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291 - Normal B12 Levels Still Linked to Brain Deficiency

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Curt:
Normal B12 Levels Still Linked to Brain Deficiency
By University of California - San FranciscoFebruary 24, 2025

https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-just-found-a-major-problem-with-vitamin-b12-guidelines-and-your-brain-might-be-at-risk/

Your brain might not be getting enough B12 — even if your levels are considered “normal.”

​A new study suggests that older adults with lower B12, even within the accepted range, show signs of cognitive decline and brain damage. Researchers found that these individuals had slower thinking and reaction times, along with white matter lesions linked to dementia.

Normal B12 Levels Still Linked to Brain Deficiency
Lower B12 Correlates with Slower Processing Speeds, Brain Lesions
A study led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco found that healthy older adults with lower B12 levels showed signs of neurological and cognitive decline. These individuals had more damage to the brain’s white matter — the nerve fibers that enable different parts of the brain to communicate — and performed worse on tests measuring cognitive and visual processing speeds compared to those with higher B12 levels.
​
In the study, researchers enrolled 231 healthy participants without dementia or mild cognitive impairment, whose average age was 71. They were recruited through the Brain Aging Network for Cognitive Health (BrANCH) study at UCSF.

Their blood B12 amounts averaged 414.8 pmol/L, well above the U.S. minimum of 148 pmol/L. Adjusted for factors like age, sex, education, and cardiovascular risks, researchers looked at the biologically active component of B12, which provides a more accurate measure of the amount of the vitamin that the body can utilize. In cognitive testing, participants with lower active B12 were found to have slower processing speed, relating to subtle cognitive decline. Its impact was amplified by older age. They also showed significant delays responding to visual stimuli, indicating slower visual processing speeds and generally slower brain conductivity.

Reference: “Vitamin B12 Levels Association with Functional and Structural Biomarkers of Central Nervous System Injury in Older Adults” 10 February 2025,Annals of Neurology.
DOI: 10.1002/ana.27200

rahab:
B12 supplements very important

Does it matter what kind?

Curt:

There is a previous discussion topic on B12. Please review int he Healthy Living Forum

Current B12 recommendations for daily intake values show that plant based sources are insufficient, the article below suggests that the levels need to be even higher.
I posted the article to underscore the importance of B12 to our cognitive health and not to push us to non-plant based sources.
.........................................
God's design is perfect in every way. Therefore a perfect God made a perfect man to eat a diet of fruits and then added plant based products after sin never directly ordering meat. Then there were the animal sacrifices and the parts that the priest were to consume which adds to our ongoing controversy.
Nevertheless, God made man initially to be a fruitarian and that tells me that much of what man needs can be received from God's original diet.

Example: Dr Jim Sharps just turned 80 this year and still runs marathons and does long jumps. Have a look at him in his YouTube Videos, he does not look a day over 70 and no cognitive decline.

With that in mind lets consider the following ..........

Vitamin B12 is the most chemically complex of all vitamins. Only some archaea (single-celled microorganisms that are similar  to bacteria) and certain bacteria can synthesize vitamin B12.
The hydrochloric acid and acid pH in our stomach helps to breakdown the proteins of our foods. Its delivery and absorption into tissues and cells requires three (3) transport proteins haptocorrin (HC), intrinsic factor (IF) and transcobalamin II (TC2). One of which is Intrinsic Factor which is currently determined as the mark of success in B12 absorption.

Let's look at the purpose/use of B12 in the Body and ask one simple question.... If it is so important and cannot be had from plant based sources why are persons living on a plant based diet still alive and very healthy?

Red Blood Cell Formation: B12 is essential for the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow.
Nervous System Health: B12 plays a critical role in maintaining the health of the nervous system.
DNA Synthesis: B12 is necessary for the synthesis of DNA, the genetic material in our cells. It is particularly important during periods of rapid cell division, such as in growing tissues and during pregnancy.
Energy Metabolism: B12 helps convert food into energy by playing a role in the metabolism of fatty acids and amino acids.
Maintenance of Cardiovascular Health: Adequate levels of B12 are associated with a reduced risk of heart disease as it helps regulate homocysteine levels, an amino acid that, when elevated, can increase the risk of cardiovascular problems.
Skin, Hair, and Nail Health: B12 contributes to healthy skin, hair, and nails by promoting cell regeneration and overall tissue health.
Digestive Health: B12 plays a role in maintaining the health of the digestive tract’s mucous membranes.
Folate Metabolism: B12 is necessary for the activation of folate (vitamin B9), another important B vitamin involved in DNA synthesis and red blood cell formation.

So personally I think there is much more to the presence and availability than we have so far discovered. Perhaps it is the rate of absorption as nature takes her time and does everything much slower than we think.


--- Quote ---The use of natural remedies requires an amount of care and effort that many are not willing to give. Nature's process of healing and upbuilding is gradual, and to the impatient it seems slow. The surrender of hurtful indulgences requires sacrifice. But in the end it will be found that nature, untrammeled, does her work wisely and well.
--- End quote ---

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