Vitamin B12

What It Is

Vitamin B12 is an essential water-soluble vitamin that’s often used with other B vitamins in a “B complex” formulation. B12 helps the body maintain healthy nerve cells and red blood cells plus it’s needed to make DNA. Hydrochloric acid in the stomach releases B12 from protein during digestion. Once it’s released, vitamin B12 combines with a substance called intrinsic factor (IF) before it’s absorbed into the bloodstream.

This vitamin has the largest and most complex chemical structure of any vitamin. What makes B12 unique is that it contains cobalt - a metal ion. The form of cobalt used in most B12 supplements is cyanocobalamin because it’s quickly converted to 5-deoxyadenosyl and methylcobalamin in the body.

What It Does

Deficiencies of vitamin B12 can cause hyperglycemia and when vitamin B12 levels are low it can affect other processes in the body. In vitro experiments indicate that red cells of vitamin B12-deficient animals are low in glutathione content and enzyme activity both of which are essential for glucose breakdown. Other enzyme systems involved in carbohydrate metabolism such as coenzyme A in liver or DPN in liver are also affected when there’s a deficiency.

If you’re diabetic, it’s important to know if you’ve been taking Metformin for at least one year, your doctor needs to check your B12 level annually. There’s an associated risk of B12 deficiency with Metformin. This does not mean you should stop taking Metformin, just keep an eye on your B12 level.

Any quality supplement will include the B complex vitamins B1 (Thiamin), B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin), and B6 (Pyridoxine), which are necessary for good absorption of B12. Folate is also a necessary ingredient and all can be found in a superior supplement like Vita-betic.

Vitamin B12 is just one of 22 ingredients in the Vita-Betic™ blend multi-vitamin, mineral and herb supplement, formulated to meet the dietary needs of diabetics. Click here for more information on the Vita-Betic formula, or click here for information how to receive FREE vitamins.