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SISU
Vitamin B12 1000 mcg60 capsules
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Heart Disease
The role of B12 in heart health is largely related to homocysteine levels, and most studies have focused on the efficacy of B6, B12, and folic acid in reducing homocysteine levels. For example, in a study of 220 healthy women aged 60 to 91, six-month supplementation with Vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid improved their levels of these nutrients and decreased homocysteine levels. Because there are no adverse effects, some researchers are now recommending that B6, B12, and folic acid be preventatively administered to all patients with high homocysteine levels and other risk factors for heart disease and stroke. Kidney Disease In a study that compared uptake of B12 in dialysis patients and healthy controls, the ability to absorb and deliver B12 to cells was found to be impaired in the dialysis group. Several studies have correlated kidney disease with elevated homocysteine levels, and have found that supplementation with B6, B12, and folic acid can reduce homocystein levels, in some cases to normal levels. Brain Function Several studies have suggested a link between decreased levels of B6, B12, and folic acid, elevated homocysteine levels, and the development of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. This association may first be seen in midlife. A population study of 1183 Australian men and women in midlife showed that men with better dietary intake of B6 and B12 had better memory functioning than men with lower intake. (In women, better memory functioning appeared to be related to dietary intake of B6 and folic acid.) Osteoporosis A study of 73 adolescents who consumed a macrobiotic diet up to the age of six showed a relationship between low B12 levels and low bone mineral density (BMD). This is of particular concern, as by the time individuals reach adulthood, they should attain peak bone density in order to ensure optimal bone health into old age. The Framingham Offspring Osteoporosis Study measured bone mineral density and B12 status in 2576 men and women over a five-year period from 1996-2001. Researchers observed a significant link between low B12 and poor BMD, and therefore increased risk of osteoporosis. Pregnancy and fetal development Numerous studies suggest that the importance of B6, B12, and folic acid begins in utero or earlier, in the mother's nutritional status before pregnancy. It is well known that maternal folic acid deficiency at the time of conception is a risk factor for neural tube defects in the newborn. A new study comparing B12 levels in 45 mothers and their children with spina bifida, with B12 levels in a control group of 83 mothers and babies, showed that B12 levels in the former group were 83-percent lower. Maternal deficiencies of B6, B12, and folic acid have also been correlated with unexplained pregnancy loss and other complications during pregnancy. It is suspected that this is a result of elevated homocysteine levels. Vegetarian/vegan women are particularly at risk. Other Important Points about SISU Vitamin B12: • Because they play so many roles in the body, supplementing with B vitamins is wise at any age, but research suggests that they may be particularly useful to: - children with symptoms of ADD or who have been diagnosed with neurological disorders such as autism or Down's syndrome. - women during their reproductive years, as they may help to balance hormonal fluctuations and ensure adequate maternal levels for optimal pregnancy and fetal outcomes. - older people, for whom deficiencies of B vitamins, especially B12, are common and may be related to a wide range of degenerative conditions - neurological, cardiovascular, renal, bone - associated with aging. • B12 is one of the "powerhouse trio" of B vitamins, which also include B6 and folic acid. Many conditions that respond well to B12 supplementation, such as elevated homocysteine levels, respond even better to the synergy created by taking these three nutrients together. • If you are taking folic acid supplements, it may be wise also to supplement with B12, as high levels of folic acid can mask symptoms of a B12 deficiency.
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