Methylcobalamin Article

[Guest guest]

Although I disagree with how effected sublingual is in our

community, this is a nice little article.

(Forwarded by: Binstock)

[From] http://www.immunesupport.com/message/neurob12.htm

Methylcobalamin: A Potential Breakthrough in Neurological Disease

Japanese scientists have identified a form of vitamin B12 that

protects against neurological disease and aging by a unique

mechanism that differs from current therapies. Some of the disorders

that may be preventable or treatable with this natural vitamin

therapy, called methylcobalamin, include chronic fatigue syndrome,

Parkinson's disease, peripheral neuropathies, Alzheimer's disease,

muscular dystrophy and neurological aging. Americans have immediate

access to this unique and new form of vitamin B12, and, unlike

prescription drugs, it costs very little and is free of side effects.

vitamin B12 is a general label for a group of essential biological

compounds knows as cobalamins. The cobalamins are structurally

related to hemoglobin in the blood, and a deficiency of vitamin B12

can cause anemia. The primary concern of conventional doctors is to

maintain adequate cobalamin status to protect against anemia.

The most common form of vitamin B12 is called cyanocobalamin.

However, over the last ten years, a number of central and peripheral

neurological diseases have been linked to a deficiency of a very

specific cobalamin, the methylcobalamin form, that is required to

protect against neurological diseases and aging. The liver converts

a small amount of cyanocobalamin into methylcobalamin within the

body, but larger amounts of methylcobalamin are necessary to correct

neurological defects and protect against aging.

Published studies show that high doses of methylcobalamin are needed

to regenerate neurons as well as the myelin sheath that protects

nerve axons and peripheral nerves.

CFIDS and B-12

In the Summer 1998 issue of Healthwatch, an important research

article reported a fascinating new finding. Over 60% of CFIDS and FM

patients cerebral spinal fluids contained subnormal levels of

vitamin B12. On the other hand, vitamin B12 levels in the blood did

not significantly deviate from normal ranges.

According to Dr. Cheney's treatment pyramid for CFIDS, vitamin

B12 in its non-cyanocobalamin form (the type commercially available)

is a potent detoxifier of the brain. Recent studies in Europe

suggest that it needs to be given in large doses in the range of 10 -

20 mg per day, or even more. This supplementation of

methylcobalamin might protect the cognitive function of patients

with CFIDS by preventing the death of brain cells.

One cause of brain cell death is glutamate toxicity. Brain cells use

glutamate as a neurotransmitter, but unfortunately glutamate is a

double-edged sword in that it can also kill brain cells. The release

of glutamate from the synapses is a usual means by which neurons

communicate with each other.

Effective communication means controlled release of glutamate at the

right time to the right cells, but when glutamate is released in

excessive amounts, intercellular communication ceases. The flood of

glutamate into the receiving neurons drives them into hyperactivity,

and the excessive activity leads to cellular degradation.

The good news is that it may now be possible to protect brain cells

against glutamate toxicity by taking methylcobalamin

supplementation. In a study in the European Journal of Pharmacology,

it was shown that methylcobalamin protected against glutamate-,

aspartate- and nitroprusside- induced neurotoxicity in rat cortical

neurons.

Researchers concluded that methylcobalamin protects against

neurotoxicity by enhancing brain cell methylation. The CFIDS &

Fibromyalgia Health Resource recommends methylation-enhancing

therapies such as vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folic acid and

trimethylglycine (TMG), taken together, to protect against heart

disease, stroke and other aging-related diseases.

The scientists who conducted the methylcobalamin studies emphasize

that ongoing intake of methylcobalamin is necessary to protect

against neurotoxicity. Thus for methylcobalamin to be effective in

protecting against neurological disease, daily supplementation may

be required.

An appropriate dose to protect against neurological aging might be 1

to 5 mg a day taken under the tongue in lozenge form.

Sleep

A recent German study appearing in Neuropharmacology showed

methylcobalamin reduced the amount of time subjects slept; sleep

quality was better and subjects awoke feeling refreshed, with better

alertness and concentration. Part of this effect was apparently due

to melatonin suppression during the daytime because morning

methylcobalamin supplementation reduces drowsiness by decreasing

daytime melatonin levels.

Multiple Sclerosis

According to a recent study at Vanderbilt University, chlamydia

pneumoniae might link multiple sclerosis (MS) to CFIDS. This makes

the published effect of methylcobalamin treatment on MS of great

importance to those who suffer from CFIDS.

A study in the Journal of Internal Medicine investigated the daily

administration of 60 mg of methylcobalamin to patients with chronic

progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease that has a poor

prognosis and feature side spread demyelination in the central

nervous system.

Although motor disability did not improve, there were clinical

improvements in visual and auditory MS related disabilities. The

scientist stated that methylcobalamin might be an effective adjunct

to immunosuppressive treatment for chronic, progressive MS. Those

with less serious forms of MS may consider adding methylcobalamin to

their daily treatment regimen.

The effects of methylcobalamin were studied on an animal model of

muscular dystrophy. This study, published in Neuroscience Letter

looked at degeneration of axon motor terminals. In mice receiving

methylcobalamin, nerve sprouts were more frequently observed and

regeneration of motor nerve terminals occurred in sites that had

been previously degenerating.

Regenerating Nerves

Few substances have been shown to regenerate nerves in humans with

peripheral neuropathies. However, a study in the Journal of

Neurological Science postulated that methylcobalamin could increase

protein synthesis and help regenerate nerves. The scientists showed

that very high doses of methylcobalamin produce nerve regeneration

in laboratory rats.

The scientists stated that ultra-high doses of methylcobalamin might

be of clinical use for patients with peripheral neuropathies. The

human equivalent dose the scientists used is about 40 mg of

sublingually administered methylcobalamin on a daily basis.

Those suffering from peripheral neuropathies often take alpha lipoic

acid. Based on our new understanding of peripheral neuropathy, it

may be prudent that anyone using alpha lipoic acid also take at

least 5 mg a day of sublingually administered methylcobalamin to

ensure that alpha lipoic acid will be bioavailable to the peripheral

nerves.

Cancer/Immune Function

A study in the journal Oncology examined the effects of

methylcobalamin on several different kinds of tumors in mice. The

administration of methylcobalamin for seven days suppressed liver,

lung and ascites tumor growth. Mice receiving methylcobalamin

survived longer than control mice did. In mice irradiated before

tumor cell inoculation, methylcobalamin did not improve survival.

The effects of methylcobalamin on human immune function was

investigated in the Journal of Clinical Immunology. The study showed

that methylcobalamin demonstrated remarkable T cell-enhancing

effects when the T cells were exposed to certain antigens.

The scientists also showed that methylcobalamin improved the

activity of T helper cells. The scientists concluded that

methylcobalamin could modulate lymphocyte function by augmenting

regulatory T cell activities.

Americans need to know about this important natural therapy that

could extend the healthy human life span. A search of the scientific

literature reveals 334 published studies on methylcobalamin.

However, it would not be an exaggeration to say that virtually no

doctors know of it or are recommending it.

Methylcobalamin should be considered for the treatment of any

neurological disease. For example, based on its unique mechanisms of

action, methylcobalamin could be effective in slowing the

progression of " untreatable " diseases such as ALS (Lou Gerhig's

disease).

Since methylcobalamin is not a drug, there is little economic

incentive to conduct expensive clinical studies on it, so it may be

a long time before we know just how effective this unique form of

vitamin B12 is in slowing the progression of common diseases like

Parkinson's disease.

The sublingual intake of methylcobalamin is an affordable and

effective natural therapy, and has proven even safe when given in

large doses.

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