Sublingual Vitamin B12Sublingual Vitamin B-12 is a critical component of any diet. It protects the heart, provides energy, and prevents confusion and memory loss in older adults. Animal products are rich sources of vitamin B-12, but may not be as easily absorbed as supplements or fortified foods. Those at greatest risk for deficiency are vegetarians and people over 50. Benefits of Sublingual Vitamin B12 Sublingual Vitamin B12 aids in forming red blood cells and helps maintain a healthy nervous system. Recent studies have also focused on B12 and its effect on heart health. Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid are involved in metabolizing homocysteine, an amino acid found in blood. Elevated homcysteine levels have been identified as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Sublingual Vitamin B12 is not quickly excreted in the urine like other water soluble vitamins. It accumulates and is stored primarily in the liver. The average body stores anywhere from 2 to 10 mg per day and excretes 2 to 10 micrograms per day. About 75% of what we excrete in bile is reabsorbed. Who is at risk? Our body has a complex method of absorbing Vitamin B12 and if there is a defect at any step of the process, it can result in low stores. A number of conditions can impact the body’s ability to absorb or absorb adequate amounts of B12. These conditions include pernicious anemia, fish tapeworm, pancreatic diseases, Crohn’s disease, HIV infection, and multiple sclerosis. Proton pump inhibitors and H2 receptors typically prescribed to treat Acid Reflux, and the diabetes drug Metformin are known to influence Vitamin B12 absorption. Vegetarians and vegans are at risk because they do not consume the foods that provide B12. Women who are breastfeeding should ensure that they are getting sufficient B12 as deficiency in infants can lead to developmental problems and irreversible damage to their nervous system. The Symptoms of Vitamin B 12 Deficiency It can take years for deficiency to become evident. In the initial stages your B12 levels may be normal even though your storage levels may be depleted. As deficiency progresses you may experience tiredness, impotence, urinary or fecal incontinence, depression, memory loss, deficiency in neurological function, changes in your gait, altered reflexes and numbness or tingling. Later stages may present with anemia, psychiatric disorders and elevated homcysteine levels. Many of these symptoms can be mistaken in older adults for the “normal” signs of aging, or are very general and may not be immediately linked to vitamin deficiency. Your physician can rule out a deficiency by performing a simple blood test. Sublingual Vitamin B12 Side Effects? The Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences provides recommendations for Vitamin B12 intake in the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). They note that healthy individuals have not experienced any problematic side effects from daily supplements. In fact they actually recommend that adults over the age of 50 years eat foods rich in Vitamin B12 but to also take B12 supplements due to the ease of absorption. And we add to this the fact that Sublingual Vitamin B12 is one of the most easily absorbed supplement types. Other less convenient types include Vitamin B12 shots and Vitamin B12 nasal gel. You can get a steady, daily refreshment of necessary Vitamin B12 by taking a high quality daily multi-vitamin supplement that contains this nutrient.
1. Be a careful consumer and buy your supplements only from manufacturers that are pharmaceutical GMP compliant. 2. Check the label to make sure your supplements do not contain any cheap fillers, additives, or artificial colors, etc. 3. To get your money’s worth and enjoy the benefits of quality herbal extractions, make sure you buy only standardized extract.
One very high quality product that meets and exceeds these requirements is Xtend-Life’s Total Balance. We here at Quality-Nutritional-Supplements have been personally taking Xtend-Life’s Total Balance and their world famous pure fish oil with great results and we recommend these to our friends and family. The statements herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease. All information here is intended for general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting any new supplement, diet or fitness regimen. Return to nutritional supplements home page |