Should Neuropathy Patients Supplement With Vitamin B12?

Today's post from draxe.com (see link below) is a valuable follow up to yesterday's post about a study into vitamin B supplementation. It looks at vitamin B12 in particular and contains lots of useful information that you really need to read before supplementing for yourself. The most important thread running through the article is that you need to know if you have a B12 deficiency first before starting a course of B12 supplements, or B12 injections and the only person who can tell you this is your doctor. Many so-called 'miracle cures' for neuropathy are based on high vitamin B12 supplementation but you surely know by now which fantasy claims to ignore and of course, anything that has the word 'cure' in the title, is just cruel profiteering because as you know, nerve damage can't be cured, only the symptoms can be treated and hopefully reduced. This is why advertisers use the words 'vitamin B12' as a sort of trigger to fool the customer into thinking 'it must be good then'! Nevertheless, there's enough evidence to prove the benefits of B12 under the right conditions and the first of these conditions is having a B12 deficiency. Maybe time to arrange some tests with your doctor before heading for the health food store or buying on internet. This article will provide you with some good background information.

 
Vitamin B12 Injections Benefits, Risks and Better Alternatives? 
Dr Josh Axe 2016



Vitamin B12 deficiency is believed to be one of the most common nutrient deficiencies in the world, especially among people taking stomach acid-altering medications and antibiotics frequently, along with the elderly and sometimes vegetarians/vegans. (1) For this reason, B12 injections are sometimes used to offset the many symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, such as fatigue and weakness, poor moods, and low concentration.

Even more serious is that B12 deficiency can disturb red blood cell formation and elevate homocysteine levels, which negatively impacts neurological and cardiovascular health, in addition to posing risks during pregnancy.

While foods like grass-fed beef, dairy products and fish supply a good dose of vitamin B12, some people abstain from eating these foods or have a harder time absorbing and actually utilizing this nutrient due to digestive/metabolic limitations. Sometimes certain genetic conditions can hinder the body’s use of vitamin b12, and other times low dietary intake plus unhealthy lifestyle habits are to blame. Plus, because b12 vitamin is bound to amino acids (found in protein foods) and is only released when certain enzymes and stomach acids are present, it’s possible to consume enough but still remain somewhat deficient.

So are B12 injections the answer to restoring health in those with low levels? Vitamin B12 benefits and benefits of receiving B12 injections can include improved moods, protection against cognitive decline and better energy, but as you’ll learn, there are also risks involved. Secondly, B12 shots don’t always resolve the underlying problem of deficiency, so they’re not the be-all and end-all when it comes to treating symptoms.
What Are B12 Injections?

B12 injections are shots that contain high doses of vitamin B12, used to quickly elevate levels in someone with a deficiency.

What does vitamin B12 do exactly?

Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin that’s crucial for many vital metabolic and hormonal functions — including the production of digestive enzymes and carrying important nutrients into and out of cells. Due to how it helps convert and synthesize many other compounds within the body, it’s needed for well over 100 daily functions. Some of the roles that are attributed to vitamin B12 include:
Forming red blood cells
Playing a role in DNA/RNA synthesis
Acting as a cofactor for methionine synthase (helping with methylation or the conversion of homocysteine to methionine, which protects cardiovascular health and more)
Facilitating metabolic conversion of protein and fats
Carrying out neurotransmitter functions and helping with production of hormones
Helping convert amino acids and make creatine
Producing myelin sheath (the coating of nerves)
Helping with synthesis of hemoglobin
Playing a role in fetal development during pregnancy

Vitamin B12 levels are usually tested with a blood serum test, and values below approximately 170–250 picogram per milliliter in adults are considered signs of deficiencies. However, it’s common for blood tests to reveal inaccurate information regarding B12 levels since a high percentage is stored in the liver and not always revealed through testing (for example, taking large amounts of folic acid has been found to mask vitamin B12 deficiency in some patients). (2)

Vitamin B12 shots are normally available by prescription only and are administered into a patient’s muscle tissue about once monthly, although dosage varies depending on age and medical history.

Studies show that most people living in industrialized nations tend to get enough vitamin B12, although not all. (3) Vitamin B12 shots are administered most often in those with genetic conditions that block absorption and people with the disorder called pernicious anemia, which can result in severe malabsorption and deficiency. Pernicious anemia is caused by a decrease in red blood cells when the body can’t absorb enough vitamin B12, greatly raising the risk for neurological complications.

According to the National Institute of Health, the two forms of vitamin B12 that are “active” within the human body are called methylcobalamin and 5-deoxyadenosylcobalamin. Because vitamin B12 contains the mineral cobalt, various compounds within vitamin B12 activity are sometimes referred to as “cobalamins.” Vitamin B12 supplements usually contain the type called cyanocobalamin, which easily converts to the vitamin’s active forms (although this doesn’t always mean that absorption is high). (4) The absorption of vitamin B12 requires something called intrinsic factor, which is found in stomach acid.
B12 Injection Potential Benefits vs. Risks

The NIH reports that in those with confirmed deficiency, B12 injections can have important benefits. However, it’s been found that oral B12 supplementation when taken in high doses can have similar protective effects. For example, one study found that taking 1,000–2,000 micrograms orally in properly timed doses helped improve levels as much as injections. (5, 6)
Benefits of B12 Injections:
Might Reduce Depression, Cognitive Decline and Dementia: Some studies show that, especially in older people, supplementing with vitamin B12 can prevent depression, restore better mood control and retain healthy memory/mental functioning. (7)
Helps Lower Fatigue: Restoring vitamin B12 to healthy levels can treat anemia, help with conversion of macronutrients and production of creatine (beneficial for building muscle mass), and reduce muscle weakness.
Can Help Improve Your Metabolism: Some people turn to vitamin B12 shots to overcome a sluggish metabolism and even help with weight loss. Because injections might give patients more energy and regulate hormone production, it’s possible to experience changes in appetite, improved sleep and better exercise performance. Some even claim B12 shots improve appearance of their skin, hair and nails.
Protects the Heart: Elevated homocysteine levels have been identified as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the No. 1 killer of adults in industrialized nations. Vitamin B12 is needed for conversion of homocysteine and therefore can prevent conditions or complications like heart attack, stroke or coronary heart disease.
Improves Low Sperm Count
Helps with Fetal Development During Pregnancy (8)
Helps Prevent or Treat Diabetic Neuropathy




Risks/Drawbacks of B12 Injections:
 
Problems with Absorption: Even if someone receives high doses of vitamin B12, it doesn’t necessarily mean that his or her body has the ability to properly absorb and use the whole dose. That’s because utilization of vitamin B12 (especially from supplements) depends on levels of other metabolic cofactors and acids. The NIH reports that only about 10 micrograms of a 500-microgram oral supplement is actually absorbed in healthy people due to limitations of stomach acid and intrinsic factor.
Interactions with Medications: Vitamin B12 has the potential to interact with certain medications, including diabetic prescriptions, metformin, proton pump inhibitors, antagonists and antibiotics. High doses might also possibly interfere with levels of other vitamins, enzymes and minerals, which is always a potential problem when taking any nutrient in very large quantities.

Wondering if it’s dangerous to take too much vitamin B12?

Because it’s a water-soluble vitamin, any excess that isn’t used should be flushed from the body and not pose too much risk (not the case with fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin A). The Institute of Medicine reports that “no adverse effects have been associated with excess vitamin B12 intake from food and supplements in healthy individuals.” (9)

However, if you’re not deficient in vitamin B12 to begin with or you don’t address the underlying reasons you might be deficient, injections likely won’t do much to improve overall quality of life. As researchers from Cornell University Medicine put it, “Management requires correctly diagnosing cobalamin deficiency, reversing it, defining its underlying causes, preventing relapse, managing the underlying disorder and its complications, and educating the patient.” (10)
How to Know You’re Low in B12: Signs and Symptoms of B12 Deficiency

Signs and symptoms that you might be suffering from B12 deficiency can include: (11)
chronic fatigue, lethargy and weakness
Muscle aches, joint pain and trouble exercising
Poor memory, inability to concentrate and other cognitive problems associated with aging
Mood changes, like increased depression and anxiety, or signs of nervousness like rapid heartbeats/palpitations
Poor dental health, including bleeding gums and mouth sores
Shortness of breath and feeling dizzy
Poor appetite or digestive problems like constipation, nausea, diarrhea or cramping
Sometimes greater risk for problems like cardiovascular complications or even cancer (due to a rise in homocysteine levels)

Why might you be low in vitamin B12, even if you eat a relatively healthy diet? One reason is being low in a type of compound produced within the stomach called intrinsic factor (a type of glycoprotein), which combines with vitamin B12 once consumed in order to allow it to be absorbed. Research shows that around 50 percent to 60 percent of ingested vitamin B12 is usually absorbed when enough intrinsic factor is present in relation to B12, but absorption decreases drastically when this ratio changes.

Older people usually produce less stomach acid and therefore less intrinsic factor, increasing their risk for deficiency. People who take medications regularly that decrease stomach acid production can also become deficient in vitamin B12 for this reason, whether they consume enough from their diets or not.

Because of how vitamin B12 is absorbed, the most common risk factors for B12 deficiency are:
Genetic susceptibility: Some people genetically produce less intrinsic factor and stomach acid needed for B12 absorption. This population might benefit most from injections if dietary improvements don’t do enough to raise levels.
Having an autoimmune disease: Some autoimmune diseases can damage the stomach lining (including pernicious anemia) where intrinsic factor is produced.
Older age: Due to changes in dietary nutrient intake (usually from eating less overall) and also decreased production of stomach acid, the elderly tend to have reduced levels of vitamin B12. This is one reason that mood changes, poor memory and weakness become more common with older age.
Having an intestinal disorder resulting in less stomach acid: These include conditions like gastritis, hypochlorhydria or achlorhydria. Problems can also arise after intestinal or stomach surgeries are performed. (12)
Taking stomach acid-lowering drugs: Medications can block absorption, including antacids used to treat conditions like gastritis or esophageal reflux and antihistamines.
Being a vegetarian or vegan: This group consumes less foods that are naturally high in vitamin B12, such as beef and poultry (and sometimes dairy and fish too), which means their intake of vitamin B12 is lower whether their absorption is adequate or not.
Better Ways to Address B12 Deficiency

The ideal and safest way to consume enough of any nutrient is getting it naturally through whole food sources. However, sometimes due to other health conditions or food preferences, this isn’t always possible. But if you can, you should consume foods that provide this valuable vitamin.

The foods highest in vitamin B12 are:
Organ meats, such as beef and chicken liver
Wild-caught fish, including salmon, herring, mackerel, tuna, trout and sardines (also great sources of other vital nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids)
Organic dairy products, including probiotic-rich yogurt or raw milk
Pasture-raised poultry, including turkey or chicken
Grass-fed beef and lamb





When it’s not possible to get enough vitamin B12 from your diet, perhaps due to genetic conditions or taking necessary medications, someone might choose to boost intake of vitamin B12 in several ways other than receiving injections. These can include taking oral dietary supplements and now even a new form of prescription vitamin B12 medication available in gel form. Studies show these seem to work in similar ways to improve symptoms.

Gel formulations of vitamin B12 are somewhat new and applied into the nostrils (intranasally). They’re now considered an alternative to vitamin B12 injections that some prefer because they require no needles. There is not as much evidence regarding long-term efficacy or safety of gel vitamin B12 compared to injections, but at this time it appears B12 gel works similarly to raise blood levels. Remember that whether you choose to use vitaminBb12 in supplement form or not to resolve deficiency symptoms, it’s important to identify the real reason you’re struggling with deficiency in the first place.

Final Thoughts on Vitamin B12 Injections
 
Vitamin B12 injections (or shots) are used to overcome vitamin B12 deficiency, which is common especially among the elderly, those with intestinal damage or disorders, people with pernicious anemia, and vegetarians/vegans.
The benefits of vitamin B12 injections include treating or preventing symptoms, such as fatigue, heart problems, neurological damage, mood changes, muscle weakness and hormone imbalances.
The best way to get enough vitamin B12 is through a healthy diet whenever possible, such as from consuming grass-fed beef, poultry or wild-caught fish.
Risks of taking vitamin B12 injections include taking unnecessarily high amounts (which aren’t always absorbed properly anyway) and experiencing interactions with other medications.

https://draxe.com/b12-injections/