Get Fit, Stay Fit, Today » Vitamins

Signs and Symptoms of a Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Rod McDonald — Fri, 14 May 2010 03:05:16 +0000

Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that plays a vital role in the production and maintenance of cells within the body. Despite being essential, the human body cannot produce this nutrient and it does not carry the bacteria that do produce it. The natural source of this nutrient is animal products such as meat (especially liver), sea food (especially shell fish), eggs, and dairy products. Today the nutrient is also added to many breads and cereals as part of the nutritional fortification process. Nevertheless, Vitamin B12 deficiencies are not particularly uncommon, especially among at risk groups: vegans and/or strict vegetarians), people over the age of fifty, people with assorted gastrointestinal disorders, and those with other medical conditions (pregnancy, hyperthyroidism, AIDS, alcoholism, and so on). These individuals very often decide to get a B12 shot.

A deficiency usually begins gradually with elevated homocysteine levels, which do not pose a threat to younger people, but can be a leading indicator of serious cardiovascular problems in older people. The earliest noticeable symptoms include digestive problems, lack of appetite, nausea and unusual fatigue. The problem with these symptoms is that they may be attributable to many different causes, so people at risk of a vitamin B12 deficiency should pay special attention. Women get a more alarming early warning signal: a loss of menstruation; which should be enough to alert her that something is wrong.

More advanced physical symptoms of a Vitamin B12 deficiency include: diarrhea; erectile disorder (in men); fever; frequent upper respiratory infections; hyperactive reflexes; increased bleeding; infertility (in women); macrocytic anemia; nervousness; numbness; sore tongue; and tingling of the hands and feet. Once a deficiency gets bad enough there are also usually mental symptoms as well such as: impaired memory, mild depression; paranoia; and significant behavioral changes.

Worst of all though are the neurological symptoms, most of which are described as subacute combined degeneration (SCD). The physical symptoms include: assorted mental problems (apathy, confusion, dementia, depression, irritability); impaired movement (awkward, clumsy, or stiff); impaired vision; insomnia; loss of balance; physical weakness; speech impairment (not common); unusual sensations (tingling, numbness). The real problem with SCD is that if it is not detected and treated quickly enough, it can result in permanent damage. Therefore the neurological aspect of a Vitamin B12 deficiency is usually considered the primary concern as the other symptoms are easily reversible. Regardless, getting supplemental B vitamin shots can be the solution.

What Supplements Should I Take

Rod Macbeth — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 06:05:46 +0000

There is a lot of information available on the fact that we should be supplementing our diet with natural nutrition vitamins and supplements. However, it can be very confusing just what exactly should be looked at. We often times cannot afford every vitamin on the market. What is the most important supplement that should be taken if a person is on a limited budget.

The best thing we can do at the beginning is to help our digestive system. After all, if we are not digesting properly, any vitamins or supplements we take will not do us any good. Some signs that our digestive tract is not doing well are brittle fingernails, being bloated after eating and a distaste for meat. We should be watching our stomach acid. Good levels of stomach acid help us digest our food and kill harmful bacteria.

Fatty acids, Omega-3 fatty acids to be specific, are very important. The proper consumption of fatty acids results in better fat digestion, reduction of blood pressure, reduction of sugar absorption and the reduction of stress. Fish oils are also very important.

You should choose a good set of multivitamins. Make sure the multivitamins are not packed with filler. Make sure they are natural and easily absorbed into the bloodstream. A good set of B vitamins, C vitamins and fat soluble vitamins such as A, D, E, & K should be taken. These will all provide the proper nutrients to make you healthy and strong.

Zinc is another important vitamin. It helps you absorb many different types of nutrients and is involved in many different enzyme and hormone functions. You should supplement with Zinc Orotate and Zinc Aspartate.

Supplementing your diet with Magnesium will help you relax and get a good nights sleep. You should supplement with magnesium aspartame or magnesium citrate for best results.

If you can work on obtaining the above vitamins and minerals, you will find yourself feeling better and having more energy. Remember, you should also make sure you are eating correctly. There is no substitution for good healthy food. That is non-processed natural foods with strong vitamins.
Photo Credit: dno1967

The Versatile Antioxidant Vitamin

Rod Macbeth — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:36:06 +0000

Slice an apple into half, and it turns brown. A copper penny suddenly becomes green, or an iron nail when left outside, will rust. What do all these events have in common? These are examples of a process called oxidation. If the sliced apple is dipped in a lemon juice, however, the rate at which the apple turns brown is slowed. It is because the Vitamin C in the lemon juice slows the rate of oxidative damage.
Since its discovery 65 years ago, vitamin C has come to be known as a wonder worker. Because of its role in collagen formation and other life-sustaining functions, Vitamin C serves as a key immune system nutrient and a potent free-radical fighter. This double-duty nutrient has been shown to prevent many illnesses, from everyday ailments such as the common cold to devastating diseases such as cancer.
The water-soluble vitamin C is known in the scientific world as ascorbic acid, a term that actually means without scurvy. We depend on ascorbic acid for many aspects of our biochemical functioning; yet human beings are among only a handful of animal species that cannot produce their own supply of vitamin C. Like these other animals, including primates and guinea pigs, we have no choice but to obtain this nutrient through food or our daily diet.
Vitamin C can enhance the body’s resistance from different diseases, including infections and certain types of cancer. It strengthens and protects the immune system by stimulating the activity of antibodies and immune system cells such as phagocytes and neutrophils.
Vitamin C, as an antioxidant, helps reduce the activity of free radicals. Free radicals are by-products of normal metabolism which can damage cells and set the stage for aging, degeneration, and cancer. It shouldnt come as any surprise that vitamin C is being used for cancer treatment. In large doses, Vitamin C is sometimes administered intravenously as part of cancer treatment.

Vitamin C prevents free radical damage in the lungs and may even help to protect the central nervous system from such damage. Free radicals are molecules with an unpaired electron. In this state, they’re highly reactive and destructive to everything that gets in their way. Although free radicals have been implicated in many diseases, they are actually a part of the body chemistry.
As an antioxidant, vitamin C’s primary role is to neutralize free radicals. Since ascorbic acid is water soluble, it can work both inside and outside the cells to combat free radical damage. Vitamin C is an excellent source of electrons; therefore, it can donate electrons to free radicals such as hydroxyl and superoxide radicals and quench their reactivity.
The versatile vitamin C also works along with glutathione peroxidase (a major free radical-fighting enzyme) to revitalize vitamin E, a fat-soluble antioxidant. In addition to its work as a direct scavenger of free radicals in fluids, then, vitamin C also contributes to the antioxidant activity in the lipids.
Optimal health, however, requires a balance between free radical generation and antioxidant protection. One of the functions of Vitamin C is to get and quench these free radicals before they create too much damage.
However, there is research to show that vitamin C may act as a pro-oxidant. In other words, vitamin C, under certain conditions anyway, may act in a manner that is opposite to its intended purpose. This has raised concern among thousands of people who supplement their diets with vitamin C…but that’s another story.