Vitamine B12 Complex

Vitamin B12 is a member of the vitamin B complex. It is also called cobalamin and is important for good health. There are two types of commercial vitamin B12: cyanocobalamin and methylcobalamin. New Roots Herbal uses only the methyl form because it is the coenzyme form and the only type that can participate directly in homocysteine metabolism. Moreover, converting homocysteine to methionine via methylcobalamin generates an increased supply of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), the body's main methyl donor. Indeed, some of the benefits of methylcobalamin, such as protection against neurotoxicity, seem to result from increased production of SAMe. It helps maintain healthy nerve cells and red blood cells and is also needed to make DNA, the genetic material in all cells. Vitamin B12 is bound to proteins in food; hydrochloric acid in the stomach releases vitamin B12 from proteins during digestion. Once released, vitamin B12 combines with a substance called intrinsic factor (IF) before it is absorbed into the bloodstream.

Bacteria synthesize vitamin B12 exclusively, and common sources are found primarily in meat, eggs and dairy products. Vitamin B12 is necessary for red blood cell synthesis and nervous system maintenance and is very important for growth and development in children. Deficiency can cause anemia and degeneration of nerve fibers. Irreversible neurological damage can also occur.

Vitamin B12 is also required for the rapid synthesis of DNA during cell division. This is especially important in tissues where cells divide rapidly, especially bone marrow tissues responsible for the formation of red blood cells. When deficiency occurs, DNA production is disrupted and abnormal cells called megaloblasts are formed; this results in anemia. Symptoms include excessive fatigue, shortness of breath, lethargy, pallor and poor resistance to infection. Other symptoms may include a slippery, sore tongue and menstrual irregularities. Anemia may also be due to folate deficiency; folate is also needed for DNA synthesis.

An insulating fat sheath composed of a complex protein called myelin surrounds our nerves. Vitamin B12 plays a vital role in the metabolism of these fatty acids that are essential for the maintenance of myelin. Prolonged vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to nerve degeneration and irreversible neurological damage.

When deficiency occurs, it is more often linked to a failure to effectively absorb vitamin B12 from the gut rather than a dietary deficiency. Absorption of vitamin B12 requires the secretion from the cells lining the stomach of a glycoprotein known as intrinsic factor. The vitamin B12 intrinsic factor complex is then absorbed into the ileum (part of the small intestine) in the presence of calcium. Certain people are unable to produce intrinsic factor and subsequent pernicious anemia is treated with injections of vitamin B12.

Vitamin B12 can only be stored by the body in small amounts. Total body storage is 2-5 mg in adults, of which about 80% is stored in the liver.

Vitamin B12 is excreted in the bile and is effectively resorbed; this is known as enterohepatic circulation. The amount of vitamin B12 excreted in the bile can range from 1 to 10 μg per day. Reabsorption is the reason it can take more than 20 years for deficiency disease to develop in people who switch to diets devoid of vitamin B12. In comparison, if vitamin B12 deficiency is due to absorption failure, it can take three years before deficiency disease develops.

Ingredients
New Roots Herbal's Vitamin B12 Methylcobalamin 1,000 mcg contains vegetable magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide and microcrystalline cellulose in a non-GMO vegetable capsule consisting of vegetable carbohydrate gum and purified water.

Allergen Information
New Roots Herbal's Vitamin B12 Methylcobalamin 1,000 mcg does not contain eggs, citrus fruits, preservatives, artificial flavors or colors, starch or sugar.

Composition

Suggested Use
Take 1 capsule daily with food or as directed by your healthcare provider. Consult a healthcare provider for long-term use. Consult a healthcare provider before use if you have diabetes or galactosemia; if you are allergic to latex or fruits (such as avocado, banana, chestnut, passion fruit, fig, melon, mango, kiwi, pineapple, peach, and tomato); if you have gastrointestinal lesions/ ulcers; if you are taking anti-inflammatory drugs or other enzyme products; or if you are having surgery. Stop use and consult a health care provider if symptoms persist or worsen. Discontinue use if you develop symptoms of liver problems (such as abdominal pain, dark urine, or jaundice). Do not use if you have liver or gallbladder disease, intestinal obstruction, or if you are taking anticoagulants or blood thinners. Do not use if you are pregnant or nursing; or after recent surgery.

Known side effects: Headache, heartburn, bloating, hypersensitivity (e.g., allergy), nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are known; if so, discontinue use. May cause bloating, cramps and constipation.

Do not use if seal is broken. Keep out of reach of children.

Contents
New Roots Herbal's Vitamin B12 Methylcobalamin 1,000 mcg contains 60 mini softgels.