VITAMIN B
VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY: A NEW RISK FACTOR FOR BREAST CANCER?
A recent study suggests that postmenopausal women with
low levels of vitamin B12 have an increased incidence of
breast cancer. This mechanism may relate to an increase
in DNA strand breaks or an alteration of DNA methylation
by the methyl folate trap.
Choi S, Mayer J.
NUTRITION REVIEWS 1999, 57 (8) 250-3
Courtesy AUST. J. MED. HERBALISM
VITAMIN B STATUS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is characterised by profound
physical and mental fatigue and exhaustion after minimal
physical activity. Vitamin-mineral supplements have been
recommended in CFS on the basis of anecdotal claims that
sufferers have recovered after taking large doses of one
or more vitamins. The most commonly recommended vitamins
include vitamin C, the B vitamins (especially B6, B12¬,
and folic acid), vitamin A and ?-carotene. Therefore, researchers
assessed functional status for the B vitamins pyridoxine¬¬
riboflavin and thiamine in 12 vitamin-untreated CFS patients
and in 18 healthy controls. Vitamin-dependent activities
- aspartate aminotransferase (AST) for pyridoxine, glutathione
reductase (GTR) for riboflavin, transketolase (TK) for thiamine
- were measured in erythrocyte haemolysis before and after
in-vitro addition of the relevant vitamin. It was found
that for all three enzymes basal activity (U/g Hb) was lower
in CFS patients than in controls, and this was also true
of activated values.
Thus, these data provide preliminary evidence of reduced
functional vitamin B status, particularly of pyridoxine,
in CFS patients.
Heap, L.C. et al
J. ROY. SOC. MED. 1999, 92 (4) 183-5
VITAMIN B6 FOR THE ELDERLY
Researchers measured blood pyridoxine (vitamin B6) levels
in elderly people and found that 48% of subjects living
in the community, and 75% of those living in retirement
homes or hospitals, had plasma levels of pyridoxine well
below those considered to be normal, despite intakes in
excess of reference nutrient intakes for their age group.
BR. J. NUTRIT. 1999, 81, 3, 191-201
HEARING LOSS IN ELDERLY ASSOCIATED WITH VITAMIN B12 AND
FOLATE DEFICIENCY
Scientists tested the hypothesis that age-related hearing
loss may be associated with low blood levels of vitamin
B12 and folic acid. They carried out a clinical trial involving
the screening of 55 elderly women. Results showed consistently
that poor hearing is linked with low blood concentrations
of vitamin B12 and folate.
AM. J. CLIN. NUTRIT. 1999, 69, 3, 564-71
DIETARY ASPECTS OF VITAMIN B12
Naturopath Dr. Bruce Berkowsky, gives an overview of vitamin
B12, the most complex of vitamins. It is the only naturally
occurring compound that contains cobalt. It is a crucial
nutrient, and deficiency may cause severe, irreversible
ramifications. Contrary to the popular notion that B12 deficiency
is a ‘vegetarian’ disorder, the overwhelming
majority of such cases occur among the flesh-eating population.
Mistakenly, many people believe that animals but not plants,
manufacture B12 and store it in their tissues. In fact,
neither animals nor plants synthesise the vitamin, as it
is produced only by certain species of bacteria and algae.
BR. NATUROPATHIC J. 1998, 15;4;74-78
MICROWAVING VITAMIN B12
Japanese researchers have found that microwaving foods
for 6 minutes causes 30-40% loss of vitamin B12. Microwaving
caused greater B12 loss then bringing milk from room temperature
to boiling point. However, loss of B12 was the same after
6 minutes microwaving or 30 minutes boiling.
J. AGRICULTURAL FOOD CHEMISTRY 1998, 46; 206-10
Courtesy ENVIRON/HEALTH NEWS
