Vitamin B12

Vitamin B-12
Most people associate vitamin B-12 with energy boosts, and B-12 injections. But apart from low energy, a deficiency in vitamin B-12 can result in severe and irreversible damage, especially to the brain and nervous system. Basic immune system function also depends on vitamin B12.
 
Some of the most common symptoms associated with vitamin B-12 deficiency include:
- swollen tongue
- fatigue and low energy
- inflexibility (lack of range of  motion)
- depression
- pallor
- loss of appetite
- diarrhea
- nausea
- rapid heartbeat
- numbness / tingling in hands or feet
- shortness of breath
- muscle weakness
confusion or forgetfulness
- paranoia
- poor balance
 
How do you know if you have a vitamin B12 deficiency?
When there is a deficiency of either folic acid or vitamin B-12, a routine blood test will show MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume) with levels above 91. There may also be decreased (<56% ) neutrophils (A.K.A. polys, PMNs), and / or decreased WBC (white blood cells) <5000.
 
Serum B-12 count on blood tests can be misleading. In fact, a deficiency in vitamin B-12 often exists when serum B-12 levels are high! This is because B-12 can be high in the serum but low in the tissues and bone marrow. A more sensitive test for early or mild vitamin B-12 deficiency is the methylmalonic acid test.
 
Who is at risk for vitamin B-12 deficiency?
The elderly, and those who don't eat meat are at higher risk of B-12 deficiency; the former due to malabsorption and the latter due to low intake. People who supplement with folic acid without supplementing with B-12 are also at risk, because these two nutrients have to be in balance.
 
How do I determine whether or not to supplement with vitamin B-12?
Applied Kinesiologists use muscle testing in conjunction with lab tests in order to evaluate for deficiencies in vitamin B-12. Muscle testing is critical for determining which of the 4 types of vitamin B-12 is indicated: cyanocobalamine, adenosylcobalamine, hydroxycobalamine, or methylcobalamine. Moreover, each individual will have a different response to different brands of supplements.