Vitamin B12 is a water soluble vitamin that can have a big impact on your overall health. It plays an essential role in reducing your risk of cardiovascular and mood problems (by reducing elevated homocysteine levels), chronic fatigue and peripheral nerve pain often associated with diabetes.

Food sources vs Supplements

B12 is found mainly in animal products such as eggs, fish, meat, poultry and dairy while nori, mushrooms and fermented soybean products contain trace amounts of it. Digestive bacteria have the ability to make this vitamin too, although not much of this is absorbed. Supplemental B12 comes in 3 forms:

1. Injection by your healthcare practitioner every couple of months
2. Oral tablet or capsule which is swallowed and enters your digestive tract
3. Sublingual tablet that dissolves under your tongue and enters directly into your bloodstream

B12 obtained from food or oral tablets needs to interact with stomach acid and a protein called intrinsic factor (IF) to become active in your body. Sublingual B12 bypasses the need for IF, which provides a greater advantage for a large number of people, particularly those who are ageing, have digestive issues, follow a restricted diet or are on certain medications.

Are you at risk of a B12 deficiency?

You are at greater risk of developing a deficiency if you:

• are ageing (due to declining stomach acid levels)
• have irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis, Crohn’s or coeliac disease or other digestive condition
• are diabetic
• vegetarian or vegan
• pregnant or breastfeeding
• can’t make enough IF eg: pernicious anaemia
• consume high levels of alcohol
• take certain medications eg: reflux, oral contraceptive pill, antivirals, antibiotics

4 health conditions that B12 can improve

1. Heart disease A deficiency in B12 can lead to elevated homocysteine levels, considered an independent risk factor for heart disease. The effects of elevated homocysteine can’t be seen or felt; there are no obvious outward symptoms. Homocysteine creates havoc in your cardiovascular system by promoting blood clot formation, making your blood ‘sticky’, prevents your small arteries from dilating and works together with LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol to damage the inner lining of your blood vessels. This vitamin reduces elevated homocysteine levels.

2. Low mood & memory Elevated homocysteine levels are also implicated in problems with low mood, irritability, poor memory and impaired mental function generally. B12 supplementation, particularly in conjunction with vitamin B6 and folic acid, can help reduce elevated homocysteine levels for improved mood and to reverse impaired mental function.

3. Chronic fatigue B12 plays a crucial role in the rate your body processes proteins, fats and carbohydrates from your diet. A B12 deficiency slows down these processes (metabolism) so your energy levels drop, and when combined with our stressful lifestyle, can leave you feeling chronically fatigued. This vitamin maintains a healthy metabolic rate for improved energy levels.

4. Diabetic complications Peripheral neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes where high blood sugar levels over time damage the peripheral nerves, usually the hands and feet, causing pain, burning, numbness or weakness. B12 helps to reduce nerve pain and numbness by supporting the nervous system.

Mr Vitamins recommends:

Herbs of Gold Vitamin B12 supplements

Find out more about each of these Herbs of Gold supplements and shop on-line below

• Herbs Of Gold Activated Sublingual B12
• Herbs Of Gold Sublingual B12 1000
• Herbs Of Gold Folic Acid Complex