Definitive Guide to Sublingual B12

What is a Vitamin B12 Sublingual?

To begin with, a sublingual vitamin is a supplement that is placed under the tongue and absorbed through the mucous membranes. This can come in tablet form as well as liquid and allows the nutrients to enter the bloodstream without having to go through the digestive system. Sublingual b 12 is one of the alternative methods for supplementing a deficiency of b12, along with b12 injections, for those who have trouble getting their vitamin through normal ingestion.

B12 is important to your general health and must be added into your diet on a daily basis. Since the b vitamins are water soluble, the nutrients are either put to use immediately or the excess is flushed out of your system when you use the bathroom. This is why supplementation of vitamin b on a daily or weekly schedule is so important for your health. You can get it through the foods you eat or through a sublingual tablet or liquid drops, depending on your preference.

Sublingual Vitamin Benefits

The benefits of b 12 sublinguals are that you have an easy way to get the recommended dosages of vitamin b into your body. For many people improper nutrition or difficulties absorbing nutrients through the gut can cause them to have a b12 deficiency. A sublingual will allow them to get the vitamin into the bloodstream quickly and avoid the possibility that it will not be ingested through the digestive system.

In addition, these types of supplements come in many different formats. For instance, most vitamin b12 supplements start out as cyanocobalamin because it is the easiest to make for the manufacturers. Unfortunately, this form of b 12 is not directly usable by the human body. It must be converted in the liver to the active forms that can create the benefit in the body, which are hydroxocobalamin and methylcobalamin. The results are that some cyanocobalamin benefits are lost in this change, whereas a methylcobalamin b12 sublingual is believed to have a higher efficacy and length of duration in the human body.

Sublingual B 12 Dosages

Dosages can be very confusing when you first start taking any new supplement, especially when outside the typical tablet. It is important to make sure that you always follow your doctor’s recommendations on which supplement and at what dosage you should take. The typical recommended dosage of b12 for adults is 2-3 mcg daily.

As you begin to look at b12 sublinguals, you might see different symbols such as µg, mcg, or mg. This can add to the confusion as to what you should be taking. Essentially, µg and mcg is the same thing, and both stand for micrograms. The mg stands for milligrams. There are 1000 micrograms (µg/mcg) for 1 milligram (mg), and, as you can imagine, it is essential to get this right because the difference between one dosage and the other can be dramatic.

For those who are new taking sublinguals, you will notice that the dosages are much higher for an under the tongue vitamin supplement then a typical tablet. This is because sublinguals and injections are typically used for those who have a dramatic deficiency in b-12, and/or difficulty in absorbing a tablet supplement due to a lack of intrinsic factor, bariatric surgery, or illness that impedes proper ingestion. In these cases, high dosages (500µg/mcg or 0.5mg) of oral b12 supplements, liquid vitamins, injections, or sublinguals have been shown to be effective in correcting B12 vitamin deficiency. You can read more on this subject here. Your doctor will be able to recommend the right intake for your personal situation and adjust it as needed.

Many people prefer to take their vitamin supplements on a weekly basis as opposed to daily. This means that they will need to take much higher dosages to compensate for the long period of time that they are taking between supplementation.

What is Methylcobalamin 12?

Sublingual methylcobalamin was mentioned above as one of the various forms of active vitamin b that your body can use directly. It is believed that this form of b12 is used more directly by the nervous system and that it can have some impact on maintaining brain function as we age. Overall, studies have shown that low B12 levels correlate with a decrease in brain volume, as noted in this study, which means that proper supplementation is important throughout your life, but especially as we get older.

Sublingual methylcobalamin has been shown to stay in the body longer than other forms of b12 and have a specific effect on improving your sleep.

Vitamin B Sublingual Side effects

Many people worry about the side effects of methylcobalamin and other b12 sublinguals. Fortunately, negative B12 sublingual side effects are few as they have a very low toxicity, even at high dosages. Despite this, it is essential that you do not begin to take any supplement, especially at a high dosage, without your doctor’s knowledge and consent. Trouble sleeping, diarrhea, and skin rashes have been reported in some who take b12 supplements.

B12 Sublingual Vitamins Reviews

When it comes to a review of b12 sublingual vitamins, there are many different factors to consider. Taste, as the liquid drop or dots must stay under your tongue for a good amount of time to allow for absorption; nutritional value; and cost are the three main areas to consider.

Some of the best sublingual B 12 manufacturers as shown from online reviews include:

Wonder Laboratories

Source Naturals

Twinlab

Nature’s Bounty

You can find more reviews at Amazon, please feel free to add your own review of sublinguals in the comments below.

Sublingual B12 vs Injections

For anyone is afraid of needles, the choice between vitamin b12 sublingual drops versus a b12 injection is pretty obvious. When it comes to your health both have shown themselves to be effective for someone who is not getting enough b 12 in their diet. It really boils down to convenience and cost. In addition, the cost, pain, and inconvenience of doctors visits have led more people to choosing a b12 sublingual over a b 12 injection.

Thank you for reading our Definitive Guide to B12 Sublingual Vitamins. If there are any other sublingual supplement questions, please leave them in the comments below.

Definitive Guide to Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms

When it comes to your nutrition, the B12 vitamin is one of the most important nutrients your body needs to function properly. From essential daily functions such as red blood cell formation to maintaining the nervous system and brain, B12 serves many functions that affect your daily life. This article is designed as a comprehensive guide to vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms, and will include information on what the vitamin does, minor and severe symptoms that the body is deficient, causes and the current treatments for deficiency, and resources for further research on the subject. If your questions are not answered below, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment and we will add the information to this post.

Importance of B12

To begin with, it is important to be able to answer the question, “What does vitamin B12 do?” This essential nutrient has an impact on every cell that is in your body. By affecting the metabolism of each cell, the vitamin is able to play an important role in the regulation and synthesis of DNA and fatty acids, as well as the body’s production of energy. This is why so many people refer to B12 supplements as an energy supplement. Without this vitamin the body will feel fatigued and tire easily.

The nervous system and your brain are also highly impacted by your levels of B12. In addition to the bodies lack of energy, a low level of cobalamin (another term for B 12, based on the fact that it contains the rare biochemical element of cobalt) can also lead to memory loss and an inability to think clearly, which is often written off as simple tiredness or lack of sleep, but may in fact be a sign you are deficient in b12.

Mild Symptoms of B12 Vitamin Deficiency

The difficulty of understanding the body’s low vitamin b12 symptoms is that in the early stages of being deficient the indications are relatively asymptomatic. This means that the most common symptoms of b12 deficiency are difficult to associate with the cause. Examples are general tiredness; trouble with concentration, memory, and other mental tasks; sleeping difficulty; and mild depression or irritability. Unfortunately, these indicators are often over looked, and even when discussed with a doctor, can be difficult to pin down to one specific cause.

With today’s busy lifestyles and high stress work environment, these symptoms can often be overlooked as signs of not getting enough sleep or having too much going on at the office. It is important that you notice what is going on with your body, adjust your diet in small ways to make sure you are getting the proper nutrient intake, and consult a physician if any of the symptoms begin to get worse.

Neurological signals begin with minor tingling of the hands, back, and legs, but can progress to level akin to small shocks in the body and repeated eye twitches that will not subside. Since the effects of being b 12 deficient can be cumulative on the nervous system, it is essential that you speak with a medical professional if you begin to notice any of the minor signs of neurological distress. Energy levels and red blood cell formation can be returned to normal levels with supplementation, but long term deficiency of b 12 can lead to damage in the spine that is irreversible.

Severe B12 Deficiency Symptoms

As the lack of B12 vitamin extends over a longer timeframe and the depletion becomes more pronounced, the symptoms to indicate that a low intake of b 12 as the issue are more clearly displayed in the forms of anemia and greater neurological problems.

B12 and Anemia

The original discovery of vitamin B12 occurred due to its close ties with a disease called pernicious anemia. In simplest terms, this autoimmune disease affects the body’s ability to absorb B-12 vitamin from the stomach because the body attacks itself and destroys parts of the interior lining of the gut. The result is that even people with the correct diets can still be deficient in b12. A vitamin injection bypassing the intestinal system and going straight into the bloodstream can help return the body to normal health.

In the meantime, those suffering from anemia are unable to produce the red blood cells the body needs to transfer oxygen throughout the cardiovascular system. This will leave them subject to increased issues with fatigue, both mental and physical, as well as immune deficiencies that leave them more open to getting sick.

B12 and Neurological Disorders

Persistent and severe deficiencies in B 12 vitamin will create damage to the nerve cells that can become permanent. The severity of the neurological symptoms increases from those listed above to a complete disturbance in physical coordination and the onset of signs of mania and psychosis. At its most extreme level, the nerve damage can lead to the degeneration of the spinal cord and partial paralysis.

While these symptoms are obviously frightening to contemplate, it is important to understand that these are very extreme cases, and that proper supplementation and diagnosis can prevent these issues. It is one of the many reasons that it is important to be aware of what is going on with your body, and making sure to speak regularly with a physician.

Causes of B12 Deficiency and Those Commonly at Risk

Typically, the cause of a low b12 vitamin levels is an improper diet or problems with the body’s ability to absorb the essential nutrient. The following is a list of the common groups or causes associated with this issue.

B 12 Deficiency in Vegans

Veganism without supplements is a common cause of dangerously low levels of b12 because the typical food sources for the vitamin include various meats and animal products. Lacto-ovo vegetarians can avoid this issue by eating eggs and milk products, but vegans should look for a vegan friendly way to add this vitamin into their diet. While, some foods claim to be fortified with B12, there is a good deal of misinformation as to the level of vitamin present and the body’s ability to take any benefit from it.

Fortunately, there are many non-animal products based b12 supplements. This is possible because this vitamin is not actually created by plants or animals, but is naturally synthesized from specific bacteria. Normally, this bacteria is ingested by animals, which is why animal products are high in b12. In supplements, scientists have been able to replicate the organic synthesis of the bacteria and avoid any connection to animals.

Pregnancy and B12

Expectant mothers need far larger quantities of b vitamins during their pregnancy. This is why they are always recommended to take prenatal vitamins when they begin to plan on having a baby. A prenatal vitamin contains b12 in much higher quantities to compensate for the body’s greater need.

Gastric Bypass and Deficiency

The health effects of losing weight are huge, especially when it comes to issues like diabetes. It is important to understand that there are gastric bypass surgery side effects that you need to be aware of since it may require a few changes in your nutritional needs. In short, B12 is typically absorbed through the stomach walls, but a bariatric surgery lessens the area of the gut that comes into contact with the food. In a way, gastric bypass can be like a surgically induced pernicious anemia as discussed above.

The benefit of the weight loss far outweighs this side effect, but you will want to make sure to discuss proper post surgery nutrition with your doctor.

B12 Absorption Difficulty in the Elderly

As we get older our body begins to breakdown in different ways. Among the elderly a deficiency in B-12 is common due a chronic inflammation of the stomach called atrophic gastritis. This process impairs the parts of the gut that absorb b12 into the body.

In addition, it is important to understand that there is ongoing research that suggests a shortage of b12 can be linked to the onset and advancement of Alzheimer’s disease. At this time, several small studies have reported mixed indicators of connection, so more research is necessary, but it will not hurt to make sure it is a topic that you discuss with your primary physician.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency Treatment

There are many ways to treat a deficiency in b12 vitamin intake. From natural sources to liquid vitamins to sublinguals to injectables, there are many ways to compensate for a diet lacking in b vitamins or an impaired ability to absorb through the gut.

Natural Treatments

There are many natural remedies to b12 vitamin deficiency for those who need to supplement their diet. For vegans and vegetarians, Brewer’s Yeast is a natural source for b12 and can be added to almost any meal without affecting the taste. In addition, many soy milks and protein bars have been effectively fortified with B12.

Liquid Vitamin B12

Liquid drops are one of the best forms of supplement for vitamin b. This is for two reasons. First, liquid b12 vitamins are far easier for the body to absorb into the blood. Second, it is much easier to get higher dosages of the vitamin. The combination of the two factors allows the body to more of the vitamin and faster than a standard pill, and studies have shown that this can work affectively for those people that suffer from absorption related difficulties like those arising from pernicious anemia, bariatric surgery, or atrophic gastritis.

Sublingual B12 Vitamins

A sublingual supplement is something that you place under your tongue. This allows the vitamin to be absorbed through the mucous membrane and directly into the blood. Typically, the nutrient is used in larger doses in the form of methylcobalamin b12 (sometimes misspelled as methylcobalamine) and can be of great use to those who are unable to absorb the vitamin through the digestive system.

B12 injections

Injections of vitamin b12 are a necessary treatment for those with severely low levels of the vitamin in their body or absorption problems that liquid supplements can’t help. B 12 injections work well because they completely bypass the digestive system and go straight into the bloodstream. Typically, the first few weeks of will see an injection frequency of around 6 treatments, which then relaxes to once a month or quarterly depending on the persons particular needs and doctors recommendations.

Vitamin B12 Injection Side Effects and Toxicity Fears

For many people there is a fear of taking supplements many times over the recommended daily dosage because of the potential for vitamin toxicity in the body. Fortunately, B vitamins are water soluble, which means that most excess nutrients are flushed from the system daily when you urinate. B3, B6, and B9 have some potential for harmful side effects if taken at extreme levels, but b 12 has no known toxicity at this time. Please keep in mind that this does not give you license to take as much of the supplement as possible. Always speak with your doctor before taking any new supplements, especially in large doses.

With that said, there can be minor side effects of a b12 injectable such as low potassium levels due to rapid new growth of red bloods cells. Mild cases of hives, diarrhea, and anxiety have also been reported, but are usually short term. For the best up to date information on vitamin b 12 injection side effects, it is important to speak with your doctor. This way you know what to expect and they can help to make sure a more dangerous reaction is not being caused by an allergic reaction to the shots.

For those who wish to read more on this subject, please read the other B12 articles on this site. In addition, you can find more information at Wikipedia, WebMD, and the dietary supplements page at the National Institutes of Health.

Thank you for reading our Definitive Guide to Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms, and please leave any questions that you might have below.

Definitive Vitamin B Complex Guide

When it comes to your health, they group of B vitamins play essential roles in the function of your body and its cells. In a single serving a B complex vitamin supplement contains each of the 8 water soluble nutrients that your body needs on a consistent basis. In this definitive guide you will learn about what b-complex is composed of, its benefits, symptoms of deficiency, the best forms for ingesting vitamins, natural sources, how to buy, top brands, and the myths associated with this supplemental vitamin.

What is it?

To begin with it is important to understand what is included in vitamin b complex supplements. The eight different nutrients combined within the supplement are B1 – thiamine, B2 – riboflavin, B3 – niacin, B5 – pantothenic acid, B6 – known by many names but most commonly pyridoxine, B7 – biotin, B9 – folic acid, and finally B12 – cyanocobalamin.

While this names and number might not seem like much to you, it is important to understand that each of those vitamins serves an essential function individually, as well as in combination. This means that being deficient in one B vitamin can impact the effectiveness of the others, which is why a single supplement like b complex can be so helpful. With one pill or liquid dosage, you will receive the entire range of required b’s. In addition, if you choose the right brands of supplement the correct ratio for each vitamin’s recommended daily value will be included. It is important to know that not all manufacturers included the right ratios, so you won’t receive a complete b complex, but we’ll get more into that below.

B Complex Benefits

The benefits of b complex multivitamins include the following:

1. Healthy skin, hair, and muscle development
2. High metabolism rate
3. Promotes the growth of red blood cells, as well as works as a catalyst for other cell division and growth
4. Maintains and enhances the function of your nervous and immune systems

In short, the correct ratio of b vitamins in your diet will help you body looks its best, fight off diseases, and promote energy and alertness in your day to day life. And, since these nutrients cannot do this individually, but by joint effort, it is mandatory that you find a way to include the full range of b vitamins in your diet.

B Complex Deficiency

What happens when you start to show vitamin b complex deficiency symptoms and what are they? If you are not getting the full range of nutrients that your body requires, then you might begin to be affected by some of the following symptoms:

1. Pain and general weakness on the arms and legs
2. A heartbeat that is irregular
3. Dry lips
4. Light sensitivity
5. Breakout – acne
6. Impaired growth for children
7. Anemia
8. Can lead to birth defects in pregnant women who are deficient
9. Memory loss
10. Higher susceptibility to disease

This is a short list of the potential effects that a lack of vitamin b can have on the body. In addition, there are many specific diseases that are traced from this vitamin deficiency.

Best Way to take Vitamin

Now that you have an understanding of why b vitamin complex is important and what it includes we are going to focus on how to make sure that you are getting the right amount for your health. There are various methods of taking supplements so that your body’s cells can absorb them fully.

Natural Sources of B Complex

It is always best to begin with the natural b vitamin sources before working on to supplements because overall this is really the best way to get all of your daily recommended values of all vitamins and minerals. Your daily diet and the type of food you eat will define where your nutritional successes and deficiencies lie.

Great food sources of vitamin b include foods that have not gone through a lengthy processing process that essentially remove the nutrients from the food. Yes, that means fast food is not a good choice here. Instead, eat some bananas, beans, or potatoes. You will find a strong concentration of the full B vitamin spectrum in meats such as tuna and turkey. This can be a problem for vegetarians, especially when it comes to B12, since it cannot be found in plants. This is why a b-complex supplement can be very helpful.

Liquid B Complex

While food sources are the best starting point, the truth is that the average daily diet does not include all the nutrients our bodies need. This is why supplements are so important. And, the best method of taking a supplement is in liquid form. By ingesting the vitamin as a liquid, the body has much less to break down before the nutrients can be absorbed into the body. This means that more of each dosage is passed to the cells, so you get a much greater benefit from the serving.

For this reason, it is recommended to look for a b complex liquid vitamin supplement. This is the best way for you to take a supplement and make sure that you are getting its full benefit.

Pills and Lozenges

Finally, there are the traditional pills that are very popular forms for taking supplements. There is the benefit of having far more options and brands when it comes to a solid vitamin, and while they may not be as readily absorbed by the body, they can have a beneficial effect for anyone that is in need of extra vitamins and minerals.

Buying B Complex

There are many places to buy vitamin b complex. They range from local supermarkets to health food stores to supplement shops, but one of the best places to find discount b vitamin complex supplements is online. Places like Amazon.com and other websites offer cheap vitamins from the same brands and manufacturers, and they can be shipped directly to your home.

One of the best things you can do to save money on vitamins is to go to your local health food store and speak with their knowledgeable workers. Based on their recommendations and your own research, it would be a good idea to buy a b complex supplement from there so you can give it a try. Later on, after you have had a chance to experience the positive effects, you can go online and order in bulk for a steep discount.

Best Vitamin Brands

There are many different companies that sell supplements and they range from high quality to fly by night operations, so it is important to consider well recognized brands. This will help to make sure that you are receiving quality supplements with the proper dosages of each essential b vitamin.

This is another reason why a trip to the health foods store or pharmacy can be helpful. The brands that you see displayed in many stores are typically industry leaders who put care into their products.

A few brands to consider are:

1. Members Mark vitamin b complex – Sam’s Club products
2. Nature’s Bounty vitamin b complex liquid sublingual
3. Schiff b multivitamin
4. Nature Made’s b complex with vitamin c and gel caps

B Complex Myths

The truth about supplements is that they are not regulated in the same way as prescription drugs, which means that many marketing companies go a little too far in what they say the supplement can do.

One such case is the so called “stress vitamin b supplements.” These usually contain many times the recommended daily value for the vitamin complex with the promise that it will help reduce stress. Large doses of vitamin b can in fact increase your feelings of stress because of the flush feeling of short term energy that comes from high dosage.

It is never recommended to take excessive levels of any vitamin or mineral. Fortunately, vitamin b toxicity problems are rare as they are water soluble vitamins and your body can usually flush out the unneeded extra nutrients in your urine.

At this point, you have a pretty good understanding of everything involved with b complex vitamins and supplements. Please feel free to ask any questions or leave your favorite supplement recommendations below.