Do you know why you need Vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 is one of the water-soluble vitamins that we store in our liver until it is needed. If you are not absorbing it well, you can show low levels of both lithium and Cobalt on a Hair Mineral Analysis. If there is not enough lithium available, B12 will not be used and can become too high. Low levels of cellular Manganese can also affect utilization of B12/Cobalt so maintaining balance is key.

What can we do if our B12 is too high?

Niacin which is Vitamin B3 can help to eliminate excessive amounts from taking too much of it as well as Vitamin C which can help to bind and flush some of it. Overuse is as much of an issue as a deficiency.

What can cause you to be too low in B12?

-Medications such as Metformin (diabetes), Proton Pump Inhibitors (Omeprazole, Prevacid, Nexium), excessive Vitamin C use, Aminosalicylic acid used for Crohn’s/IBD, Histamine 2 blockers (Pepcid), Colchicine (Gout), and Folic Acid supplementation may be blocking absorption.

Vitamin B12 has gotten attention for being beneficial in preventing or slowing cases of dementia, but it is also needed if one uses anti-inflammatory or anti-acid drugs, has a weakened digestive system, or in strict vegetarians. Low levels can indicate infections, poor methylation, and lifestyle changes are needed.

How much do we need daily?

We only need about 2.4-5 mcg daily according to the RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance). This trace amount does many functions including red blood cell and DNA production. Cobalt is found within B12 so when I see hair analysis results I can look at the cellular storage levels. 

Where can I get B12 other than supplementation?

Food! It is our natural medicine. Try increasing eggs, cheese, grass-fed red meat, and fish (preferably Atlantic Boneless/Skinless sardines for low toxicity).

 We all equate iron to anemia but B12 has its special lane on it as well. As we age we can lose some of the ability to absorb it from our food but also in stressful times as we have all been through since 2019. Stress destroys B12 in our body. If we have a deficiency, it can cause macrocytic or pernicious anemia. It is the result of the stomach lining thinning, making it more difficult to absorb B12. It can cause permanent brain damage resulting in dementia, memory loss, confusion, and eventually death.

If a deficiency is diagnosed by a doctor, they may give B12 injections to boost levels quickly due to the impaired digestion. These are not as simple as they sound because they too have possible side effects such as headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, itchiness, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary edema, and rarely slow-growing blood cancer. 

Often it is missed, particularly in vegetarians who are not consuming meat or eggs as they lose these digestive enzymes over time. Those with gut issues such as Celiac Disease, Crohn’s disease, SIBO, and possible parasitic infections need to monitor this vitamin closer. An immune disorder that is more common such as Lupus and Grave’s Disease may also be affected due to low absorption.

What form of B12 should you use?

There are 2 forms often found. The best form is Methylcobalamin which is methylated through the liver efficiently with a higher retention rate. The second is Cyanocobalamin which is a synthetic form that is cheap and not natural but frequently used in supplements. This chemical form can deplete your body of Potassium. Cyanocobalamin contains a cyanide molecule and needs to be converted once taken into another active form. It is excreted 3x more in the urine than Methylcobalamin. 

Bottom line? 

Know where your B12 level is so you are not blindly supplementing and take digestive enzymes daily.

I can see where your long-term storage of Cobalt/B12 and Lithium levels are on your Hair Analysis Results or you can see where they are short-term on a blood test.

Test, don’t guess! 

LET'S CHAT about your health goals!

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