And for men...
Posted on 08/03/2025 4:19:02 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Eight essential nutrients make up the suite of B vitamins also known as the B complex. Research has revealed that these B vitamins influence a vast spectrum of human health and disease.
"It's hard to study the B vitamins in isolation," says gastroenterologist Joel Mason. "Four of these B-vitamins cooperate as co-factors in many critical activities in cells in what we call 'one carbon metabolism.'"
One of the most active areas for B vitamin research is cognitive health. By the age of 75–80, 40% of people have a diminished ability to absorb food-bound B12, says Mason. This deficiency leads to a decline in nerve health, particularly in the spine and brain, which can contribute to the risk of developing dementia in older adults.
Mason says, while many elderly people may have B12 levels that are in the "low to normal" range, they are simultaneously developing neurological deficits linked to vitamin B12 deficiency.
"The contribution of vitamin B12 deficiency to cognitive decline and the vascular disease that results in many cases of dementia is under-diagnosed and under-reported," says Irwin H. Rosenberg.
"Age-related cognitive decline is not just Alzheimer's," says Rosenberg.
Yet Rosenberg says cerebrovascular disease and small vessel disease, which in some cases are connected to B vitamin deficiency, is more prevalent with cognitive decline and dementia than Alzheimer's disease.
To pinpoint a B12 deficiency requires two additional tests. One, called the MMA test, measures levels of methymalonic acid, an acid produced during certain aspects of metabolism requiring adequate B12.
A second test measures levels of an amino acid, homocysteine, which is also a byproduct of metabolism requiring B12. If only homocysteine levels are elevated, a folate deficiency may be the problem. If both MMA and homocysteine are high, a B12 deficiency is the likely culprit.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
I know someone with cerebrovascular disease and, at times, she can literally not remember words she said in every prior sentence. However, my wife and I sent her a really good time release multivitamin and a separate multimineral, and the last call we had with her was much improved. She has kept such a strict diet we believe she dieted herself stupid.
She credits the supplements (we sent other good items, too) with her newfound capabilities. It was an amazing turnaround.
Do note “intrinsic factor” from our stomach is needed to properly use B-12. There are a few B-complexes that have this to counter low stomach acid and the lack of saliva to further help. It’s a combo of saliva and stomach acid to make it all work right, normally.
“Do note “intrinsic factor” from our stomach is needed to properly use B-12.”
I use B-12 patches to get around that. Works great.
What brand did you send her? Thanks.
The multivitamin:
Igennus Methylated Women’s Multivitamin
The multimineral:
Healthy Origins Chelated Multi Mineral
I’m going to check them out. Thanks so much
Dr. Paul Gyorgy, the biochemist who discovered several of the B vitamins, confided in me that he never took vitamin supplements because “all they do is to produce expensive urine.”
The pharmacist recognized me, (his wife was a nursing professor) he smiled and asked me to explain to the clerk why I knew the vitamins didn't work.
I told her the vitamins didn't turn my urine fluorescent yellow. The pharmacist nodded and said, "Give the customer a refund or a replacement, whichever she prefers!"
I was diagnosed w a B-12 deficiency about 14 years ago at age 60. Doc put me on a supplement.
What was I saying?
I take a super B complex everyday.
Do you recommend a product?
The mention of B6 was interesting. Linus Pauling mentioned that B6 will result in a desire to talk. It does. He also said B6 would result in nightmares if taken at night (50+mg). I was skeptical and gave it a try. Every two hours, I awoke to vivid nightmares.
I asked my daughter if she remembered dreaming when she woke up. No. I suggested B6 at noon. No results. She then doubled the dosage. No results. Doubled again - no results. I returned to the books and found that a magnesium deficiency would negatively affect B6. So, I gave her some magnesium, and a lower dose of B6. She remembered her dreams.
Another time, a coworker asked me what to take for kidney stones. I responded with B6 and Magnesium. But I warned him to take them in the morning. He took them in the evening and decided to double the dosage. The next morning, he came to work, looking like he had walked through a storm. He didn’t sleep much due to the nightmares.
Bkmk
Interesting...I rarely remember dreams...altho more lately. I recently upped my magnesium level. Now my hub has ALWAYS remembered dreams...long storied dreams.
And for men...
Another B-complex supplement to consider is this one from Swanson:
https://www.swansonvitamins.com/p/swanson-ultra-activated-b-complex-high-bioavailability-60-veg-caps
It has high-bioavailability types of B vitamins for people who cannot metabolize regular B vitamins well.
As far as I know, even methyl-B12 is not absorbed well orally and is better taken by injection or sublingually (dissolved under the tongue). The FDA considers sublingual products to be drugs, so for legal reasons, sublingual B12 tablets often have to include instructions to chew the tablets, but in reality, the tablets should be absorbed under the tongue. The following is an example Sublingual B12 product that is well absorbed under the tongue: https://www.swansonvitamins.com/p/swanson-ultra-methylcobalamin-b-12-5-mg-60-tabs
“Do note “intrinsic factor” from our stomach is needed to properly use B-12. There are a few B-complexes that have this”
Intrinsic factor (IF) is a glycoprotein produced by parietal cells in the stomach, essential for the absorption of vitamin B12 in the ileum. Here’s a concise breakdown of your question:
Can intrinsic factor be artificially synthesized?
Yes, intrinsic factor can be synthesized using recombinant DNA technology. Researchers have successfully produced recombinant human intrinsic factor (rhIF) in various expression systems, such as yeast (Pichia pastoris) or mammalian cells. These systems allow for the production of functional IF that mimics the native protein’s structure and binding affinity for vitamin B12.
Can it be absorbed when consumed orally?
Orally consumed intrinsic factor faces significant challenges. The stomach’s acidic environment and digestive enzymes, like pepsin, can degrade proteins, including rhIF, before they reach the ileum, where B12 absorption occurs. While some studies suggest that encapsulated or stabilized forms of rhIF might partially survive gastric digestion, there’s no conclusive evidence that orally administered IF is consistently absorbed in an active form in humans. The protein’s large size and complex structure make it difficult for it to cross the intestinal mucosa intact.
Can it function normally?
If recombinant intrinsic factor could be protected from degradation (e.g., through enteric coating or other delivery mechanisms) and reach the ileum, it has the potential to function normally. Studies show that rhIF retains the ability to bind vitamin B12 and facilitate its uptake via the cubilin receptor in the ileum, similar to native IF. However, the efficiency of this process in oral formulations remains uncertain due to the absorption hurdle.
Current Status and Challenges:
Research Context: Most studies on rhIF focus on its use in diagnostic tests (e.g., Schilling test) or parenteral administration, not oral delivery. There’s limited clinical data on oral rhIF efficacy in humans.
Practical Use: Oral B12 supplements for deficiency (e.g., in pernicious anemia) often rely on high-dose cyanocobalamin, which can be absorbed passively without IF. Thus, synthesizing and delivering functional oral IF is not a primary focus of current therapies.
Future Potential: Advances in protein stabilization, encapsulation, or nanoparticle delivery could improve the feasibility of oral rhIF, but such technologies are still experimental.
Conclusion:
While intrinsic factor can be artificially synthesized and has the potential to function normally if delivered to the ileum, oral administration faces significant barriers due to gastric degradation and poor intestinal absorption. Current research does not support its practical use as an oral supplement, but targeted delivery methods could change this in the future. For now, alternative treatments for B12 deficiency, like injections or high-dose oral B12, remain standard.
[If one has pernicious anemia like i do, best not to stake your life on B12 supplements that claim to contain intrinsic factor ... in 25 years, not once has any doctor every told me that i could substitute prescription B12 injections with such products ...]
I’ve taken B12, 500mcg for years with tons of other supplements and a multi vitamin. I just started taking Folic Acid, 800mcg. Hope it’s enough!
I would not take folic acid. Take folate. They are not the same.
Also, you don’t even need half that amount a day.
Folic acid is supposed to convert into folate, but it hangs around and has been found to cause problems. Folate is the active form.
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