Re: methylation (part 5) B-12

About B12 and Increasing Methylation

There is a "newer" interest in vitamin B12. This is supplemented in two forms. One is called Cyanocobalamin. The other is Methylcobalamin and is the methylated, coenzyme form of B-12 (cobalamin) active in the brain and central nervous system. The cyanocobalamin form needs to be converted to the methylcobalamin form, so the latter is preferable if possible. B12 is needed to work with folate (folic acid or vitamin B9). B6, B12, and folate have a synergistic effect when given together. The B12 working with the others is needed for good nervous system working and myelin integrity. High folate levels or taking high amounts of folate without B12 can mask a B12 deficiency. There is lots of information by doing a search for B12. The following is from the Vitamin Research Products site:

"For memory, some subjects improved some in memory and cognition with: 750 mcg of folate, 15 mcg of vitamin B12, and 75 mg of vitamin B6 daily for 35 days."
[New Study: B Vitamins Affect Memory, http://www.vrp.com]


"Recently a flurry of interesting articles from the medical newswires and lay press have focused on B vitamins--specifically vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid. Some articles are simple reiterations of research from the past. Methyl Caps includes vitamin B6, B12, folic acid, and betaine (trimethylglycine). VRP was one of the first supplement companies to recognize the damaging effects of high levels of homocysteine, and how homocysteine could be easily controlled by the simple nutrients found in Methyl Caps."
[Provocative New Findings on Vitamins B6, B12 and Folic Acid Link Discovered Between Homocysteine, Alzheimer's and Diabetes]

Besides just trying to supplement the individual precursors to increase methylation, there are a few products just for increasing methylation. They contain most of the precursors (a couple listed below). Most of the sites suggested adding the precursors rather than the SAMe or methionine as being a good corrective measure. I thought the ratios of B6 to B12 were interesting - the B6 is usually quite under 25 mg:
http://www.integrisnutrition.com/methylate.shtml

http://www.gaines.com/html/Source/SN1038info.html

http://www.gaines.com/html/product_info/ARG/ARG72580info.html



Here are the ingredients of Methyl Caps sold by http://www.vrp.com

Name: Methyl Caps, 180 capsules

Serving Size: 1 Capsule
Amount Per Serving % Daily Value
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine HCl) 17 mg 850%
Folic Acid 267 mcg 67%
Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) 17 mcg 283%
Betaine (trimethylglycine or TMG) 400 mg *
Three capsules each day of VRP's Methyl Caps provide a synergistic
mix of methyl donors which work quickly to convert homocysteine into
a harmless amino acid.

What is a 'good' amount of B12 versus a therapeutic amount. Some companies sell B12 supplements in amounts up to 1000 mcg even though the RDA value is between 2 and 6 mcg/day for an adult. That is quite a range!

Here is a description from NOW brand used therapeutically:
Brain B-12 - 1000 mcg Methylcobalamin - 100 Lozenges

"Vitamin B12, plays an important role in the metabolism of nerve tissue, protein, fats and carbohydrates. It also aids in the production of DNA/RNA and red blood cells. It also plays a role in the health of the spinal cord. A lack of adequate levels of Vitamin B12 may lead to pernicious anemia, lack of energy, weakness, muscle soreness, mental and nervous disorders, poor reflexes, speaking difficulty and nerve degeneration. As a dietary supplement, take one lozenge 1 to 2 times daily by holding under the tongue until dissolved."

Of course there were much lower strengths of B12 too. This was at a site called GreenCanyon.com that had lots of name brand supplements discounted by 20% or more.

Some other places said that those most likely to be deficient in B12 are those "Individuals with stomach and small intestinal disorders may not absorb enough vitamin B12 from food to maintain healthy body stores" Also, vitamin B12 can not be manufactured by any plants, and therefore is only found in animal products. So, vegetarians may not consume dairy products or meat which are good sources of B12, and they need to take care not to become deficient. Older people are also likely to become deficient. B12 is getting more recent press because of how it might aid in Alzheimers. Fortified breakfast cereals or foods were suggested for vegetarians or older people. There are sublingual dots you can buy too as well as in other supplements. (one place to read quick summaries about vitamins is http://www.anyvitamins.com)


B12 does not come from plants, only animal products. Strict vegetarians need to be aware of this and supplement it. B12 is stored in the liver and a few other spots. B12 toxicity is very hard to achieve and the main problems have been associated with B12 injections. This has even been attributed to some of the "other stuff" in the injection and may not be the B12. Or there are a few rare conditions that the injections may be contraindicated for.

B12 is released from proteins by stomach acid and digestion. Older people and those with low stomach acid or faulty digestion may develop B12 deficiencies (along with other nutrient deficiencies) because of this. Enzymes, particularly the proteases, digest the proteins and may make more B12 available (along with other nutrients). If you take anything that inhibits digestion or stomach acid, then you are inhibiting B12 release and absorbtion: like calcium carbonate with meals, Tums, Rolaids, and certain medications which affect stomach acid.

B12 combines with something called Intrinsic Factor in order to work. The stomach acid issues can affect the Intrinsic Factor availability too.

B12 is absorbed in the ileum, the very last part of the small intestine. Most everything else is absorbed before that in earlier parts of the intestine. For this reason, people with colon problems may be B12 deficient but not as deficient in other nutrients because the ileum is followed by the colon (so when problems "backup" from the colon into the small intestine, the B12 is affected first).

B12 may be deficient in people with injured guts because something called Intrinsic Factor is necessary to bind with the B12 in the stomach to "protect" it in the upper small intestine and from the stomach acid. Then the Intrinsic Factor attaches to some receptors at the end of the small intestine in the ileum aiding the B12 uptake. So at times it is the Intrinsic Factor and the fact it cannot attach to the receptors to facilitate transport and absorption into the body that is the problem and the cause of B12 deficiency. The sublingual B12 is highly preferred for this reason because it gets the B12 into the system and bypasses the entire Intrinsic Factor mechanism.

B12 deficiency can affect the nerves (as other nutrients can). The recent popular idea of getting more folic acid in the diet can mask a B12 problem, and too much folic acid (over 800 mcg a day for an adult) can lead to B12 deficiency if it is not in balance. So when people read folic acid is necessary and run out and start wolfing down folic acid without balancing it, this can provoke a B12 deficiency.

B12 is needed in incredibly small amounts like 2-6 mcg a day for an adult, kids need less. However, the therapeutic amount is between 100-1000 or more mcg a day for an adult for a couple of months. When the therapeutic amount should be used is open for debate with no clear cut evidence except for pernicious anemia (which is chronic B12 deficiency). The Alzheimers, MS, AIDS, etc issues are speculative at the moment. Some people say it may help, but others say not.

So it appears to me that healing the gut, taking enzymes (particularly proteases), and eating at least some animal foods go a long way to resolving this issue. Additional B12 for awhile may be helpful - a "try it and see" sort of thing - for mental and nerve function. Give at least a little bit of other Bs and folic acid along with it.

Here are a few more easier to understand yet thorough explanations. One has a picture of how B12 and folic acid affect the cycle of methylation, and B6 acts on another part. The precursors are much cheaper than the SAMe. It says that methylation is enhanced by estrogen and this may point to gender differences....anyway, more to explore.

http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag98/aug98-report2.html

http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag99/sept99_review.html

http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag99/sept99_review2.html


Here is a link on the interrelationships of these things. It gives different amounts of B12 and folate for increasing methylation:
http://www.miami-dade-online.com/MethylManual2.htm

http://www.miami-dade-online.com/MethylManual1.htm


This one mentions that one form of B12 may be more effective than another:
http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2001/jan2001_qanda.html