Getting Older or Are Your B12 Levels Low? (December 5, 2011)

Evidence continues to build that low levels of the vitamin B12 lead to confusion and memory problems in older individuals. These symptoms are being misdiagnosed by doctors as Alzheimer's disease or as simply the cognitive decline associated with old age. The important question is why aren't more people tested for vitamin B12 deficiencies. A B12 deficiency can occur with little warning causing many confusing symptoms but can be avoided with a nutritional testing to identify the deficiency so it can be easily treated.

 

Vitamin B12 Is Essential For Good Health

Vitamin B12 is a vitamin that is essential for maintaining good health. The body uses B12 to make red blood cells and DNA. It also plays a critical role in maintaining a healthy brain and nervous system. We absorb vitamin B12 from the food we eat particularly from meat, shellfish, eggs, milk, and cheese, eggs. However, as we age our ability to absorb B12 declines as does our consumption of foods that are rich in the vitamin. A serious B12 deficiency typically results in anemia but low levels of B12 can result in symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weakness, shakiness, low blood pressure, incontinence, depression and cognitive issues including memory problems. 

There is some controversy regarding what is consider a normal or healthy level of B12 in the blood. Most experts do agree that levels below 250 picograms per milliliter of blood serum is considered low. Because B12 is water soluble, like all B vitamins, your body is able to store B12 mainly in the liver and related tissue.When the stores of B12 start to get low a deficiency and related problems can develop quickly especially in children and the elderly. 

Recommendations from experts can vary regarding what are appropriate dietary amounts of B12 but minimum guidelines for adults are 2.4 micrograms daily, 2.6 micrograms for pregnant women, and 2.8 micrograms for women who are nursing. The ideal way to obtain these levels of vitamin B12 are eating a well balanced diet animal protein such as red meat, turkey, fish and shellfish. Lesser amounts of vitamin B12 can be found chicken, eggs, and dairy products. B12 vitamin supplements are also a popular way to obtain sufficient amounts of the vitamin.

 

Are You At Risk of a Vitamin B12 Deficiency

If you adhere to a strict vegetarian or vegan diet you are at risk of a vitamin B12 deficiency because vegetables are poor sources of the vitamin. Also if you are a regular user of acid suppressing or ulcer medication such as Prevacid, Nexium, Prilosec, Pepcid, and Tagamet you are at risk of a deficiency because vitamin B12 is aided by stomach acid for absorption in the blood. You may also be at increased risk of developing a B12 deficiency if you consume large amount of alcohol which decreases your body's ability to absorb B12. 

Aging causes stomach acid levels to decline and decreased levels can lead to insufficient acid to aid in the absorption of vitamin B12. It is estimated that 30% of older people suffer from this problem and require supplementation to get adequate levels of the vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 found in supplements and fortified foods is synthetic and can be absorbed without the help of stomach acids.

Vitamin B12 Supplements

Regardless of the form of vitamin B12 the body only absorbs a limited amount of what is consumed. This means that if you are treating a vitamin B12 deficiency you must ingest much larger doses than your actually body needs. Daily supplementation with 25 to 100 micrograms of B12 is recommended for people over the age of 50. To treat a deficiency vitamin B12 can be obtained through oral supplements, injections, skin patches or sublingual (under-the-tongue) tablets. In cases of dramatic deficiencies doctors or for patients with absorption problems such as pernicious anemia, doctors will usually recommend B12 injections. 

If you have choose to take a daily supplement to address a vitamin B12 deficiency 2,000 micrograms is recommended for the first month, then 1,000 micrograms for the next month. After this initial period a smaller dose daily or weekly supplement is recommended. To ensure that you are not suffering ongoing detrimental effects of a deficiency a simple Vitamin B12 blood test can be obtained periodically to ensure that correct level of supplementation.