Vitamin B12 (Hydroxocobalamin)

Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, was first isolated from liver extract in 1948 and discovered to be a factor, which prevented the development of pernicious anemia. Vitamin B12 has several functions in the body and works closely with folic acid and other nutrients. It aids in the synthesis of DNA, red blood cells, and the myelin sheath, which is an insulator around certain types of nerve cells. Biochemically, it acts as a methyl donor, like folic acid and vitamin B6. Through that mechanism, it may reduce the risk of certain forms of heart disease in patients who have elevations of toxic intermediates, such as homocysteine. In addition, it has also been shown to have a favorable effect on the treatment of infectious states, neurocognitive disorders, depression, allergies, asthma, and neuropathy.

Food sources of vitamin B12 include most products of animal origin, including meat products, eggs, fish, cheese, and organ meats. Strict vegetarians are often prone to vitamin B12 deficiencies, since many of their food products contain very little, or trace, amounts of vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is present in certain forms of sea vegetables and fermented foods, such as tempeh. However, there is some debate as to whether the specific type of vitamin B12 in these foods is actually bioavailable and utilized well in normal human nutrition.

Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency include numbness, a sensation of "pins and needles" in the extremities, burning feet, impaired mental capacity, mental fatigability, fatigue, or depression. Sometimes, gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea, can also accompany vitamin B12 and/or folic acid deficiency.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is also associated with increased age. This is thought to be related to the declining efficiency of gastrointestinal absorption as well as poor diet, which is often a reflection of one's cultural environment.

In the treatment of strict vitamin B12 deficiency states, such as pernicious anemia, oral vitamin B12 has consistently worked well. There is generally no need to utilize ingestible sources of vitamin B12 for the treatment of specific types of anemia. (?) However, vitamin B12 injections are a treatment that is commonly utilized by many physicians with a nutritional purpose, to treat various types of fatigue states. This practice has been in effect for many years now. Many patients have benefited from an improvement in their overall feelings of wellness as a result of receiving vitamin B12 injections. The rationale for using injections is that the higher levels of vitamin B12 in the tissues can be acquired through the injectable route than can be acquired orally. This can help significantly in the treatment of many types of chronic illness. Generally, most people receiving vitamin B12 injections start out with an initial protocol of twice weekly injections for five to six weeks. Most patients experience subjective feelings of increased energy, mental alertness, better sleep, more colorful dreams, an improvement of mood or lifting of a depression state, and an improvement in allergy and asthma symptoms. Sometimes, disorders of the inner ear can be improved, such as trinities. Neurologic issues can often be improved as well.

If vitamin B12 injections are found to be useful, the individual (or spouse or another person) can be taught to administer the injections. The frequency rate would be diminish over time, so that the individual would receive an injection every four to six weeks, or only as needed.

For further questions, please contact the Advanced Medical Center.

Dale Guyer, M.D.