Vitamin B12 and Liquid Supplements

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It is also unique among nutrients in that it contains a metal ion, cobalt.

For this reason, cobalamin is the term used to refer to compounds having this nutrients activity. Methylcobalamin and 5-deoxyadenosyl cobalamin are the forms of this nutrient used in the human body.

Methylcobalamin assists in the enzymes required for the synthesis of amino acid. Deficiency is estimated to affect 10%-15% of individuals over the age of 60.

Absorption of this nutrient from food requires normal function of the stomach, pancreas, and small intestine. Stomach acid and enzymes free it from food, allowing it to bind to other proteins, called R proteins.

The most common causes of deficiency are an autoimmune condition known as pernicious anemia and food-bound vitamin B12 malaborption. Although both causes become more common with increasing age, they are separate conditions.

Although anemia is often the symptom of pernicious anemia, the condition is actually the end-stage of an autoimmune inflammation of the stomach.

Food bound malaborption of this nutrient is defined as an impaired ability to absorb food and protein-bound forms, although the free form is fully absorbable.

Deficiency is also believed to be the cause of "Atrophic gastritis" that affects 10% to 30% of people over 60 years of age.

Neurological symptoms of deficiency include numbness and tingling of the arms and, more commonly, the legs, difficulty walking, memory loss, disorientation, and dementia with or without mood changes. Gastrointestinal symptoms include tongue soreness, appetite loss, and constipation, all of which have been linked to vitamin B12 deficiency.

Deficiency of this nutrient traps folate in a form that is unusable by the body for DNA synthesis. Both deficiencies result in a diminished capacity for methylation reactions.

Individuals with "Alzheimer's disease" often have low blood of this nutrient.levels as do many people that have been treated for depression.

Only bacteria can synthesize this nutrient and it is present in animal products such as meat, poultry, fish products, or yeast.

Food sources include clams, mussels, and crab (all steamed), milk (skim), and brie (cheese). Cyanocobalamin is the principal form of vitamin B12 in supplements but methylcobalamin is also available as a supplement.

Cyanocobalamin is also available by prescription in an injectable form and as a nasal gel for the treatment of pernicious anemia.

Over-the-counter preparations containing cyanocobalamin include multi-vitamins, vitamin B-complex, and supplements. There are many very good liquid vitamins in today's marketplace including the following brands:

Naturally Direct Liquid Vitamins and Vitamin B12