Taking a Look at Vitamin B12

In the 1800s, there was a disease called pernicious anemia. Pernicious anemia was affecting in older people and death occurred within two to five years. In 1926, George Richards Minot discovered the cure for pernicious anemia was nutrients in liver, which was the previous treatment for this disease, and that it was absence of nutrients. This resulted in the seclusion of a vitamin which we now call vitamin B₁₂. George Minot along with William Murphy and George Whipple received a Nobel Prize in 1934 for their discovery, though they were not the first to propose that it was a lack of nutrients.

Pernicious anemia is the etiology of vitamin B12 deficiency due to the lack of production of an intrinsic factor (IF), altered pH in the small intestine, and lack of absorption of B12 complexes in the terminal ileum as well as folic acid deficiency. Impairment of IF production can occur in adults due to autoimmune destruction of parietal cells, which secrete IF; gastrectomy can significantly reduce the production of IF. A rare congenital autosomal recessive disorder can result in deficiency of IF without gastric atrophy. Other disorders that interfere with the absorption and metabolism of vitamin B12 can produce cobalamin deficiency, with the development of a macrocytic anemia and neurologic complications. Some autoimmune diseases such as Graves' disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis and vitiligo the depigmentation or blanching of skin areas. (Center Disease Control &Prevention (CDC), 2015)

One of the most vital nutrients for good health is vitamin B12. It comes from animal foods and is responsible for big things such as the synthesis of DNA and the sheath that protects the nerve cells. There are lots of things you could be doing to deplete the essential B12 your body needs, including eating an unhealthy diet, smoking, and drinking, but there are also things like pregnancy and growing older that can be affecting how much B12 your body is getting.

The majority of my intake of vitamin B12 derived from 2% milk (39% of my intake), and lean ground beef (21% of my intake). I should not need to make any major dietary changes due to how close my average intake of vitamin B12 were to the target. I suppose I ought to continue eating lean meat, eggs, other dairy products, and drink

In this study, there were no statistically significant differences between the age and sex of the treatment and control groups.8 Pre-treatment vitamin B12 levels were significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group, but there were no significant

The purpose of prescribing Cyanocobalamin is for the treatment of the pernicious anemia or vitamin B12 defciency. This is to reverse the anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain and the findings in the physical assessment. This also prevents the long-term effects that may come from this deficiency. Vitamin B12 is essential in maintaining the integrity of the neurologic system. Early diagnosis is important because neurologic defects, if left untreated, are irreversible. (Arangelo & Peterson, 2013) Increased alertness, appetite, and cooperation are some of the goals of treatment and evidence of improvement.

Foods are not ‘pure’ substances. Although referred to as protein foods, or carbohydrate foods, this only recognized the food to be high in a particular nutrient. In fact, foods are mixtures of different nutrients and other chemical substances such as toxins, pigments and additives. Protein, carbohydrates and fat are regarded as macronutrients due to the size of their molecules. These nutrients are needed in large quantities in the body to enable the body to function properly. Vitamins and minerals are required in lesser amounts but are equally necessary and must be obtained from the food consumed. These are known as micronutrients.

Vitamin B17 is more that just a vitamin. Commonly called purasin, amygdalin, laetrile, and laevorotatory, vitamin B17 is composed of two main components – hydrogen cyanide and glucose.

I also paid close attention to the B12 lecture and learned that deficiencies occur slowly. I’m not a vegetarian, so my deficiency could be the result of impaired absorption. Meaning that my “intrinsic factor” (needed for B12 absorption) does not function properly or maybe my HCL (Hypochlorhydria) is low. I’m not sure of the reason but it was cool to learn more. Additionally I learned there is no upper limit for vitamin B12 because of its low potential for toxicity.

Vitamins came into vogue in the early 1900s, when it was difficult for people to get the right vitamins and mineral from fresh fruit and vegetables. Back in the day people didn’t know about vitamin deficiency diseases: the bowed leg and deformed ribs of rickets caused by short intake of vitamin D. Or skin problems and mental confusion of pellagra caused by the short intake of the B vitamin niacin. Some multivitamins may have two dozen ingredients but do not have additional useful compounds like plants. If people only take multivitamins they’re missing lots of compounds that may provide usefulness.

Pernicious anemia, or can be called as B12 deficiency anemia, Addison’s anemia, Biermer’s anemia, or Addison-Biermer’s anemia, which is a human body issue that the human body can’t produce enough healthy red cells because lacking of Vitamin b12.

Due to the complex nature of cobalamin, it is very unlikely simple life like plants would contain adequate amounts required for bodily functions such as: Digestion, Artery flexibility, and lowering toxicity. These functions are dependent on micro-nutrients such as Omega-3-Fatty-Acids, B-6 (Pyridoxine), Folate, and B-12. Out of all these, B-12 and Omega-3 are the most difficult to obtain through plant matter alone; supplements are usually taken by vegetarians for this reason. (Rathold, K., J., 2016) [2]

Several studies have found an association between an elevated serum vitamin B12 level and cancer. Chiche et al (2008) found solid neoplasia in 23% and malignant hematologic disorders in 23% of subjects with elevated vitamin B12. The presence of malignant hemopathy was associated with an elevated vitamin B12 level. Researchers found a vitamin B12 level above 1275pg/mL in 80% of subjects with malignant hemopathies (p<0.05). (chiche 2008) Deneuville et al found a vitamin B12 above 820pg/mL was associated with cancer (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2-2.6), malignant hemopathies (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3-3.5), metastasis (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.5-5.9), liver metastases (OR 6.2, 95% CI 2.7-14.5), hepatocellular carcinoma (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.1-10.4), and lymphoma (OR 3.2,

In another study, it was discovered that when vitamin E was administered at an estimated dosage of 10 to 50 times the normal dietary intake, it promoted the mitogenic response to T-cell and B-cell. However, these responses were inhibited when the dosage was increased to about 170-350 times, confirming a dose-dependent trend in animal species. On the contrary, studies with human subjects showed an increase in the number of T-cells without an accompanying effect on mitogenic responses. When vitamin E was added to an antioxidant cocktail and administered to the subjects, an increase in both T-cells and mitogenic responses was recorded. This suggests a synergy between vitamin E and the antioxidant nutrients (18).

Vitamin C also known as L-ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in some foods, added to others and also available as food supplement. Humans unlike most animals are not able to synthesize vitamin C endogenously hence it hence it is essential dietary component. Whatever the human body needs is provided from the food we digest. When the required amount of