin B12. The later situation mainly occurs in the case of strict vegetarians. They suffer from vitamin B12 deficiencies mainly due to the fact that they do not consume any foods coming from animals.





The common symptoms associated with vitamin B12 deficiencies may include constipation, memory loss, difficulty in walking or moving, megaloblastic anemia, mood disorder, numbness, sore tongue, disorientation, damage in the myelin sheath and dementia.





Pregnant women or lactating women need extra supply of vitamin B12, like any other essential nutrients. It passes to the placenta during pregnancy. Brest-fed infants receive their nutrients from their mother. Therefore a lack of nutrients may cause serious harm to their health. The women on vegan diet may lack the sufficient supply of vitamin B12. So the crisis may result within months of birth. If not taken into serious consideration, it may cause severe neurological damage in time.





Apart from that, individuals suffering from megaloblastic anemia or gastrointestinal disorder may receive benefits from vitamin B12 supplements. Few medications suggested for chronic problem may decrease the natural absorption of vitamin B12 in the body, in such cases additional supplements of vitamin B12 seem to be necessary.





As vitamin B12 supplements are essentially dependent on animal products, so we must understand that a strict vegetarian diet may lead to vitamin B12 deficiencies. In such cases, fortified cereals must be taken under consideration to fulfill the requirement of vitamin B12.





Potential Health Risk





There is no established UL so far for vitamin B12 because of its low potential for toxicity. Till date, no such reports have been submitted in claim of adverse effects resulting from the usage of vitamin B12. However, medical studies conducted by Institute of Medicine say that individuals older than 50 years should depend on fortified foods to avoid possible vitamin B12 deficiencies. It is mainly because of the impaired absorption pattern for vitamin B12 coming from animal products, mostly prevalent at older ages.

About the Author:

Dr John Anne is an herbal specialist with years of experience and extensive research on herbs and alternative health. Visit Vitamin B12 Deficiency at Vitamins and Minerals. Also read about Curcumin Benefits for complete information on Curcumin

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Vitamin B12 Sources, Functions and Deficiencies

dietary sources of vitamin b12

Vitamin B12 plays a key role in the normal functioning of nerve cells and blood cells. It is also involved in the metabolism of all types of body cells, it's mainly affecting DNA regulation and synthesis. Vitamin B12, also called cobalamin, contains molecules of the metal cobalt and corrin ring.

Absorption

The process of absorption of vitamin B12 is complex one, and because of that, it often leads to vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 absorption begins in the mouth through the mucosa membrane^. Acid in the stomach releases the vitamin B12 that is bound to the protein in food during digestion.

Recommended Dosage

The recommended dose for an adult ranges from 2 to 3 micrograms a day. Pregnant woman may require 3 micrograms per day.

Using B12 supplements is safe as long as the recommended dose is not exceeded.

The main source of vitamin B12 is animal foods including meat, fish, poultry, eggs and milk products, because of this, the Vegan Society recommends vegans to consistently eat B12 fortified foods or take a daily B12 supplements.

Food Sources

The main source of B12 comes from animal derived food, including meat, fish, poultry, eggs and milk products.

• 1 half chicken breast provides some 0.3µg per serving or 6.0% of the recommended daily value
• 3 ounces of beef provides 2.4 µg per serving or 40% of your DV
• 1 slice of liver provide 47.9 µg or 780% of your DV
• 3 ounces of Molluscs provides 84.1 µg, or 1,400 % of your DV

Side effects

Itching, rash, temporary exanthema, and urticaria have been reported. Vitamin B12 and pyridoxine has been associated with cases of rosacea fulminans, characterized by intense erythema with nodules, papules, and pustules. Symptoms may persist for up to four months after the supplement is stopped, it may require treatment with systemic corticosteroids and topical therapy.

Diarrhea has been reported.

Vitamin B12 as Pernicious Anemia treatment

Vitamin B12 is used for the treatment of pernicious anemia (AKA Biermer's anemia) which is caused by the deficiency of vitamin B12 . For the body to properly absorb the vitamin B12 it first has to be combined with the intrinsic factor (a glycoprotein produced in the stomach). The absence of intrinsic factor prevents the normal absorption of the vitamin B12 and usually result in pernicious anemia. The treatment for Pernicious anemia is for life; supplemental vitamin B12 can be administered via injection or orally.

David C. is the author of the Vitamin Supplement Blog, read more about vitamins and supplements at http://www.myvitaminsupplement.net

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_G._Castro

vitamin b12 benefits

Vitamin B 12 helps to fight the symptoms of depression –

Studies have found that in approximately three out of ten patients hospitalized for depression, the patient was lacking sufficient vitamin B 12 levels.

Alzheimer’s – As many as 1 in 5 patients exhibiting early signs of memory loss and even Alzheimer’s were shown to be deficient in vitamin B12 levels. These patients significantly reduced the speed of memory loss, and in many cases reversed the symptoms of early Alzheimer’s with the proper doses of Vitamin B12.

Testing for Vitamin B12 deficiency should be a regular screening practice for older individuals, due to the decrease in an older body’s ability to properly absorb Vitamin B12 through known food sources rich in Vitamin B12.

Deficiency of Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 Sources, Functions and Deficiencies

Author: Dr John Anne

Vitamin B12 is known as cobalamin as well, because of its cobalt content. Vitamin B12 aids in maintaining healthy nerve cells and red blood cells. It is an integral element in DNA formation. It functions with the binding of protein in food. During the digestion process, hydrochloric acid in the stomach discharges vitamin B12 from protein contents found in food. As soon as it is released, it binds with intrinsic factor (IF). Later intestinal tract absorbs this combination.





Vitamin B12 Sources





Vitamin B12 is a naturally derived substance. Fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk and dairy products are the wise selection of vitamin B12 sources. Another great source of vitamin B12 is fortified breakfast cereals. This is a perfect choice for vegetarians to satisfy their vitamin B12 needs. Apart from that mixed spices prepared from mollusks and clam can be considered as one of significant vitamin B12 sources. Liver, beef, Trout, Salmon, Yogurt, Haddock, Clams, Tuna, Pork, and Chicken are the great sources of vitamin B12.





The requirement for vitamin B12 in a healthy adult is 2.403BCg per day.





Vitamin B12 Functions





Essentially, vitamin B12 functions in various ways. The most important among all vitamin B12 functions is identified with the assistance in the neurotransmitter production. Neurotransmitter is an important element that regulates almost every function in our body and mind. Fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism are also significant vitamin B12 functions. It helps in appropriate DNA replication process. It plays a significant role as a catalyst during hemoglobin synthesis. If you lack vitamin B12 in your daily diet, you may become anemic. It helps in red blood cells production. It helps in converting from homocysteine to methionine. This conversion is crucial in minimizing the risk of cardiac arrest.





Vitamin B12 Deficiencies





Typically vitamin B12 deficienciesmay occur due to two reasons one is inability to absorb vitamin B12 from food substances and the second reason is an inability to consume foods rich in vitamin B12. The later situation mainly occurs in the case of strict vegetarians. They suffer from vitamin B12 deficiencies mainly due to the fact that they do not consume any foods coming from animals.





The common symptoms associated with vitamin B12 deficiencies may include constipation, memory loss, difficulty in walking or moving, megaloblastic anemia, mood disorder, numbness, sore tongue, disorientation, damage in the myelin sheath and dementia.





Pregnant women or lactating women need extra supply of vitamin B12, like any other essential nutrients. It passes to the placenta during pregnancy. Brest-fed infants receive their nutrients from their mother. Therefore a lack of nutrients may cause serious harm to their health. The women on vegan diet may lack the sufficient supply of vitamin B12. So the crisis may result within months of birth. If not taken into serious consideration, it may cause severe neurological damage in time.





Apart from that, individuals suffering from megaloblastic anemia or gastrointestinal disorder may receive benefits from vitamin B12 supplements. Few medications suggested for chronic problem may decrease the natural absorption of vitamin B12 in the body, in such cases additional supplements of vitamin B12 seem to be necessary.





As vitamin B12 supplements are essentially dependent on animal products, so we must understand that a strict vegetarian diet may lead to vitamin B12 deficiencies. In such cases, fortified cereals must be taken under consideration to fulfill the requirement of vitamin B12.





Potential Health Risk





There is no established UL so far for vitamin B12 because of its low potential for toxicity. Till date, no such reports have been submitted in claim of adverse effects resulting from the usage of vitamin B12. However, medical studies conducted by Institute of Medicine say that individuals older than 50 years should depend on fortified foods to avoid possible vitamin B12 deficiencies. It is mainly because of the impaired absorption pattern for vitamin B12 coming from animal products, mostly prevalent at older ages.

About the Author:

Dr John Anne is an herbal specialist with years of experience and extensive research on herbs and alternative health. Visit Vitamin B12 Deficiency at Vitamins and Minerals. Also read about Curcumin Benefits for complete information on Curcumin

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Vitamin B12 Sources, Functions and Deficiencies

Food sources for vitamin b12

According to chiff.com...

Vitamin B12, also known as Cobalamin, is an extremely important member of the vitamin B family.
Vitamin B12 is unique in that while it is water-soluble, it is not excreted quickly in the urine, and so a deficiency of vitamin B12 might not be apparent for a long time. This is serious because vitamin B12 deficiency has been linked to MS (multiple sclerosis), asthma, low sperm counts, and depression, along with many other serious health problems.
This means that besides any potential health benefits vitamin B12 may provide, it is critical that health conscious people maintain proper levels of vitamin B12 as a deficiency can be particularly costly.

Besides its preventative qualities, vitamin B12 also provides a number of health benefits to those who get a large amount of it in their diet.

For those looking to add vitamin B12 to their diet, meat is usually the best option. Vitamin B12 can also be found in fish, eggs, dairy products, as well as organ meats. Tellingly, vegans are often diagnosed with vitamin B12 deficiency, which means that vegans looking to bolster their vitamin B12 intake should look for foods fortified with vitamin B12.

http://www.chiff.com/vitamins/vitamin-b12.htm

 

Buy B12 vitamins

Buy B12 Vitamins

B12 Vitamin Benefits

Vitamin B12 Benefits

Author: Juliet Cohen

Vitamin B12 has a long history and a solid reputation as an energy booster, and it is among the most important of all the B-complex vitamins. Vitamin B12 deficiency may result negative in hematological, neurological, and gastrointestinal conditions. Gastrointestinal effects of B12 deficiency may include diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, excessive flatulence, and a burning sensation on the tongue. Vitamin B12, a member of the B-vitamin family, is a term used collectively to represent a group of cobalt-containing compounds known as corrinoids. The principal cobalamins are cyanocobalamin, hydroxocobalamin, and the two coenzyme forms of vitamin B12, methylcobalamin, and 5-deoxyadenosylcobalamin (adenosylcobalamin). However, the term vitamin B12 is usually used to refer to only one of these forms, cyanocobalamin, which is used to fortify foods and nutritional supplements. Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin required for normal cell activity, DNA replication, and the synthesis of the mood-influencing substance SAMe. Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, works with folic acid to produce healthy red blood cells. Vitamin B12 also keeps your central nervous system healthy.





Vitamin B12 helps maintain the myelin sheath that insulates nerve fibres from each other. B12 deficiency can cause a type of anemia marked by fewer but larger red blood cells that's called pernicious anemia. It can also cause walking and balance problems, sore tongue, weakness, confusion and, in advanced cases, dementia. Vegetarians who eliminate all animal sources from their diet (also known as vegans) may benefit from taking a vitamin B12 supplement. Vitamin B12 is bound to the protein in food. Hydrochloric acid in the stomach releases B12 from proteins in foods during digestion. Hydroxocobalamin is a man-made form of vitamin B12. Vitamin B12's main functions are in the formation of red blood cells and the maintenence of a healthy nervous system. Prolonged B12 deficiency can lead to nerve degeneration and irreversible neurological damage. People with vitamin B12 deficiency show irregular destruction of the myelin sheaths, which eventually causes paralysis and death.Vitamin B12 levels decrease with age and various measures of cognitive impairment are associated with reduced B12 status. Vitamin B12 deficiencies occur when the body is unable to properly use the vitamin.





Benifits Vitamin B12 Tips





1. Vitamin B12 are critical to the health of the nervous system and to a process that clears homocysteine from the blood.





2. Vitamin B12 is found naturally in food sources (principally animal products) in protein-bound forms.





3. Vitamin B12 deficiency can be a factor in a variety of different health conditions and disorders.





4. Vitamin B12 may help restrain pre-cancerous lung conditions in smokers.





5. Patients with Alzheimer2019s show low levels of Vitamin B12.





6.3 Vitamin B 12 and folate are required for the synthesis of S-adenosylmethionine, a methyl group donor essential for the metabolism of neurotransmitters.





7. Vitamin B12 deficiency can be a factor in a variety of different health conditions and disorders.





8. Vitamin B12 has been suggested to help defend against hypersensitivity to sulfites.

About the Author:

Juliet Cohen writes articles on diseases and conditions and women health care. More information on health related topics visit our site at http://www.healthatoz.info.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/vitamin-b12-benefits-203458.html