Traditional medicine in recent years has led a fight without quarter against the vitamins and food supplements claiming that vitamin deficiencies are now rare in industrialized countries where it has access to a rich and varied diet.
Our view is very different and every day vengono alla luce casi di "insufficienti livelli di nutrienti essenziali" in fasce di popolazione vastissime .
Abbiamo fatto riferimento in un passato articolo al caso della Vit. D, che negli over 65 non ha quasi mai livelli sufficienti a garantire un ottimale funzionamento del sistema immunitario e del metabolismo minerale osseo (specialmente durante l'inverno in cui è minore l'esposizione al sole).
In un'intervista di qualche anno fa l'eminente Prof. Garattini, parlando appunto di Vitamine, diceva che le carenze di Vit. B 12 si riscontrano oggigiorno solo in pazienti con diete vegetariane molto strette (visto che la Vit. B12 è presente solo in fonti animali including eggs).
Clinical research seem to present a different picture and there is also presented in the case of a vitamin deficiency induced by drugs. And the case of
Metformin, a product widely used in the treatment of type II diabetes.
The study in question ( de Jager J, et al "Long-term treatment with metformin in Patients with type 2 diabetes and risk of vitamin B-12 deficiency: randomized placebo controlled trial" BMJ 2010; DOI: 10.1136/bmj.c2181 . ) published in the British Medical Journal, shows that treatment with metformin is related to deficiencies of Vitamin B12 which should be monitored and supplemented if necessary in patients.
induced deficiency is not a transitory but is steadily growing , as seen in the study lasted for over four years that involved 390 patients with diabetes.
deficiency of vitamin B 12 was also associated with lower values \u200b\u200b homocysteine \u200b\u200band folate .
Although a previous study had already shown the same evidence in the short term
( Alaball-Vidal J, et al "Reduced serum vitamin B-12 in Patients taking metformin" BMJ 2010; DOI: 10.1136/bmj.c2198. ) The findings were accompanied by two editorials well skeptics who raise serious doubts about the need for vitamin supplements and advance the hypothesis that metformin is not to cause a shortage but the change in eating habits.
Symptoms of low levels of serum Vit B12 are very common in older people and especially involve the nervous system. A severe deficiency leads to ' pernicious anemia.
You may experience weakness and pain in the arms and legs, decreased reflexes and sensory perception, difficulty walking and talking (stuttering), muscle spasms, memory loss, weakness and fatigue, disorientation, loss of feeling or perception of less pain that presents with different symptoms and intensity.
The British Medical Journal (March 26, 1966) said: "It ' vero che una carenza di vitamina B12 può portare a gravi sintomi psicotici, che possono variare in gravità, da leggeri mutamenti dell’umore, lentezza mentale e difetti nella memoria, a gravi sintomi di carattere psicotico. Occasionalmente, questi disturbi mentali possono essere le prime manifestazioni di una carenza di vitamina B12”.
La carenza di vitamina B12 si manifesta anche con nervosismo, neuriti, cattivo odore del corpo e disturbi mestruali. Se tale carenza non viene diagnosticata agli stadi iniziali, può sfociare in un deterioramento mentale permanente e in paralisi
A volte si possono occasionalmente riscontrare splenomegalia e epatomegalia. Possono concomitare diverse manifestazioni a carico del tratto GI, tra cui anoressia, constipation, intermittent diarrhea and diffuse abdominal pain. Glossitis, usually described as "burning tongue" can be an early symptom. It is often a considerable weight loss.
A rare sign of fever is ndd, which responds promptly to treatment with B12.
Dietary sources
remember that vitamin B12 or cyanocobalamin is naturally present in the following foods: meat, liver, eggs .
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