B12 deficiency lurks silently but common symptoms and commonalities include –
- Poor memory, a decline in cognition, dementia or Alzheimer diagnosis
- MS or other neurological disorders
- Constant tiredness and low energy
- Autism spectrum disorders
- Bipolar, depression, anxiety
- A smooth tongue
- Muscle weakness and problems walking
- Pale skin
B12 deficiency is a widespread silent epidemic.
The Framingham Offspring Study showed that 40% of people between 26 and 83 had low enough plasma B12 levels to experience neurological symptoms. Unfortunately it is not routinely tested and many people have ‘normal’ B12 results as the laboratory low end of the reference range is too low.
I would suggest this test, which measures levels of the biologically-active component of vitamin B12, thought to be the best early indicator of vitamin B12 deficiency.
Those mostly at risk are vegans, vegetarians (B12 is found ONLY in animal products), the elderly, pregnant women, regular users of acid suppressing drugs, those on diabetic drugs like Metaformin, sufferers of Crohn’s disease, IBS, coeliac disease or ulcerative colitis and women with a history of miscarriages or infertility.
Interestingly children brought up on a vegan diet up to the age of 6 have been shown to be B12 deficient even years after they started to eat some kind of animal product. See study on vegan children here.
In the elderly B12 deficiency is often associated with gastritis, see study here.
B12 is vital for energy, the formation of blood cells, and for the proper functioning and health of nerve tissue.
If left untreated B12 deficiency can lead to anaemia as well as nerve and brain damage that is sometimes irreversible.
Foods highest in B12 are liver, beef, shellfish, oily fish, eggs and milk, but even those eating large amounts of B12 rich foods can be deficient due to poor gut health.
It is critical to heal the gut through elimination of inflammatory causing foods with the addition of gelatin rich foods and appropriate herbs or supplementation.
Supplementation when necessary is easy. Buy B12 oral spray here.
“Many members of the Pernicious Anaemia Society use the spray to keep their B12 levels topped up between injections, because the spray is so potent (one spray is equal to 12,000% of the recommended daily intake) and because it enters the bloodstream straight away!” Martyn Hooper, Chair of the Pernicious Anaemia Society.
So next time you have a ‘senior moment’ perhaps you need to consider B12.
