Re: SUBLINGUAL B12

[Guest guest]

The intrinsic factor is vital for B12 absorption

Better Nutrition by _ Scheer_

(http://www.findarticles.com/p/search?tb=art & qt= " +Scheer " )

Putting vitamin B12 to work in the body requires adequate supplies of the

protein-based intrinsic factor. Like a temperamental opera prima donna,

vitamin B12 (cobalamin) has to have conditions exactly to its liking or it won't

perform. Because it prevents pernicious anemia, degenerating nerves and mental

disorders, cobalamin needs to be present in adequate quantities.

Long before vitamin B12 reaches the stomach, it plays hard-to-get, appearing

in appreciable quantities in only eight foods: liver, sardines, clams,

mackerel, herring, croaker, snapper and flounder. And one of those sources,

clams,

is shunned by many people because it is considered a garbage collector of the

sea, often full of pollutants.

Even though adults require only 2 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin B12 daily,

according to the new Recommended Dietary Allowances, the mineral is present only

in tiny quantities, and primarily in meats.

Assuring a good intake of vitamin B12, whatever the source, does not

guarantee that it will be properly absorbed. A good supply of what is called the

intrinsic factor is necessary for this vitamin to become available to the body.

The intrinsic factor, despite its rather cryptic name, is nothing mysterious.

It is innumerable tiny, open ended protein capsules created by the stomach

in the exact shape and size required to fit a cobalamin molecule.

These capsules randomly weave and bob around amid digesting food. When they

bump into vitamin B12, they quickly trap it inside, snap the open and shut,

and transport it to the farthest end of the small intestine, the only place in

the gut where cobalamin can be absorbed.

Without intrinsic factor, most B12 could never reach its destination, because

bacteria which line the intestine are hungry for this nutrient and would

intercept it. So you can be starved for vitamin B12 even when it is richly

supplied.

Making protein for the intrinsic factor depends on a good supply of many

different amino acids, available mainly from varied animal sources. Plant

sources seem to specialize in making one kind of amino acid rather than many,

and

therefore, a strict vegetarian diet may not offer the required raw materials

to synthesize the needed and specialized protein.

What happens if there's a dearth of intrinsic factor? Intestinal bacteria

gobble up much of the vitamin B12, and the rest is excreted.

Ingesting enough vitamin B12, therefore, is not enough. The vitamin has to be

delivered to the right spot in the upper intestine for absorption.

Otherwise, the consequences can be serious.

One of the serious consequences is dementia, which can mean anything from

mild mental impairment to insanity.

A recent study by Ralph Carmel, M.D., a specialist in hematology and a

professor of medicine at the University of Southern California, reveals the

temperamental character of vitamin B12.

Carmel wrote that " a certain segment of the population, especially the

elderly, cannot absorb vitamin B12 from food ... Some of them go on to develop

low

B12 levels with biochemical abnormalities that cannot be detected by

standard tests, and some develop dementia. (THIS WOULD APPLY TO WLS PATIENTS

ALSO).

" In 99 percent of cases, B12 deficiency arises from an inability to absorb

the B12 ingested in food. The Schilling test can determine the extent to which

a person is able to absorb the B12.

" However, in our study sample, 90 percent of the patients with unexplained

low levels of B12 had normal Schilling tests. How could they have developed B12

deficiency if they were adequately absorbing B12? "

An answer to Carmel's question came from a study done some years ago by Dr.

Doscherholmen at the University of Minnesota, showing that certain people,

particularly the elderly, can absorb B12 normally when it is given in a pill in

the Schilling test, but cannot absorb it in food.

In his observation of cases at the Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center,

Carmel found that some people with low blood levels of vitamin B12 may actually

be suffering from a deficiency that, if left undetected and untreated, can

produce dementia.

Carmel said cobalamin deficiency is a growing problem and cites statistics to

make his case. Seven years ago, no more than 30 cases of classical vitamin

B12 deficiency were detected at this medical center -- cases characterized by

anemia or by problems in the spinal cord nerves that supply the arms and

legs.

Now each year several hundred cases of low levels of vitamin B12 show up at

this medical center without the usual manifestations of deficiency, leading

Carmel to believe these patients might actually have a vitamin B12 deficiency

that was more subtle or different from the usual form of deficiency.

When Carmel's group micro-scopically examined bone marrow blood cells from

patients with an unexplained low B12 levels, they discovered that even though

the cells didn't show the anemia of B12 deficiency, they behaved biochemically

exactly like cells suffering from a vitamin B12 deficiency.

The major functions of vitamin B12 include contributing to the creation of

DNA, which contains the genetic code for cell replication, and RNA, which

carries the genetic message; helping in cell division and, of special importance

in preventing anemia, assisting in the creation and growth of red blood cells

that carry oxygen to our trillions of cells.

This last function is important for the prevention of anemia. Without enough

oxygen, the burning of fuel in our cells is decreased, causing a lack of

energy.

We've covered the temperamental quality of vitamin B12, but how can we cope

with it? Quite easily today, because health food stores carry two kinds of

cobalamin that make supplementation easy: sublingual, a form that you dissolve

under your tongue, and another kind that includes the intrinsic factor. The

sublingual type is absorbed directly into the bloodstream, avoiding the

obstacle course of the stomach and small intestine. IN OUR CASE SUBLINGUAL

TYPE B12

IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE ARE ABSORPING IT.

[Guest guest]

Another GREAT article!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!

Hugs!!

>

>

>

> The intrinsic factor is vital for B12 absorption

> Better Nutrition by _ Scheer_

> (http://www.findarticles.com/p/search?tb=art & qt= " +Scheer " )

>

>

> Putting vitamin B12 to work in the body requires adequate supplies

of the

> protein-based intrinsic factor. Like a temperamental opera prima

donna,

> vitamin B12 (cobalamin) has to have conditions exactly to its

liking or it won't

> perform. Because it prevents pernicious anemia, degenerating nerves

and mental

> disorders, cobalamin needs to be present in adequate quantities.

> Long before vitamin B12 reaches the stomach, it plays hard-to-get,

appearing

> in appreciable quantities in only eight foods: liver, sardines,

clams,

> mackerel, herring, croaker, snapper and flounder. And one of those

sources, clams,

> is shunned by many people because it is considered a garbage

collector of the

> sea, often full of pollutants.

> Even though adults require only 2 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin B12

daily,

> according to the new Recommended Dietary Allowances, the mineral is

present only

> in tiny quantities, and primarily in meats.

> Assuring a good intake of vitamin B12, whatever the source, does

not

> guarantee that it will be properly absorbed. A good supply of what

is called the

> intrinsic factor is necessary for this vitamin to become available

to the body.

> The intrinsic factor, despite its rather cryptic name, is nothing

mysterious.

> It is innumerable tiny, open ended protein capsules created by the

stomach

> in the exact shape and size required to fit a cobalamin molecule.

> These capsules randomly weave and bob around amid digesting food.

When they

> bump into vitamin B12, they quickly trap it inside, snap the open

and shut,

> and transport it to the farthest end of the small intestine, the

only place in

> the gut where cobalamin can be absorbed.

> Without intrinsic factor, most B12 could never reach its

destination, because

> bacteria which line the intestine are hungry for this nutrient and

would

> intercept it. So you can be starved for vitamin B12 even when it is

richly

> supplied.

> Making protein for the intrinsic factor depends on a good supply of

many

> different amino acids, available mainly from varied animal sources.

Plant

> sources seem to specialize in making one kind of amino acid rather

than many, and

> therefore, a strict vegetarian diet may not offer the required raw

materials

> to synthesize the needed and specialized protein.

> What happens if there's a dearth of intrinsic factor? Intestinal

bacteria

> gobble up much of the vitamin B12, and the rest is excreted.

> Ingesting enough vitamin B12, therefore, is not enough. The vitamin

has to be

> delivered to the right spot in the upper intestine for absorption.

> Otherwise, the consequences can be serious.

> One of the serious consequences is dementia, which can mean

anything from

> mild mental impairment to insanity.

> A recent study by Ralph Carmel, M.D., a specialist in hematology

and a

> professor of medicine at the University of Southern California,

reveals the

> temperamental character of vitamin B12.

> Carmel wrote that " a certain segment of the population, especially

the

> elderly, cannot absorb vitamin B12 from food ... Some of them go on

to develop low

> B12 levels with biochemical abnormalities that cannot be detected

by

> standard tests, and some develop dementia. (THIS WOULD APPLY TO WLS

PATIENTS ALSO).

> " In 99 percent of cases, B12 deficiency arises from an inability to

absorb

> the B12 ingested in food. The Schilling test can determine the

extent to which

> a person is able to absorb the B12.

> " However, in our study sample, 90 percent of the patients with

unexplained

> low levels of B12 had normal Schilling tests. How could they have

developed B12

> deficiency if they were adequately absorbing B12? "

> An answer to Carmel's question came from a study done some years

ago by Dr.

> Doscherholmen at the University of Minnesota, showing that certain

people,

> particularly the elderly, can absorb B12 normally when it is given

in a pill in

> the Schilling test, but cannot absorb it in food.

> In his observation of cases at the Los Angeles County/USC Medical

Center,

> Carmel found that some people with low blood levels of vitamin B12

may actually

> be suffering from a deficiency that, if left undetected and

untreated, can

> produce dementia.

> Carmel said cobalamin deficiency is a growing problem and cites

statistics to

> make his case. Seven years ago, no more than 30 cases of classical

vitamin

> B12 deficiency were detected at this medical center -- cases

characterized by

> anemia or by problems in the spinal cord nerves that supply the

arms and

> legs.

> Now each year several hundred cases of low levels of vitamin B12

show up at

> this medical center without the usual manifestations of deficiency,

leading

> Carmel to believe these patients might actually have a vitamin B12

deficiency

> that was more subtle or different from the usual form of

deficiency.

> When Carmel's group micro-scopically examined bone marrow blood

cells from

> patients with an unexplained low B12 levels, they discovered that

even though

> the cells didn't show the anemia of B12 deficiency, they behaved

biochemically

> exactly like cells suffering from a vitamin B12 deficiency.

> The major functions of vitamin B12 include contributing to the

creation of

> DNA, which contains the genetic code for cell replication, and RNA,

which

> carries the genetic message; helping in cell division and, of

special importance

> in preventing anemia, assisting in the creation and growth of red

blood cells

> that carry oxygen to our trillions of cells.

> This last function is important for the prevention of anemia.

Without enough

> oxygen, the burning of fuel in our cells is decreased, causing a

lack of

> energy.

> We've covered the temperamental quality of vitamin B12, but how can

we cope

> with it? Quite easily today, because health food stores carry two

kinds of

> cobalamin that make supplementation easy: sublingual, a form that

you dissolve

> under your tongue, and another kind that includes the intrinsic

factor. The

> sublingual type is absorbed directly into the bloodstream, avoiding

the

> obstacle course of the stomach and small intestine. IN OUR CASE

SUBLINGUAL TYPE B12

> IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE ARE ABSORPING IT.

>

>

>

>

>