Jan 23rd 2024
Vitamin B12 Deficiency…More Than Just a Nuisance
. . . shockingly widespread, some estimates say 2 out of 5 lack this vital nutrient
While nutritional deficiencies are still more common in developing countries, some recent data suggests that it being mostly a third-world problem is simply a cultural myth.
According to recent American Journal of Clinical Nutrition data, 6% of the people in the US and the UK are vitamin B12 deficient by age 60. Plus, marginal deficiencies occur in another 20% of those surveyed, with significant deficiencies increasing substantially after age 60.
While other studies show vegetarians and vegans are at even higher risk—including babies born to vegetarian mothers—clearly, they’re not the only ones making up these B12 deficiency statistics. Thus, it begs the question…
Why are so many of us deficient in vitamin B12?
Studies published in numerous medical journals show vitamin B12 is a critical component of brain function. They link deficiency to memory and thinking problems, dementias, and even brain shrinkage. So getting adequate amounts in our body is essential—especially as we age.
But what causes us to lack this critical nutrient?
Vitamin B12 deficiencies happen for several reasons. One is malabsorption of the nutrient from food. For example, if you suffer from some form of immune system disorder—like anemia, Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, among others—you may have trouble absorbing vitamin B12 into your bloodstream or body.
People who have had weight-loss surgery, chronic alcoholics, and those with higher nutrient requirements—like infants and pregnant women—are at greater risk of a vitamin B12 deficiency. Vegetarians or vegans simply cannot get enough B12 in their diet from their food choices.
Exposing foods to processing and heat—like during canning or cooking—destroys nutrients, including vitamin B12. Plus, extended use of antacids and other heartburn medications has been documented to cause mineral and vitamin deficiencies, including B12.
Rather than worrying, we can listen to our body to notice any number of the...
Most common signs of B12 deficiency
If you are repeatedly experiencing any of the following symptoms, you may have a vitamin B12 deficiency.
Immune system symptoms—vitamin B12 is critical to the formation of red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout our body. A long-term lack of adequate B12 can lead to anemia—a type of blood disorder caused by a deficiency of red blood cells in the body. You could have anemia if you’re always feeling fatigued, tired, weak, dizzy, short of breath…or lack energy, suffer headaches, and have unusually pale skin color.
Those suffering Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, and other immune system disorders may experience cramping, loss of appetite, diarrhea, constipation, weight loss, nausea, and more. Sure signs you may be vitamin B12 deficient.
Neurological symptoms—vitamin B12 helps nerve tissue function properly. We’ve discussed previously how neurological symptoms of B12 deficiency—like confusion, lack of mental clarity, poor memory, insomnia, nervousness, weakness, fatigue, imbalance, anxiety, depression, tremors, incontinence, and numbness in hands and feet—are often misdiagnosed as dementia setting in.
For most, one or more prescriptions from their doctor only tend to mask these symptoms—allowing continued B12 deficiencies to cause permanent paralysis, dementia, and brain damage. For a lucky few, symptoms disappear soon after adequate supplementation with B12.
Poor medical test results—B vitamins—especially B12—support the methylation process in your body. Methylation is a key biochemical process essential for the proper function of nearly every system in your body, including brain function. It repairs DNA…controls which genes are turned on or off…recycles molecules used in detoxing the body…maintains mood…keeps inflammation in check…and more.
Also, when methylation pathways are poorly functioning, a toxic protein called homocysteine builds up in your bloodstream and cells. Multiple studies like this one have shown a clear link between excess homocysteine in the blood and an increased risk for developing dementias, including Alzheimer’s.
To see if your methylation process is optimal, ask your doctor to run the four important tests indicated in this article on checking the health of your methylation process.
Once you’ve determined you lack this vital nutrient, here are the…
Best solutions to correct a vitamin B12 deficiency
Animal foods—such as meat, fish, shellfish, eggs, and milk products—are traditional natural sources for vitamin B12. But be cautious. We’ve said before how too much animal protein causes an acid overload in the body…why animal protein is contaminated with toxic chemicals...and why we never recommend dairy, if you want optimal health.
Sure, some foods like breakfast cereals are fortified with B12. But the B12 they contain is low-quality synthetic B12. In addition, these so-called ‘foods’ are highly processed and loaded with the metabolic poison we call sugar.
Clearly, it’s difficult to get sufficient B12 from our current food supply. That’s why we highly recommend supplementation. Vitamin B12 comes in several forms. Cyanocobalamin—the synthetic medical-grade version—is the most common and what’s often used in low-quality supplements. You can go here now to see what B12 forms we recommend instead, and why they provide superior B12 protection.
Of course, with our Beyond Health line of supplements, you always get the most biologically active ingredients, in their purest form. For most, taking our multi-vitamin works well for maintaining adequate amounts of vitamin B12 in your body. But if you’re trying to correct a deficiency or disease, you can best restore ideal levels of this critical vitamin by supplementing with our Beyond Health B12/Folate Formula.
By doing so, you’ll reduce your risk of the many deficiency diseases associated with vitamin B12, including Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
Have you reduced—even eliminated—your symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency? We invite you to share your successes with our readers in the comment section below.