If You Are Taking an Acid Prohibitor, You Could Be Deficient in Vitamin B12

A couple years ago, I began seeing a naturopath. She does not deal mainly with herbs and such, but relies on supplements and other ways of naturally eliminating health issues.

Anyhow, I have been on acid prohibitors since 1998. After going over my health issues and symptoms, she mentioned that I was most likely deficient in Vitamin B12. She said that in her years of practice, almost every single person that she has tested (who has been on an acid prohibitor) has tested deficient in B12.

Symptoms tend to develop slowly and may not be recognized immediately. As the condition worsens, common symptoms include(courtestyof http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/20862.html):

• Weakness and fatigue
• Light-headedness and dizziness
• Palpitations and rapid heartbeat
• Shortness of breath
• A sore tongue that has a red, beefy appearance
• Nausea or poor appetite
• Weight loss
• Diarrhea
• Yellowish tinge to the skin and eyes

If low levels of B12 remain for a long time, the condition also can lead to irreversible damage to nerve cells, which can cause the following symptoms:

• Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet
• Difficulty walking
• Muscle weakness
• Irritability
• Memory loss
• Dementia
• Depression
• Psychosis

My caregiver told me that I could either go in for B12 shots, or I could take Methylcobalamin (which is B12) as a sublingual (meaning you place it under your tongue to dissolve). She told me that you couldn't just swallow a B12 vitamin, you have to absorb it sublingually. I chose the sublinguals over the shots.

They have different kinds of Methylcobalamin to choose from. Some are flavored, some not so much. I personally just buy a regular capsule, and open it up and put the powder under my tongue.

I had been taking this for a few months when my mother in law came to visit. I told her what I had found out. She said that her gastroenterologist had told her the same thing, and she was also taking Methylcobalamin. I was so happy to hear that a specialist was telling his patients about it, as my regular physicians have never said a word about it. I am guessing that maybe they don't even know...