Vitamin B12

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Vitamin B12
« on: August 19, 2006, 10:51:52 AM » by healthybratt

I am currently on a search for more info on B12, it's sources, how it's used and what its for. I have run across some very conflicting information and if any of you have already found the answer to this dilemma, I would appreciate your input.

I have read that raspberry and brewers yeast are good sources of B12 and since low milk supply and other hormonal problems might be associated with a deficiency in B12, these are good supplements to take to balance the hormones and increase the milk supply.

I have also read that vegetarians really aren't as healthy as they could be because there is no vegetable source for vitamin B12 and they need to eat meat to get this essential vitamin in their diet.

Some claim that spirulina has B12 and others say this is not true. It has something that mimics B12 but might fool the body into not absorbing or utilizing the B12 when it is available.

So, do veggies and herb contain B12 or can you only get them from meats? If only from meats then why is everyone claiming that hormonal imbalances are from B12 deficiency and then recommending brewer's yeast and raspberry? These herbs, according to everyone I've spoken to, really do help, but if it's not B12, then what is it?

I thought maybe these herbs contained something which contributed to the "intrinsic factor" thereby helping the body to better absorb the B12 or something along these lines, but haven't been able to find any research to back up my theory.

On a side note: those who are B12 deficient may be suffering from a lack of stomach acid. I don't have all the nitty gritty on this yet. I just stumbled across it yesterday in my research, but the jist of is this. If you take too many anti-acids due to a reflux or heartburn situation, you may endanger yourself of lack of stomach acid production in the future. Sounds cool, BUT if you don't have enough you damage something called the "intrinsic factor" which is necessary for the absorption of B12. Without it, you might only be able to benefit from B12 supplementation intravenously or sublingually. I'll write more on this as I find it.

« Last Edit: August 19, 2006, 10:55:15 AM by healthybratt »
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Re: Vitamin B12
« Reply #1 on: August 19, 2006, 12:58:36 PM » by Kati*did

Wow, HB...this is really interesting to me. I used to be vegan and took B12 supplements because I also was told that the only significant source was in animal protein. I was also told by my doctor that it's very important for vegans (and possibly vegetrarians) to make sure they get B12 because once you suffer damage from a deficiency, it's not reversible. He told me that having high blood sugars (as a diabetic) renders me in need of more B12 as well, but I don't remember why....I'll have to look that up. I never heard about the connection with those who have acid reflux and take anti-acids. My husband has GERD, and this is something I'm interested in learning more about.

Katie

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Re: Vitamin B12
« Reply #2 on: August 19, 2006, 01:21:15 PM » by diaperswyper

Can't give you a whole lot of help, hb, but i do know after my last baby i just couldn't seem to get quite back to normal. My emotions were touchy and my energy level was low. I read about how important it is for nursing mothers, especially moms with big babies, to get there supply of the B vitamins. Especially B12. So i figured since my ds was over 9lbs. and nursing like a small piggy i might qualify. The first time i took it, wow, within hrs i saw a big improvement in both energy and moods. Even my dh noticed it. i am a believer! Grin

I had a close friend who's baby was 6 mo. old and still didn't feel normal. Within a day or two of taking it she saw a dramatic improvement. We took Nature's Sunshine liquid B12. Another friend suffering from postpartum saw the biggest difference after the B12's as compared to just her medication. Don't know how it works but it works.

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Re: Vitamin B12
« Reply #3 on: August 19, 2006, 01:38:00 PM » by healthyinOhio

My son suffered from bruxism(grinding of the teeth), and I read that it is caused from a Vit. B12 deficiency. Sure enough, after a few days on the supplement he stopped. I gave it to him on and off for a few months. Only, because he really liked eating them. Wink

Surprisingly, they were a "vegan" form of B12,(not that I believed in eating that way, but it was the only chewable form) so I am not exactly sure how they did it. I know that the only true source of B12 is from animal products. Interesting study though.

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Re: Vitamin B12
« Reply #4 on: August 19, 2006, 01:43:25 PM » by healthybratt

Quote

Intrinsic factor is a glycoprotein produced by the parietal cells of the stomach. It is necessary for the absorption of vitamin B12 later on in the small intestine.

Upon entry into the stomach, vitamin B12 becomes bound to one of two B12 binding proteins present in gastric juice. In the less acidic environment of the small intestine, these proteins dissociate from the vitamin, enabling it to bind to intrinsic factor and enter the portal circulation through a receptor in the ileal mucosa specific for the B12-intrinsic factor complex.

The absence of intrinsic factor leads to the development of pernicious anemia, an autoimmune disease, autoantibodies directed against intrinsic factor or parietal cells themselves lead to an intrinsic factor deficiency, malabsorption of vitamin B12, and subsequent megaloblastic anemia. Atrophic gastritis can also cause intrinsic factor deficiency and anemia through damage to the parietal cells of the stomach wall. Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency can interfere with normal dissociation of vitamin B12 from its binding proteins in the small intestine, preventing its absorption via the intrinsic factor complex...

NOTE

Patients experiencing an insufficiency in their intrinsic factor levels cannot benefit from a vitamin B-12 supplement, it will not absorb through the wall of the small intestine. Normal treatment involves an injection of vitamin B-12, thus bypassing the digestive tract.

There's that word again - autoimmune disease. Another piece of the Leaky Gut puzzle, but how....I'm working on it.

« Last Edit: August 19, 2006, 04:39:19 PM by healthybratt »
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Re: Vitamin B12
« Reply #5 on: August 19, 2006, 02:15:29 PM » by Kati*did

Quote from: hb

Some claim that spirulina has B12 and others say this is not true. It has something that mimics B12 but might fool the body into not absorbing or utilizing the B12 when it is available.

I read in "Understanding Nutrition" that spirulina and sea algae have an inactive type of B12 in them and so it's unavailable to the body.

kg

« Last Edit: August 19, 2006, 04:39:57 PM by healthybratt »
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Re: Vitamin B12
« Reply #6 on: August 19, 2006, 02:29:41 PM » by Kati*did

Oops...that first paragraph in my last post was supposed to be a quote from HB.

KG

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Re: Vitamin B12
« Reply #7 on: August 21, 2006, 01:13:22 PM » by healthyinOhio

I found the vegan source of B12. It was by VegLife, and it contained cyanocobalamin which is a man-made version of B12. Also, it says in Wipikedia, that no plants nor animals make B12, but it is found in bacteria and archaea? Don't know if this helps you any or not.

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Re: Vitamin B12
« Reply #8 on: January 24, 2007, 10:51:28 AM » by healthybratt

Okay, I'm reading Eat Fat: Lose Fat and Mary Enig said in her book that Nutritional Yeast contains high amounts of all B vitamins EXCEPT B12. This doesn't explain it all, but it's a start. Thought I'd mention it before I read something else good and forgot about this entirely. It's a great book.

« Last Edit: January 25, 2007, 03:38:44 PM by healthybratt »
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Re: Vitamin B12
« Reply #9 on: January 24, 2007, 11:05:26 AM » by WithLoveAndJoy

Oh yes, HB....Eat Fat Lose Fat is excellent! I recently lent it to my mom, and she is learning a lot from it. I am hoping to try and convert her over to whole foods

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Re: Vitamin B12
« Reply #10 on: January 24, 2007, 11:40:28 AM » by healthyinOhio

Quote from: healthybratt on January 24, 2007, 10:51:28 AM

It's a great book.

I LOVE this book, too! What is weird is Fallon's recipes work wonderfully out of this book, but not NT?! Grin

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Re: Vitamin B12
« Reply #11 on: January 25, 2007, 03:38:22 PM » by healthybratt

Quote from: healthyinOhio on January 24, 2007, 11:40:28 AM

Quote from: healthybratt on January 24, 2007, 10:51:28 AM

It's a great book.

I LOVE this book, too! What is weird is Fallon's recipes work wonderfully out of this book, but not NT?! Grin

Maybe the author and co-author roles are reversed? Mary Enig is the primary author of Eat Fat Lose Fat. Maybe the books are written from different perspectives or stores of knowledge.

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Re: Vitamin B12
« Reply #12 on: November 13, 2008, 01:17:52 PM » by the herbalist

Perhaps the Red Raspberry and Brewer's Yeast somehow aid the intrinsic factor etc. in absorbing B-12? From How To Be Your Own Herbal Pharmacist I found this interesting tidbit "Comfrey is one of a few plants that can make B-12 out of cobalt present in the soil". Don't know if this would be an active or inactive form. Has anyone else come across this. Does anyone know of an herbal / dietary approach to correcting a B-12 deficiency? I've been sitting in an MD's office that uses a Holistic approach (diet, nutritients, herbs) recently a female patient that he recommended B-12 supplementation to, wondered if there would be an herbal approach, since I'm an herbalist he gave me the assignment. Can anyone help me? Any research on increasing vitamin B-12 assimilation without simply taking B-12 (methylcobalamin, hydroxocobalamin, adenosylcobalamin, or cyanocobalamin). I think the assimilation / metabolization is the key as this lady is getting B-12 in her diet.

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Re: Vitamin B12
« Reply #13 on: May 05, 2009, 12:48:18 PM » by leslieincali

I just ordered the B12 mouth spray from Mercola. If you search "weird episodes" you can read about my struggles with gluten. Many folks who find they have celiacs need B12 injections because their levels are so low. Since the military won't pay for that, I thought I'd give this spray a try. Has anyone else tried it? I'll post my experiences after I use it a while.

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Re: Vitamin B12
« Reply #14 on: May 05, 2009, 01:23:03 PM » by mdessy

According to Dr. Elson Haas hydrocholoric acid helps with the absorption of B12, if acid production is weak you absorb less. Calcium and thyroid hormone help with the absorption as well. As we age we produce less hydrochloric acid so making sure you have good levels is important. Laxatives and overuse of antacids can reduce absorption and deplete B12 stores.

Primary source of B12 are:

meat, most fish, crabs, oysters, egg yolk and milk products (especially yogurt). Organ meats, liver heart and kidneys are very high. This means that vegetarians and especially vegans may need supplementation.

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