This article raises important question on whether B-12 deficiency symptoms are being mistaken for dementia.
Vitamin B-12 is not produced in the body but is essential for good health
With the most complex structure of any vitamin, Vitamin B-12, a member of the B Complex family, is important in human nutrition, required to aid the body’s cells in the processing of nutrients, the proteins, carbohydrates, and fats that are essential for life.
Sometimes called cobalamin because of its unique metal ion component of cobalt, B-12 also aids in the production of amino acids and has an important role in the maintenance of the body’s nervous system, in which it helps nerve cells develop and is especially important for the maintenance and repair of the insulation around nerve cells, called the myelin sheath, that is critical for the conduction of nerve impulses.
Unlike other animal species, human beings cannot synthesize their vitamin B-12 requirements and, since plants do not make B-12 either, sources of the vitamin are mainly limited to animal foods, including eggs and fish.
When B-12 deficiencies occur:
Impaired cognitive function
Research studies indicate that vitamin B-12 levels decrease with age, a situation that can lead to some degree of cognitive impairment. One such study revealed that 78% of one group of dementia patients were deficient in B-12 levels. Those patients obtained significant improvement in their motor functions as well as their mental state and IQ when given supplemental B-12.
The question has to be asked: Is it possible that many diagnosed cases of dementia in the past were really conditions of vitamin B-12 deficiency?
And can this possibility be avoided in the future?
For an additional discussion and references to treatment of memory loss, see Memory Loss and Cognitive Dysfunction, elsewhere on this website.
Heart disease
It is known that high levels of the amino acid homosysteine in the blood are an indicator of heart disease. B-12, and folate, another member of the B complex group, are an effective combination in reducing dangerous levels of homocysteine.
Vegans at risk without B-12 supplementation
There is a danger for people who follow a plant based diet, vegans especially, of being at a higher than normal risk for elevated blood levels of homocysteine. While not the cause, homocysteine is considered to be a marker that indicates increased risk of heart disease. B-12, acting with vitamins B9 and B6, lowers homocysteine levels by converting it to methionine, another essential amino acid, not harmful but needed by the body and methionone is also needed in the production of myelin, the covering o cells that protects nerves.
B-12 deficiency symptoms
The classic B-12 deficiency symptom is pernicious anemia, the auto-immune and formerly often fatal condition that led to the discovery of B-12 as an essential nutrient and a condition that can, nowadays be more effectively and easily treated. Pernicious anemia, also known by several other names, is one of several types of anemia conditions, called megoblastic anemias, caused by loss of stomach cells and a complex process involving the inability to absorb vitamin B-12 or folic acid.
Given the necessary intake of B-12 by a healthy person, the body’s liver can store enough of the vitamin to last for several years. However, in the case of children and the elderly, ages at which a deficiency can develop more quickly, it makes sense to ensure that children and the elderly get adequate dietary or supplementary sources of the vitamin to avoid that possibility.
B-12 needed for the production of red blood cells that prevent anemia
In a series of events that produce red blood cells, B-12 converts one form of folic acid into another. Folic acid is another essential B vitamin needed by the body to make the DNA that provides the template to produce healthy new cells and is critical in the production of red blood cells. Without B-12, the red blood cells are unable to divide, leading to the anaemic conditions, mentioned above, called pernicious anemia or megaloblastic anemia
Dosage:
As a person ages, they often have difficulty in absorbing vitamin B-12 even though the recommended intake is quite small at an RDA of 2.4 micrograms (mcg) daily. To counter this, it is suggested they consider taking a vitamin supplement such as a one-a-day multi vitamin or a B-complex vitamin, available at health food stores or pharmacies. For pregnant women, the RDA is 2.6 mcg and for lactating women it is 2.8 mcg.
Individual B-12 vitamins tablets are available in tablet form, either as cyanocobalamin or methylcobablamin. As a person with type-2 diabetes myself, my doctor has advised a dose of 1000 mcg daily as treatment for diabetic neuropathy, a painful nerve condition commonly associated with diabetes. I have been advised that methylcobalamin is the preferred choice because of easier absorption by the body and because the effects are of longer duration. The tablets are small and taken sublingually, that is, placed and dissolved under the tongue, and are inexpensive – locally for me 90 tablets at a health food store cost less than $10. Some doctors treat neuropathy with injections of vitamin B-12.
Injections may also be used when there is a diagnosed deficiency of this important vitamin, essential to good health, For example, in elderly people, cognitive function can become impaired from a deficiency of B-12.
Side Effects: No toxic side effects appear to be associated with vitamin B-12 supplements or the usually higher injection doses of B-12 of perhaps 3000 mcg.
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