Did you know? – Low levels of B12 increase your risk of gastric cancer by 5.8 times?
Low dietary B12 levels are associated with a 56% higher risk of breast cancer!*
A more accurate means to determine your B12 levels is a blood test called methylmalonic acid test and not a serum B12 levels. Elevated methymalonic acids levels indicate a B12 deficiency.
You may be more likely to develop vitamin B12 deficiency if you have:
- Atrophic gastritis, in which your stomach lining has thinned
- Pernicious anemia, which makes it hard for your body to absorb vitamin B12
- Conditions that affect your small intestine, such as Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, bacterial growth, or a parasite
- Immune system disorders, such as Graves’ disease or lupus
- Gene mutation
You can also get vitamin B12 deficiency if you follow a vegan diet (meaning you don’t eat any animal products, including meat, milk, cheese, and eggs) or you are a vegetarian who doesn’t eat enough eggs or dairy products to meet your vitamin B12 needs.
Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
If you have vitamin B12 deficiency, you could become anemic. A mild deficiency may cause no symptoms. But if untreated, it may lead to symptoms such as:**
- Weakness, tiredness, or lightheadedness
- Heart palpitations and shortness of breath
- Pale skin
- A smooth tongue
- Constipation, diarrhea, loss of appetite, or gas
- Nerve problems like numbness or tingling, muscle weakness, and problems walking
- Vision loss
- Mental problems like depression, memory loss, or behavioral changes
B12 Supplementation
Look at the different forms of B12 below:
https://www.b12-vitamin.com/forms/
The recommendation for supplementation of B12will depend on an individuations needs, but you diffidently want to avoid cyanocobalamin, unless you are a fan of cyanide, but unfortunately that is the form that is in the majority of multivitamins.
Call 352-629-7955 to make an appointment and allow me to determine if a B12 deficiency is increasing your risk for Gastric and Breast Cancer.
* Int J Cancer 2017 Sep 15;141(6):1120-1129. Low vitamin B12 increases risk of gastric cancer: A prospective metabolism of one-carbon nutrients and risk of upper gastrointestinal tract cancer. Miranti EH
Nutrition 2018 Jan;45:11-16 The association between the Index of Nutritional Quality and breast cancer and the evaluation of nutrient intake of breast cancer patients: A case-control study. Vahid F
** From WebMD
About the Author
Douglas C. Hall, M.D.
Dr. Douglas Hall, was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on Jan. 30, 1941. He received his BS and Doctor of Medicine at the University of Florida, training in obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Hall has been in private practice since 1974 and currently has a large practice in Ocala, specializing in OB/GYN and Functional Medicine.