Old Time Remedies, Health and Wellness: Diagnosing and Treating Vitamin B12 Deficiency

What is B12?

(Cyanocobalamin, Hydroxocobalamin, Methylcobalamin, Cobamamide)

Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin that is water soluble. It is also very commonly found in numerous
different kinds of foods, such as dairy products, fish, meat and shellfish. Frequently, vitamin B12
is used in conjunction with other vitamin B types in a complex formulation.

The vitamin serves to keep nerve cells healthy, as well as the red blood cells, and it is also needed
in order to make DNA, which is the genetic material that is found in every cell. Vitamin B12
is bound to food by way of the protein. During digestion, the stomach releases the B12 from protein
using its own hydrochloric acid, and upon its release, it mixes into the intrinsic factor, another
substance, prior to being absorbed into the blood.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Previous scientific research have shown that when a person has a deficiency of the vitamin B12
, it may lead to complications such as abnormal psychiatric and neurologic symptoms. Some of
these such symptoms in question may include:

Muscle weakness
Ataxia, which is shaky movement and an unsteady gait
Hypotension, which is low blood pressure
Incontinence
Spasticity
Mood disturbances
Vision problems
Psychoses and
Dementia.

Researchers say that the previously mentioned symptoms have a tendency to occur even when
the levels of the vitamin B12 are only a little bit lower than they are supposed to be, and when
they are considerably higher than levels that are considered to be normal for those with anemia.
See More ..
http://www.naturalremedies.org/b12/

Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD on July 23, 2015

Are you getting enough vitamin B12? Many people don’t, and that deficiency can cause some serious problems.
Vitamin B12 does a lot of things for your body. It helps make your DNA and your red blood cells, for examples.
Since your body doesn't make vitamin B12, you'll need to get it from animal-based foods or from supplements, and it needs to be consumed on a regular basis. Exactly how much you need and where you should get it from depends on things like your age, the diet you follow, your medical conditions, and in some cases what medications you take.

Quiz: What Do You Know About Vitamin B12 Deficiency? Slideshow: A Visual Guide to Anemia

Causes of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Vitamin B12 deficiency can happen if you have certain conditions, such as:

Atrophic gastritis, in which your stomach lining has thinned
Pernicious anemia, which makes it hard for your body to absorb vitamin B12
Surgery that removed part of your stomach or small intestine, including weight loss surgery
Conditions affecting the small intestine, such as Crohn's disease, celiac disease, bacterial growth, or a parasite
Heavy drinking
Immune system disorders, such as Graves' disease or lupus
Long-term use of acid-reducing drugs. Stomach acids help break down animal proteins that have vitamin B12.

You can also get vitamin B12 deficiency if you're a vegan (meaning you don't eat any animal products, including meat, milk, cheese, and eggs) or a vegetarian who doesn't eat enough eggs or dairy products to meet your vitamin B12 needs.

Babies born to mothers who are vegetarians may also not get enough vitamin B12. Vegans can take supplements containing vitamin B12 or by eating vitamin B12-fortified grains.

The risk of B12 deficiency also increases with age.

Video .. A must see : Diagnosing and Treating Vitamin B12 Deficiency

By Richard Zwolinski, LMHC, CASAC & C.R. Zwolinski

Could a B12 vitamin deficiency be causing your depression, anxiety or even symptoms of psychosis? This important video shows results of a B12 deficiency and how it can negatively affect your physical and emotional health. We were shocked at the serious problems it can cause.

Note: The amount of B12 present in a healthy diet combined with most multi-vitamin or B-complex supplements may meet your basic needs. But: Get medical/nutritional advice from a professional before supplementing with mega-amounts of vitamin B12. There can be serious side-effects.
Thanks to Trudy Scott who posted this video on Facebook.