In light of our clinic’s B12 Happy Hour (vitamin B12 shots), I thought I’d do a blog post about the favorite vitamin among celebrities like Madonna!
- For starters, vitamin B12 is essential for healthy brain function and nerve development.It’s a compound we CAN’T produce ourselves, meaning we rely on obtaining it from our diet (fish, dairy, meat) and our healthy gut bacteria. A deficiency in B12 can cause symptoms such as:
- Depression, memory loss, and fatigue.
- Psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and bipolar disorder.
- Vitamin B12 can also lower your risk for heart disease. There’s a compound called homocysteine that builds up in the body. It is a normal by-product of biochemical reactions, and high amounts of homocysteine are linked with heart disease. Maintaining adequate amounts of vitamin B12 lowers homocysteine, thus lowering this risk!
- Anticancer effects. Many studies show that adequate B12 levels can lower your risk of cervical cancer. High levels of vitamin B12 have also been associated with a SLOWER progression to AIDs in HIV patients, even if they are on medication.
- Anti-allergy effects. Some studies have found that vitamin B12 injections help suppress the immune cells that are involved in allergies. A great thing to know for any of you who suffer from ragweed allergies!
- Many medications lower B12 in the body – and it’s often overlooked. Here is an incomplete list of medications that lower vitamin B12. If you are taking any of these medications, I advise you to talk to a Naturopathic Doctor about a regular B12 shot schedule.
- Alcohol: Going on vacation? Excessive alcohol intake for 1-2 weeks can cause B12 levels to significantly drop.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis/Cancer: Methotrexate
- Anti-seizure medication: Phenytoin (Dilantin), Phenobarbital, Primidone (Mysoline)
- Gout: Colchicine
- Cholesterol Lowering Medication: Colestipol (Colestid), Cholestyramine (Questran), Colsevelam (Welchol)
- Heartburn Medication: Cimetidine (Tagamet), Famotidine (Pepcid AC), Ranitidine (Zantac), Esomeprazole (Nexium), Lansprazole (Prevacid), Omeprazole (Prilosec)
- Diabetes: Metformin (Glucophage)
- HIV Medication: Zidovudine (AZT, Combivir, Retrovir)
- Oral Contraceptives: Long term use depletes many B vitamins. Some studies report B12 deficiency with oral contraceptives
- Smoking: May reduce vitamin B12 levels
So there you have it, all you needed to know about B12 in under 5 minutes!
*Always consult your N.D. or health care practitioner before starting any medical advice*
Dr. Rahim Kanji, N.D. is a Naturopathic Doctor practicing in Toronto, Canada. He has a passion for evidence-based natural medicine, specifically empowering his patients to make nutritional changes which create dramatic impacts to their health.
