B12 Helps Maintain a Healthy Brain

A new study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (November 2007) suggests that deficiencies of vitamin B12 can cause cognitive impairment in adults.  The study tracked 1648 men and women over the age of 65 over the course of 10 years.  

Vitamin B12, also called cobalamin, helps to keep nerve cells and red blood cells healthy.  It is also used in making DNA.  It is found in many foods that come from animals, including fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk and milk products.

Symptoms of a B12 deficiency include: anemia, fatigue, weakness, constipation, numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, depression, confusion, disorientation, dementia, and soreness in the mouth.  Many of these symptoms mimic the signs of Alzheimer's but are reversible with the proper treatment.  

According to the National Institutes on Health, " Vitamin B12 is bound to the protein in food. Hydrochloric acid in the stomach releases vitamin B12 from proteins in foods during digestion.  Once release, vitamin B12 combines with a substance called intrinsic factor (IF).  This complex can then be absorbed by the intestinal tract."  Because of this process, adults with GI problems who use some antacids that slow the release of hydrochloric acid into the stomach, may not be able to effectively absorb B12.  Examples of these medications include Prilosec, Prevacid, Tagament, Pepsid, and Zantac.

Metaformin, a drug used to treat diabetes, may interfere with the absorption of calcium which then leads to difficulty in the absorption of B12.  Researchers found that using calcium carbonate supplements helped to minimize the effect of Metaformin on the malabsorption of B12.

If you take any of these medications and are experiencing cognitive difficulties (problems with your memory, concentration, attention, thinking) talk to your doctor.  He or she may order blood tests and/or suggest supplements.  It is important that you do not stop taking anything that has been prescribed by your physician without medical advice.

For more information on Vitamin B12, including a list of foods high in B12 and a list of medications that may interfere with the absorption of B12, see the factsheet from the National Institutes on Health at http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets/vitaminb12.asp