Archive for May, 2008

Vitamin B12 Deficiency Causes, Pernicious Anemia, Symptoms, Treatment and Foods Sources

Vitamin B12 is a highly unique water soluble essential vitamin. Unusual because this high numbered B can be stored in your liver for a couple of years. This is unlike other water soluble vitamins, which are readily excreted if the amount you ingest is not needed by your awesomely homeostatic goal body.

Essentially, the other water solubles need constant attention to ensure replacement is at the minute ready. Whereas B12 you can store it up and forget it for a period of time.

Maybe that’s why back in the day mothers use to practically force feed that beef liver once a week, as this not so delightful smelling food offers up over 700% of your daily dietary requirement.

Vitamin B12 helps maintain healthy:

  • nerve cells
  • red blood cells

And is also needed to make DNA, that all important genetic material found in all your cells.

With all this said, vitamin B12 deficiency is not at all common. The high risk groups prone to be in this vitamin’s deficiency are:

  • elderly
  • pregnancy
  • liver disease
  • kidney disease
  • strict vegetarians
  • hemolytic anemia
  • overactive thyroid
  • some metabolic disorders
  • malnutrition due to poor diet
  • infection ~ overgrowth of intestinal parasites, bacteria
  • gastrointestinal disease ~ stomach removal surgery, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease
  • certain drugs ~ colchicine, neomycin, para amino salicylic acid used for tuberculosis

A B12 deficiency can also result from your intestinal tract’s inability to absorb it, a condition known as pernicious anemia. This type of anemia involves a missing or insufficiency of an intrinsic factor (IF) protein, which is necessary for B12 absorption out of you intestines and on into the bloodstream.

If your are experiencing pernicious anemia, it may be necessary to get a monthly shot of vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin injection). Likely injected into a large muscle. This shot in the arm, so to speak, gets your body and mind back on track.

A deficiency of vitamin B12 or pernicious anemia can gradually lead to abnormal neurologic and psychiatric symptoms, like:

  • fatigue
  • diarrhea
  • pale skin
  • dementia
  • spasticity
  • psychoses
  • sore mouth
  • hypotension
  • incontinence
  • appetite loss
  • bleeding gums
  • rapid heart rate
  • vision problems
  • tongue problems
  • muscle weakness
  • shaky movements
  • mood disturbances
  • shortness of breath
  • impaired sense of smell
  • tingling/numbness in hands/feet
  • unsteady gait ~ especially in the dark
  • personality changes ~ “megaloblastic madness”

And these scary neurological effects and symptoms may occur when vitamin B12 levels are only slightly below normal, but above levels typically seen with other causes for anemia. In other words, in advance of any potential diagnosis for anemia.

So how does one ensure they are consuming enough stored B12 within a diet? Well, 3 ounces of cooked clams is the top of the line food source, twice the offering of that of beef liver. Not a clam nor beef liver lover? Other notable B12 food sources in percentage of daily diet requirement amount include:

  • 3 oz. wild rainbow trout ~ 90%
  • 3 oz. salmon ~ 80%
  • 3 oz. farmed rainbow trout ~ 50%
  • 3 oz. of lean choice top sirloin ~40%
  • 1 cup plain yogurt ~25%
  • 3 oz. haddock ~20%
  • 1 cup breaded/fried clams ~ 25%
  • canned white tuna ~15%
  • 1 cup milk ~ 15%
  • lean ham ~10%
  • hard boiled egg ~ 10%

You’ll notice that all of these are animal protein based foods. That means if you are vegan, you’ll need to get your all important vitamin B12 from fortification of foods, such as cereal, etc. Or supplementation.

About Malnutrition Causes, Signs, Symptoms, Treatment and Effects of Malnourished

Malnutrition is a term covering the broad condition of insufficient nutrient consumption or absorption. The insufficiency can be only an inadequacy of a single nutrient or as severe as starvation. In both instances, your body is in a malnourished condition.

Many factors can come into play to cause or result in malnutrition. Your condition may be due to:

Special group of concern are older adults, who often have other health issues that can lead to becoming malnourished, including:

  • stroke
  • dementia
  • side effect of drugs
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • diminished taste and smell
  • appetite suppressing ailments
  • trouble chewing and swallowing
  • illnesses that affect mental functioning
  • Parkinson’s ~ interferes with swallowing
  • some overweight seniors are malnourished
  • dental issues ~ gum disease, cavities and poorly fitting dentures
  • trouble absorbing nutrients (malabsorption) due to physiological changes
  • chronic illness which interfere with ability to shop, prepare meals, feed themselves
  • digestive enzymes & acids diminish ~ interfering with protein breakdown, reducing absorption of vitamin B12, folate, calcium, iron

In many mild cases of malnutrition, the poorly nourished may not experience accompanying symptoms. However, the more you are missing, the more likely you’ll receive some sign related to the lacking nutrient.

There are some very broad general indications, signs or signals that may help heads you up to a nutrient deficiency, like:

  • fatigue
  • dizziness
  • low energy
  • weight loss
  • tooth decay
  • poor growth
  • underweight
  • bruise easily
  • dry, scaly skin
  • muscle twitches
  • bloated stomach
  • slowed reactions
  • attention difficulty
  • muscle weakness
  • poor wound healing
  • swollen/bleeding gums
  • organ function problems
  • decreased/poor immune response/function
  • osteoporosis/fragile bones that break easily

I know, I know. Kinda vague, and many apply to a boat load of other medical conditions.

If you haven’t guess it, treatment usually consists of replacing missing nutrients. And, of course, treating any underlying medical condition as well.

Fortunately, many of the harmful effects of malnutrition can be reversed. Unless your case is so severe that irreversible brain or nerve damage is experienced.

Keep in mind that the most common form of malnutrition in the world is iron deficiency. Another nutrient concern is vitamin B12 for those following a non-meat diet.

Get your diet balanced, feet moving and weight under control toward a health filled existence.

About Low Glycemic Index for Diabetes Blood Sugar Levels

In our hustle, bustle world of fast food, poor diets and computer generated immobility, glycemic index is fast becoming the talk of the diabetic town. What is all this talk about and how may it help you?

Well, much in your healthy existence has to do with your body’s control of blood sugar (glucose) levels. When this is maintained at a efficiently homeostatic level, you will scream along through your life without much of a notice. However, life ain’t so good for those who suffer with out of control blood sugar levels, known as diabetes.

These folks experience all sorts of bodily function upset solely due to their diet instigated fluctuating blood glucose levels. So in steps the dietary planning hero ~ glycemic index.

Glycemic index is a measurement indicating how a particular food causes your blood sugar level to rise. In theory, low glycemic load foods should have the affect of gradually increasing this all important glucose level, thus avoiding the drastic ups and downs physical side effects.

A recent study indicates that there is a statistical significance for maintaining diabetic glucose levels when consuming a low glycemic index diet. The study used type 1 diabetes children as their subjects. Whether this applies across the board remains to be seen.

With many good theories, there is a twist. And this one is no exception. The twist comes in as to how your “particular” body happens to handle that low glycemic food, moment by moment. My money is on less of a blood glucose affect than the alternative, as in high glycemic index food sources.

For a healthier body, we all need to pay attention to that glycemic load for what’s being consumed in our bustle for energy.

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