IMPORTANCE OF VITAMIN B12

Vitamin B12 is another essential vitamin to good health. Again, many of us are low on this important vitamin. If you don't know your vitamin B12 level, ask your doctor about it. A simple blood test will tell you if you need supplementation. Vitamin B12 is necessary to promote healthy nerves and blood cells. It also supports your energy levels.

Are you a fatigued individual? Get that blood test to check your vitamin levels. "Vitamin B12 is one of the most important nutrients for a fatigued individual," says Dr David Brownstein. He added that, "B12 deficiency is common." I know I personally have this deficiency and take a tablet daily. It is amazing how that changes my stamina. I am 79 and keep up with my 3-year-old great-granddaughter to my own surprise. 

For superior absorption, if your doctor doesn't think you need the B12 tablet just a multivitamin, choose a multivitamin that contains vitamin B12 as methylcobalamin.

VITAMIN B12 AND COGNITIVE DECLINE

 A study at the University of California, San Francisco regarding vitamin B12 and cognitive function was conducted with healthy adults over age 71. The researchers found that B12 levels in the lower range of "normal" correlate with faster cognitive aging and damage to nerve fiber that are essential for communication within different areas of the brain. If you or a loved one show early signs of dementia and perhaps some of the symptoms listed in yesterday's post, have your doctor check your level of B12.

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SIGNS OF VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY

Yesterday's post was about vitamin B12 deficiency, especially if you have been taking metformin for a long period of time. Today's post is a list of signs that could be indicators of such a deficiency. All these are probably symptoms of various problems, however, if you have more than one or two of these signs over a period of time, talk to your doctor about a blood test of your B12.

• Feeling very tired
• Weak muscles
• Getting confused easily
• Balance problems
• Memory problems
• Depression
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Irritability
• Mouth soreness
• Tender Tongue

This is a partial list. This should be enough to give you a clue, if you suffer a couple of them. A blood test is a simple way to check your vitamin B12.

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METFORMIN AND VITAMIN B12

Are you aware a drug you may be taking might cause a vitamin B12 deficiency? Metformin is one of the most common drugs prescribed for type 2 diabetics.  I have been a type 2 diabetic for 19 years, taking metformin most of that time. I have regular blood work and checkups with my doctor. Vitamin B12 supplements were added to my regimen some time ago. Metformin blocks absorption of B12 often requiring supplementation. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration requires a warning with metformin prescriptions (who reads all that stuff that comes with a prescription?) to that effect. If you are taking metformin, be sure you are having your B12 levels checked regularly. By the way, Amy Rothenberg, a naturopathic doctor and educator based in Massachusetts, has stated, "Research shows that those with higher circulating B12 levels have slower decline in memory, executive function, and language usage."

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ARE EGGS CONSIDERED A HEALTHY FOOD?

Even though eggs have sometimes gotten a bad rap, they are among the healthiest, most nutritious foods on the earth. Following are a couple facts you may not know about eggs.

• One egg has 6 grams of protein with all 9 of the essential amino acids. The amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and the body cannot make them by itself.  Note that the egg white holds around half that protein while only holding a small amount of fat and cholesterol.
• Eggs are nutrient dense foods, meaning they contain more vitamins, minerals and amino acids, per calorie than most other foods. When you eat an egg, you get high quality protein, phosphorus, selenium, choline, vitamin B12 and multiple antioxidants.

So, enjoy your eggs. Of course, we know to eat all things in moderation. It's probably not a good idea to eat six fried eggs every morning like my grandpa did. He did die pretty healthy in his nineties, though.

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VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY IN OLDER ADULTS

 

Studies have shown that half of all older adults are deficient in vitamin B12. If you follow my blogs, you probably know I have had several colon surgeries and have lost part of my colon thus I am susceptible to this deficiency. My late husband suffered from depression and dementia. We both took vitamin B12. My husband was on pills prescribed by his doctors for several years now and his dementia stabilized. I have had to take shots at various times over the years, My status is checked every few months and I have been off shots for a while not. So you can see why I am bringing this to the attention of older adults. Did you know that vitamin B12 only comes from meat, poultry, and seafood? That is a lot of my problem, I'm sure, could it be yours? If you feel tired, have trouble sleeping, walk around 'in a fog', etc, ask your doctor to check your vitamin B12 levels. Here are what some of the experts have to say on the subject:

• "Being even mildly deficient in vitamin B12 may put older adults at a greater risk for accelerated cognitive decline."^[6] - Tufts Nutrition News, 2013
• "B12 deficiency is common, with troubling symptoms...that are similar to many other problems related to growing older."^[8] -The Mayo Clinic Health Letter, September 2013
• B12 deficiency can be sneaky, harmful and is relatively common, especially among older people."^[9] -The Harvard Medical School's health blog January 10th, 2013
• "B12 is the most important nutrient you aren't thinking about...B12 deficiency can mimic all of the effects of aging."^[7] - Dr. David Katz of the Yale University Prevention Research Center in 2012