Demystifying medicine presents: The Dangers of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Vitamin b12 also known as cobalamin is an important vitamin that is required
for all individuals and getting the right amount of B12 is a major driving
factor in acquiring and maintaining optimal health.
Vitamin B12 helps make DNA and red blood cells. It is also required for proper
neurological function and maintenance of healthy nerve cells. Getting enough
vitamin B12 may be a concern if you are eating a plant-based diet. But do not
worry, we'll be showing you how easy it is to get it. In this video we'll be
exploring what vitamin B12 does in the body, how we can acquire through
different sources, and what happens if you don't get enough B12 in your diet.
So let's take a look how it works in the body. Once digested, vitamin B12 is
absorbed by the small intestine through intestinal cells. It is then transported
through the blood to the tissues of the body.
Vitamin B12 is stored in the liver and because a healthy human requires such a
small amount per day the liver stores a sufficient amount to cover the body's
daily need for several years. Vitamin B12 is very important to the human body
because it is a coenzyme. In order to understand what a coenzyme is we must
first understand enzymes. Enzymes are proteins that accelerate the rate at
which chemical reactions occur in the body.
Some require coenzymes to properly function. Therefore, a coenzyme is a small
organic or inorganic helper molecule that an enzyme requires for proper
activity. Vitamin B12 acts as a coenzyme to two enzymes in human cells.
Methionine synthase and methylmalonyl Coenzyme A (CoA) synthase. The first, methionine synthase is
an enzyme that helps to create the molecule methionine. Methionine is an
amino acid important in producing and protecting DNA and affecting proper gene
expression. It also aids in the production and preservation of myelin
sheath around neurons. The myelin sheath is a fatty white substance found
surrounding neurons or nerve cells acting as insulation for
nerve signal and it is very essential for proper nursing no transmission. The
second enzyme, methylmalonyl CoA synthase creates a molecule known as
succinyl-CoA. This molecule plays an important role in the production of
energy for the body from fats and proteins. It also aids in the production
of hemoglobin, which is a protein that transports oxygen in the blood.
This means that vitamin B12 also aids in the formation of red blood cells.
Now that we understand vitamin B12's role in proper DNA functioning, the nervous
system, energy production, and metabolism, we will take a look at the dangers of a
vitamin B12 deficiency.
Early stage of vitamin B12 deficiency can include mild
symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, and a general sense of tiredness. If left
untreated the deficiency can lead to symptoms such as tingling, pins and
needles sensation in the hands and feet, muscle weakness, shortness of breath and
heart palpitations. Late stage of vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms include more
serious nerve damage, neurological damage, and digestive damage. Symptoms of nerve
damage include increased tingling and numbness in hands and feet, increased
muscle weakness, loss of reflexes and balance, and trouble walking. Neurological
problems can include confusion, dementia, depression, and memory loss. The digestive
tract may also be affected causing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting,
heartburn, enlarged liver, and a smooth thick and red tongue. Some people have an
autoimmune disease called pernicious anemia in which their body destroys the
intrinsic factor which is a protein necessary for absorption of B12. these
individuals would experience these late-stage symptoms. People with certain
conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease or celiac disease are more
susceptible to B12 deficiency since their conditions interfere with food absorption.
So what can individuals with vitamin B12 deficiency or who are
susceptible to the deficiency do to increase their intake? Well vitamin B12
is unique among all the vitamins in that it is almost exclusively found in foods
derived for animals. For those who eat reasonable amount of animal derived
foods are most likely to have adequate intake including vegetarians who consume
eggs and milk products. The recommended daily intake of B12 for
adults is 2.4 micrograms and for pregnant women
it is 2.6 micrograms. Examples of good food sources of B12 are: meat, fish,
shellfish, cheese, eggs, and milk.
Vegans who restrict their diet to exclude all
animal derived foods must obtain B12 from either B12 fortified soy products
or supplements. Examples of these fortified food sources are: almond and
coconut milk, some breakfast cereals, nutritional yeast, and sea algae such as
spirulina. It is important to note that using the microwave to heat or cook
foods with vitamin B12 inactivates the vitamin. So to preserve the vitamin
remember to use the oven or stovetop to cook or heat meat and milk products.
If you believe you are not getting enough vitamin B12 in your diet, speak to your
doctor about dietary supplements of vitamin B12. These usually contain
cyanocobalamin which is a crystalline form of vitamin B12 that the body readily
converts to active forms and then can use. For those who are diagnosed with
vitamin B12 deficiency, there are 3 types of treatments or management options that
can be prescribed. The first is intramuscular injections
which, just like the flu shot, involves inserting a needle into the muscle.
This needle contains either a cyanocobalamin or hydroxocobalamin which is a natural
form of cobalamin. This injection is given every day or every other day for
one to two weeks. After this a maintenance dosage must be given every
one to three months. The second treatment is oral therapy which involves taking a
tablet containing cyanocobalamin every day for one to two weeks.
A maintenance dose must then be taken every day for life. This treatment has
been shown to be safe, sufficient and it's effective as intramuscular
injections even for those who have pernicious anemia. Although both oral and
injectable vitamin B12 are effective means of replacement, injectable therapy
leads to more rapid improvement and should be considered in patients with a
severe deficiency or severe neurological symptoms. The last treatment is nasal
therapy and his less studied than the first two. Nasal therapy involves a gel
formulation of hydroxocobalamin or cyanocobalamin administered into the
nose and it results in fast nasal absorption which leads to maintained
increase of vitamin B12 concentrations in the body. After the diagnosis of
vitamin B12 deficiency has been made and a treatment plan has been initiated
followup with the physician is important to determine the patient's response to
therapy and to modify the treatment plan according to the patient's need. We hope
that you have a better understanding of vitamin B12 deficiency after watching
this video. Always remember to speak to your doctor about what is the best
course of treatment for you before taking any supplementation.
Thank you for watching the Demystifying Medicine video series.