Therapeutic Uses of B-Vitamins

B-vitamins are effective at managing a broad range of common chronic conditions and can quickly improve a patients overall sense of wellbeing. Safe and fast acting, B- vitamins can assist in conditions such as hepatitis, chronic fatigue, anxiety, joint pain, infertility, anemia, and many other conditions. The B-vitamin family consists of B1-6, B12 and Folic Acid. B- Vitamins are co-factors in hundreds of biochemical pathways in the human body. As co-factors, they assist in the making of hormones, messengers, chemicals, neurotransmitters, and energy. Without these essential co-factors these valuable components could not be created.

Many common drugs deplete B-vitamins and leave us with sub-optimal levels.

Supplementing with B-vitamins provides a holistic way to address several organ systems at one time.

Limitations of oral dosing of B-vitamins:
Takes a long time to affect laboratory blood work. In my clinical experience about 50% of the population cannot handle synthetic B-vitamins via the digestive system. My experience has been specifically with Blood Type O groups. These individuals tend to complain of nausea, flushing, jitteryness, and overexcitement. These symptoms do not occur with Intramuscular injections and only the benefits are seen.

Benefits of Intravenous or Intramuscular injections:
B-vitamin injections are an effective jumpstart towards health and well- being. Injections of the B-vitamins allow for higher therapeutic dosing. These can affect changes in laboratory blood work more rapidly and build body stores more quickly. It is at this level that patients experience the most benefit.

B12 – is important in the production of healthy nerve cells, cellular reproduction, blood cell formation, and production of the amino acid methionine. B12 is found in liver, meat and fish. Vegetarians are hard pressed to get stable B12 from vegetables or tofu. Blue-green algae is the only reliable vegetarian source. Deficiency can show as depression, anxiety, menstrual irregularities, dandruff, difficulty swallowing, inflammation of the tongue, and numbness and tingling of the extremities.

B12 deficiencies are common in people with inflammatory digestive disorders, and those who do not produce enough stomach acid (hypochlorhydria). Drugs that suppress stomach acid will cause B12 deficiencies, as well as metformin (glucophage) for blood sugar regulation, oral contraceptives, and antibiotics.

Folic Acid – is required for DNA synthesis. DNA is the programming inside each and every one of our cells that tells our cells how to behave. Folic Acid assists in creating healthy DNA. The supplementation of Folic Acid during pregnancy is recommended for this very reason, as the new embryo is rapidly growing and dividing. In epidemiological studies Folic Acid has been shown to reduce the risk of breast, cervical and colon cancer. Sources of folic acid include: spinach, romaine lettuce, kelp, calf liver. Folic acid in food is less bioavailable then synthetic folic acid. This means that if we are trying to increase therapeuticc leves this must be done with intramuscular administration.

Lifestyle depelaters of folic acid include, alcohol consumption, coffee, and smoking.

Foods that boost the levels of B-vitamins in your body!

• Breakfast: Eggs over steamed spinach.
• Lunch: Black bean salad with a piece of fish, steamed cauliflower, broccoli, and sunflower seeds.
• Dinner: Mashed cauliflower, meat, lentils with mushrooms and spinach.

Prescription Drugs That Inhibit or Deplete B-Vitamin Absorption

• B1 – oral contraceptives, antibiotics, Sulfa Drugs, Diuretics.
• B2 – Anticholinergics, Phenobarbitol, Tricyclic Antidepressants, Psyllium husks.
• B3 – Oral contraceptives, antibiotics.
• B6 – Oral contraceptives, Levodopa, Phenobarbitol, Phenytoin, antibiotics, Hydralizine, Isoniazid, Penacillamine, Theophylline.
• B12 – Salicylic Acid, antibiotics, Colchicine, Cholestipol, H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors, Metformin, Phenytoin, Phenobarbitol, Oral contraceptives.
• Folic Acid – Methotrexate, Fosphenytoin, Phenobarbitol, Phenytoin, Primidone, Pyrimethamine, Salicylic acid, Antibiotics, Carbamazepine, Cholestyramine, Cholestipol, Diuretics, Oral contraceptives.