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B Vitamins

Recommended supplementation and lifestyle changes (not meant as a diagnosis or to replace the advice of a health care practitioner):

DOCTOR’S A-Z food supplementation: Balance B-50 or Balance B-00. Also Please see each individual B- food supplement for availability.

Or BIOTIC’S food supplementation: 2 Bio-B 100 (3x each day)
2 Beta-TCP (2x each day) Also please see each individual B- food supplement for availability.

· Avoid refined sugar: Sugar consumption depletes B vitamins.
· Avoid refined carbohydrate: In its natural state, food that contains starch contains B vitamins. When the food is refined (the fiber, bran and germ are removed from the grain), the starch is left without any of the necessary nutrients. Refined carbohydrate can deplete B vitamins.

B vitamins are necessary for energy production, carbohydrate metabolism, blood cell production, enzyme function and many other uses. B vitamins may be especially important during times of stress. Deficiency, or "poor vitamin status,” perhaps a better term, is fairly common because of the amount of refined foods people eat and the preponderance of digestive problems. Let’s consider each of the B vitamins individually to give you some insight into your patient’s health. When taking any individual B vitamin/ food supplement individually it is a good rule of thumb to take a multiple B along with it.

Thiamin: Deficiency of thiamin makes it difficult for a person to digest carbohydrates. It also leaves too much pyruvic acid in the blood, causing loss of mental alertness, labored breathing, and cardiac damage. Early signs of deficiency include easy fatigue, loss of appetite, irritability and emotional instability. Confusion and loss of memory will appear if the deficiency persists.
Beriberi is the disease of thiamin deficiency. The most advanced neural changes occur in the peripheral nerves, particularly the legs. The distal segments are involved earliest and most severely.
Early deficiency produces fatigue, irritation, poor memory, sleep disturbances, precordial pain, anorexia, abdominal discomfort and constipation. Peripheral neurologic changes are bilateral and symmetric, usually in the lower extremities. Paresthesias of the toes, burning of the feet (especially at night), calf muscle cramps, pain in the legs, loss of vibratory sense in the toes and difficulty in rising from a squatting position are early signs. Later signs include loss of ankle jerk, then knee jerk and loss of vibratory and position sensation in the toes, atrophy of the calf and thigh muscles and finally foot drop and toe drop. The arms may become involved after the leg signs are well-established.
Cerebral beriberi or Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a state of mental confusion commonly seen in alcoholics.

Vitamin B1 is necessary for hydrochloric acid (HCl) production. One possible way to check for thiamin need is to use neurolingual testing and see if the Chapman Reflex for the stomach is less tender while the patient is holding thiamin in his or her mouth (use Bio-3B-G).

Riboflavin: Riboflavin is water soluble. It is stable to heat, oxidation, and acid. It disintegrates in the presence of alkali or UV light. Riboflavin is necessary for cell respiration because it works with enzymes in the utilization of cell oxygen. It functions as part of a group of enzymes that are involved in the breakdown and utilization of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
Riboflavin is not known to have any toxic reactions. An early sign of deficiency is the appearance of cracks and sores in the corners of the mouth; a red, sore tongue; a feeling of grit and sand on the insides of the eyelids; burning of the eyes; changes in the cornea; sensitivity to light; lesions of the lips; scaling around the nose, mouth, forehead and ears; trembling; sluggishness; dizziness, and a lack of stamina. You can use Bio-GGG-B as a riboflavin source.

Niacin: Niacin is water soluble and is more stable than thiamin or riboflavin. Niacin is available in three synthetic forms: nicinamide, nicotinic acid, and nicotinamide. As a coenzyme, it assists enzymes in the breakdown and utilization of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.
Niacin has been used to improve circulation and to reduce cholesterol. Tryptophan can be converted into niacin by the body. Excessive consumption of sugar and starches will deplete the body's supply of niacin.
Niacin, in doses of 100 mg or more, can cause an unpleasant flush. Taking niacinamide does not cause the flush. In doses of 2 g/day or more, it can cause liver damage. High doses may also precipitate a gout attack, or make a case of gout worse by competing with the excretion of uric acid. Niacin is involved with the release of stomach acid and should, therefore, be taken on a full stomach. High doses of niacin are capable of bringing down cholesterol. One way to get around the liver damage caused by high doses of niacin is to bind the niacin to an inositol molecule. Inositol hexaniacinate is a form of niacin that is safe for the liver at high doses. It is found in Tri-Chol.
Niacin deficiency, in the early stages, leads to muscular weakness, general fatigue, loss of appetite, indigestion, and various skin eruptions. It can also cause bad breath, small ulcers, canker sores, insomnia, irritability, nausea, vomiting, recurring headaches, tender gums, and depression.
Severe deficiency leads to pellagra, which is characterized by the three Ds—dermatitis, dementia and diarrhea. Primary deficiency usually occurs in areas where maize (Indian corn) is a major part of the diet. Bound niacin, found in maize, is not assimilated in the intestinal tract (unless treated with alkali—as in making of tortillas). Corn protein is also deficient in tryptophan. Amino acid imbalance may also play a part. Pellagra is common in India among those who eat a lot of millet (which has a high leucine content). It can also be seen in diarrheal disease, cirrhosis of the liver, and alcoholism.
Pellagra is characterized by cutaneous, mucous membrane, central nervous system (CNS) and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. The complete syndrome of advanced deficiency includes scarlet stomatitis and glossitis, diarrhea, dermatitis, and mental aberrations. Symptoms may occur alone or in combination.

Pantothenic Acid: Pantothenic acid is water soluble. There is a close correlation between pantothenic acid tissue levels and functioning of the adrenal cortex. It stimulates the adrenal glands and increases production of cortisone and other adrenal hormones. It plays a vital role in cellular metabolism. As a coenzyme it helps with the release of energy from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. It also helps with the utilization of other vitamins, especially riboflavin. It is an essential constituent of coenzyme A.
Pantothenic acid is essential for the synthesis of cholesterol, steroids, and fatty acids. It can improve the body's ability to withstand stressful conditions. Deficiency is rare, but symptoms can include vomiting, restlessness, abdominal pains, burning feet, muscle cramps, gas and abdominal distention.
Because pantothenic acid is so vital to adrenal function, you can use neurolingual testing. Have the patient place pantothenic acid in his or her mouth and see if it diminishes the tenderness of the Chapman adrenal reflex (the reflex is located 1 inch lateral and 1 inch superior to the navel).

Pyridoxine: B6 is required for the proper absorption of B12 and the production of HCl. It plays an important role in fat metabolism. It acts as a coenzyme in the breakdown and utilization of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. It must be present for the production of antibodies and red blood cells. The release of glycogen for energy from the liver and muscles is facilitated by B6. It also aids in the conversion of tryptophan to niacin.
Deficiency can lead to low blood sugar and poor glucose tolerance. It can also cause water retention during pregnancy, cracks around the mouth and eyes, numbness and cramps in the arms and legs, slow learning, visual disturbance, neuritis, arthritis, and an increase in urination. Gestational diabetes is frequently resolved by simply taking 50 mg of B6 per day. People who are sensitive to monosodium glutamate (MSG) have their symptoms resolved by taking B6 supplements. Excess estrogen depletes B6; menstrual problems are often helped by B6 supplementation.
Vitamin B6 is necessary for transamination. In other words, it moves amine molecules. One easy way to find a B6 need is when alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels (previously called SGOT and SGPT, respectively) are in the low teens or lower. Normal laboratory values can be as low as 0, but levels much lower than 20 may indicate a need for B6. Vitamin B6 is also a necessary cofactor for essential fatty acid metabolism. You can perform the essential fatty acid test—do a multiple muscle test rhythmically; the chosen muscle should endure 20 successive challenges. If it does not, see if the number increases while the patient holds a B6 tablet in his or her mouth.

Folic Acid: Folic acid functions as a coenzyme, together with vitamins B12 and C, in the breakdown and utilization of proteins. Folic acid performs its basic role as a carbon carrier in the formation of heme. It is also needed for the formation of nucleic acid.
Folic acid is necessary for proper brain function. It is concentrated in the spinal and extracellular fluids. It is essential for mental and emotional health. Folic acid increases the appetite and stimulates the production of hydrochloric acid. It also aids in liver function.
Folic acid is easily destroyed by high temperature, by light and by being left at room temperature for long periods. It is one of the nutrients most often deficient in our diets. Deficiency can lead to glossitis, GI disturbances, poor growth, skin problems, obstetric disorders such as toxemia of pregnancy, neuropathy and psychiatric disorders. It can cause a megaloblastic anemia.
The need for the vitamin is especially increased during pregnancy. The fetus needs folic acid for its rapid growth and quickly depletes the mother's reserves. The World Health Organization reports that one-third to one-half of pregnant women are folic acid deficient. Spina bifida is associated with low levels of folic acid in the mother at the time of conception. Almost any interference with the metabolism of folic acid in the fetus can contribute to deformities like cleft palate or brain damage. It can cause slow development and poor learning ability in the child.
Folic acid is necessary for all cells that multiply rapidly. One sure sign of a folic acid deficiency is a woman who has an “irregular” Pap smear, when no cancer is present, but the cells are irregular, causing the physician concern. This is an almost sure sign of folic acid deficiency. Giving 5 mg/day of folic acid will frequently resolve the problem. Polyps may also be a sign of folic acid need.
Deficiency of folic acid in pregnancy can lead to toxemia, premature birth, afterbirth hemorrhaging, and megaloblastic anemia (in both mother and child).
In the United States, folic acid supplements must be less than 800 mg because taking folic acid can mask a B12 deficiency. It is a good idea to give these two nutrients together.
One way to test for folic acid is to check for segmented neutrophils. This is a test that can be added to a complete blood count (CBC). Segmented neutrophils are immature cells. Levels higher than 15 are cause for concern (especially in women desiring to get pregnant). In ideal health, the number should be close to zero.
In a routine CBC, certain “normal” values may reflect a folic acid or a B12 need (these values are the same for both folic acid and for B12). The RBC count will be low or low normal, the white blood cell (WBC) count will be low or low normal (possibly with fewer polymorphonuclear leukocytes [PMNs] and more lymphocytes) and the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) will be greater than 90 or the mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) will be above 32).

Vitamin B12: B12 is unique in that it is the first cobalt-containing substance found to be an essential nutrient. It is the only vitamin that contains essential mineral elements. Animal protein is almost the only place that contains B12, although vegetarians can get it from microbial synthesis and from legume nodules where it is synthesized by microbes.
Vitamin B12 is necessary for normal metabolism of nerve tissue and is involved in protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism. B12 aids folic acid in the synthesis of choline. It helps the placement of vitamin A into body tissues.
Vitamin B12 deficiency is the most common cause of depression in the elderly (also consider it for elderly patients who are becoming forgetful). In severe cases it can cause symptoms that will mimic Alzheimer’s disease. Testing serum B12 often yields normal results, yet the patient will respond to B12 therapy.
B12 is poorly absorbed unless intrinsic factor, a mucoprotein secreted in the stomach, is present. Autoimmune reactions in the body can bind intrinsic factor or can affect the cells that produce it. Absorption of B12 appears to decrease with age, and with iron, calcium and B6 deficiencies. Absorption increases during pregnancy.
Generally, B12 is given as an injection, but it is well established that high doses (in the 2-4 mg/day range) will yield satisfactory results.
Pernicious anemia develops insidiously and progressively as the large hepatic stores of B12 are depleted. It may take 5 or 6 years to develop. Usually the problem is more profound than that expected based on the symptoms. This is due to physiologic adaptation. Splenomegaly and hepatomegaly may occasionally be seen. GI problems may be present, including anorexia, intermittent constipation and diarrhea and poorly localized abdominal pain. Considerable weight loss is common. Peripheral nerves are commonly involved, even in the absence of anemia. Second to this is spinal cord involvement beginning in the dorsal column with loss of vibratory sensation in the lower extremities, loss of position sense and ataxia. Lateral column involvement follows with spasticity and hyperactive reflexes and a Babinski's sign. Some patients have irritability, mild depression or actual paranoia. Occasionally yellow-blue color blindness occurs.
Rare signs are fever of unknown origin that responds promptly to B12 therapy. Endocrine deficiencies, especially of the thyroid and adrenal glands, if they are associated with pernicious anemia, suggest an autoimmune basis for gastric mucosal atrophy. Hypogammaglobulinemia may be present.
Anemia is macrocytic with an MCV higher than 100. There is a test for B12 levels, but it may not be reliable. The Schilling test measures the absorption of radioactive B12 with and without intrinsic factor.
A test for B12 need developed by George Goodheart, MD, involves testing a muscle, suddenly stretching it and retesting it. If the muscle weakens, it is a sign that the patient needs B12.
In a routine CBC, certain “normal” values may reflect a folic acid or a B12 need (these values are the same for both folic acid and B12). The RBC count will be low or low-normal, the WBC count will be low or low-normal (possibly with fewer PMNs and more lymphocytes) and the MCV will be greater than 90 or the MCH will be above 32).

Choline and Inositol: Choline is considered one of the B-complex vitamins. Together with inositol it forms a basic constituent of lecithin. It is found in egg yolk, liver, brewer's yeast and wheat germ. It is associated with the utilization of fats and cholesterol in the body. It prevents fats from accumulating in the liver and facilitates the movement of fats into the cells. Choline is also essential for the health of the myelin sheaths of the nerves. It also helps to regulate and improve liver and gallbladder functioning and aids in the prevention of gallstones.
Choline deficiency is associated with fatty deposits in the liver and may be related to cirrhosis of the liver, atherosclerosis, and high blood pressure.
Inositol is recognized as part of the vitamin B complex and is closely associated with choline and biotin. It is found in high concentrations in lecithin. It is found in animal and plant tissues. In animal tissues it occurs as a component of phospholipids; in plant cells it is found in phytic acid.
Inositol is a component of lecithin, along with choline. In combination with choline it prevents the fatty hardening of arteries and protects the liver. Large quantities of inositol are found in the spinal cord nerves and in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid. It is thought to be helpful in brain cell nutrition. It is needed for the growth and survival of cells in bone marrow, eye membranes, and the intestines.
Inositol works in some cases of pesticide poisoning. It is lipotropic and helps to free the pesticide from adipose tissue. High doses of inositol often work for neuralgia like pain.




© 2001 Dr. Paul Mach Design: Sotelo Design