. The B-Complex vitamins play an importantrole in carbohydrate digestion and energy production. Withoutall of the proper components this system can breakdown and causethese symptoms. If left without diagnosis or treatment, B12deficiency can lead to a serious medical condition, PerniciousAnemia. The symptoms of B12 deficiency include; shortness ofbreath, fatigue, rapid heart rate, loss of appetite, diarrhea,tingling and numbness of hands and feet, sore mouth, unsteadygait, especially in the dark, tongue problems, impaired smelland bleeding gums. A high intake of Folic Acid can hide B12deficiency. This condition is easily fixed by adding B12 richfoods to your diet or taking supplements. In most cases, VitaminB12 should be taken in conjunction with a Folic Acid supplementand a B-Complex vitamin.Because of changing diets, and highly processed food, there hasbeen a signifi...

...cant increase in Vitamin B12 deficiency. VitaminB12 is found in red meat, eggs, dairy and fish. There are noknow sources of Vitamin B12 in vegetables. At one time it wasquite common to feast on organ meat, but you would be hard pressto find a fast food restaurant serving steak and kidney pie orliver and onions! The modern diets has led to a decline innutritionally balanced diets. The highest sources of B12 can befound in mollusks/clams (85 micrograms per 3oz portion) and beefliver (47 micrograms per 3oz portion). Over cooking can lead tothe breakdown of the vitamins. If those are not to you yourliking, then salmon, trout and beef are moderate sources withabout 5 micrograms per 3 oz portion. Over cooking these foodscan significantly reduce the quantity and quality of nutrients. If oysters and organ meat are not to your liking then VitaminB12 supplements will work perfectly well. There are a number offorms of B12, and this list will help you pick the propersupplement for your conditions. When in doubt, contact yourdoctor or use Methylcobalamin. Methylcobalamin is a coenzyme form of Vitamin B12 whichis biologically active. This means that your body can use it asis, and does not require any metabolic steps to make it bodyfriendly. The product comes in a sublingual tablet(dissolvesunder your tongue) because your digestive system modifies themolecule. The sublingual method allows the vitamin to directlyenter your bloodstream, providing rapid benefits.Cyanocobalamin is a synthetic, and inactive, form ofVitamin B12 that requires a number of metabolic processes togain any benefit. This can be problematic in people with certaindeficiencies and health issues. Unfortunately, this is the mostcommon form of Vitamin B12 on the market and is found in mostVitamin B-Complex's.Hydroxycobalamin is a non-active form of Vitamin B12 andis used commonly as an injectable form. It has a number ofbenefits depending on your condition. It is recommended forthose who have cyanide sensitivity. Hydroxycobalamin helps thebody bind free cyanide, by reacting with the molecule to formcyanocobalamin, which can then be excreted from the body. Mostpeople are aware that cyanide is highly toxic, but the bodyregularly uses it in very small quantities for metabolicprocesses. Adenosylcobalamin is the other coenzyme form of VitaminB12 and is biologically active. This form is usually sold as aninjectable form and only available by prescription. Common Reasons for Vitamin B12 Deficiency There are a number of reasons why a person may have Vitamin B12deficiency. Some people lack the proper intrinsic factor toproperly digest this molecule. Many times this will show up at ayoung age but may occur as you age, however many times it is notdiagnosed properly.Vegan's also may be deficient because their diet does not allowthem to eat sources of food derived from animals. Unfortunately,Vitamin B12 is only found in animal sources. Taking supplementsof B12 will ensure that there are no issues.It is also recommended that elderly people take Vitamin B12supplements. It has been shown in studies that 15% of peopleover 65 have Vitamin B12 deficiency. This is partially caused bya decline in the gastric system, which results in poorabsorption of nutrients. The preferred source of B12 for theelderly is sublingual or injectable forms, since they bypass thedigestive systems.Another culprits for B12 deficiency is gastric acid-blockingproducts and medication, which can lead to decreased vitamin B12levels. This is also related to people with malabsorptionconditions such as Celiac disease, low stomach acid or those whohave had stomach or intestinal surgery. Any stomach conditionmay result in poor absorption of nutrients. For a full list of conditions please see the Vitamin B12Monograph. Vitamin B12 is a very safe, and affordable, supplement with realbenefits. For anyone that is concerned about their health,proper supplementation can play a very important role. If youhave any of the symptoms or conditions associated with VitaminB12 deficiency try taking a coenzyme form of B12, usuallyMethylcobalamin, and a B-Complex Vitamin with Folic Acid for atwo week period. If you notice any benefits, great, and if notthere was no harm done. You should always check with your doctorif your symptoms continue.One interesting thought about Vitamin B12 is that oysters weredocumented as an aphrodisiac food by the Romans in the secondcentury. Could it have been that many Romans were deficient inB12, and when they ate the oysters, which are high in B12, theywere no longer deficient resulting in an increase in energy andyouthfulness? It's possible....