From eNewsletter 11/18/2024
DID YOU KNOW that there's a difference between vitamin B12 deficiency and functional vitamin B-12 deficiency?
According to a study from Journal of the American Nutrition Association, vitamin B-12 deficiency is discovered from low blood levels of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) and/or methylmalonic acid. Functional deficiency is defined as high blood levels of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) and/or methylmalonic acid.
Why would high levels be considered a deficiency? As we've seen for years, because of genetic predisposition, vitamin B12 may be malabsorbed and instead of being utilized at the cellular level, it just circulates in the blood, causing high levels. This is why we recommend genetic testing. Those with mutations of vitamin B12 genes can use a source such as adenosyl/hydroxy that is better absorbed.
There are caveats to the aforementioned. For those already supplementing with vitamin B12, B-complex, or high-dose multi, if you do not stop your supplements 48 hours prior to your blood draw, levels can be artificially high but does not mean you have functional deficiency.
To read the res of today's issue, please go to this page.
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