Nexus - 1406 - New Times Magazine-pages

Page Content (OCR)

Methods of Treatment generate the bond between B12 and its carrier protein typically The most direct method for adding these megadoses of B12 is shows with atrophic gastritis.“ Both are also risk factors for through intramuscular (IM) injection, which requires a doctor's gastric cancer.*? Incomplete digestion of foods due to prescription and a doctor's or nurse's instruction. It is about as hypochlorhydria and low pepsin production also can be involved difficult technically as pushing a pin into a ripe orange® and can in subsequent allergic response in asthma.“ be economical if a patient can self-administer or a companion can ¢ Intrinsic Factor, Bacteria, Cobalamid, Failure of administer. Absorption. B12 deficiency can also result from inadequate Another feasible approach uses inexpensive sublingual B12 at stomach secretion of the tiny open-ended protein capsule known 2,500-5,000 meg (2.5 to 5 mg), which anyone can buy at a quality as "intrinsic factor"; from presence in the gut of bacterial health food store. Taken in that way, evidence indicates that most overgrowth;** from ingestion of cobalamid, a B12 antagonist;** or of the vitamin goes via the lymphatic system (see Sherry A. failure of absorption for other reasons.” Rogers, MD, Detoxify or Die, 2005 ¢ Antacids and Antibiotics. Chronic ed., p. 270). Therefore, this treatment overuse of antacids, both prescribed mode may yield more benefit by and over the counter (OTC), by tens of avoiding the digestive system.” The most direct method for millions of elderly people may also be . responsible. When all the acid is Causes of B12 Insufficiency adding these megadoses of mopped up daily by antacids, the B Several common features of modern B12 is through intramuscular vitamins never even get to first base.* life accelerate the decline of vitamin aos . . . For example, B12 absorption is B12 in serum through life, including (IM) injection, which requires dramatically reduced when the drug the following: a doctor's prescription and a Prilosec (omeprazole), which has * Microwave ovens. In one test, ata . recently been made available OTC in microwaving milk degenerated 30-40 doctor's or nurse's instruction. the USA, is used.” "A significant per cent of its vitamin B12 content in six percentage of patients taking minutes; with conventional heating, 25 omeprazole are also being treated for or minutes of boiling was needed to are at high risk of heart disease, and depress B12 that much.*’ More therefore almost all are instructed to eat importantly, the heat of microwaving destroys all the enzymes in a diet low in red meat (or devoid of it completely) and of animal ingested food, which are required to enable absorption and utilisation products, which are the best source of vitamin B-12"."' Also, of food. And so by eating microwaved food, both at home and in omeprazole reduces gastric (stomach) levels of multi-protective restaurant and take-out meals, tens of millions of Americans are ascorbic acid (vitamin C),” still another route to cancer (see J. G. making themselves increasingly vulnerable to AD as well as to Hattersley, "Alzheimer's dementia, vitamins B12 and B6, lithium, cancer. One further note: microwaving, invented by the Nazis, is gingko biloba, dental mercury, genetic risk, and drinking water wisely forbidden in Russia.” fluoridation", J App! Nutr 2005). * The Western diet. B12 ingestion and stores tend to be This is an egregious example of iatrogenic disease, created by insufficient among millions who have for decades eaten RDA- tunnel-visioned one-organ specialists (who seldom if ever fortified, yet vitamin- and mineral-depleted, processed Western communicate with each other) using a "band-aid" approach to diets, which are also big sources of disease-creating free radicals.” treatment of a symptom or test reading, oblivious to the possibly Too low levels of omega-3 essential fatty acids in Western diets, harmful on their own in many ways, must also contribute to insufficient B12 levels.” Omega-3 supplementation may yield its benefits largely through augmenting vitamin B12. Too-low levels of acetyl-carnitine and folic acid also appear to worsen the risk of the condition.”"” It's worth noting that in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model, a diet rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids, specifically DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), has been shown potentially to slow or even to prevent Alzheimer's disease.” At modest cost, we can easily ingest DHA and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) in fish oil or cod liver oil (I find the Carlson brand to be the best). And how about trans-fatty acids found in products labelled "zero trans- fats" with EPA approval? In a study of over 800 seniors, those with high TFA intake were twice as likely to suffer with Alzheimer's disease as those with the lowest intake (hsiresearch @healthiernews.com, 17 February 2006). ¢ Hypochlorhydria. Most commonly, B12 insufficiency results directly from hypochlorhydria (insufficient hydrochloric acid [HCl] in the stomach) or by achlorhydria (no HC] at all). The acid should be concentrated enough, in middle age, to dissolve a nail in an hour.” Hypochlorhydria is likely caused by zinc or vitamin B6 deficiency’* and a shortage of ionised calcium.” (Both deficiencies are typically present in older people.) Lack of enough pepsin or HCl in the stomach to adding these megadoses of B12 is through intramuscular sumamY fe a “tik ry _ i o< c — —= ea emer: NEXUS = 27 The most direct method for OCTOBER — NOVEMBER 2007 www.nexusmagazine.com