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Depression + Neurological Conditions: Can Vitamin B12 Deficiency Be the Root Cause?

By March 15, 2019January 23rd, 2024No Comments

A B12 deficiency often goes undiagnosed.

That’s because the symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency can look like a variety of neurological conditions like depression, neuropathy, numbness/tingling, developmental disabilities, balance problems, multiple sclerosis, fatigue, and even early Parkinson’s disease and dementia!

Could It Be B12? by Sally Pacholok, RN, BSN and Jeffrey Stuart, DO, explains how a B12 deficiency can be the underlying cause of such a wide range of  neurological symptoms.

In an easy to understand way, they detail how it can be easily tested for (which tests to have done and acceptable reference ranges) and how it can be cured with a vitamin treatment, especially when caught early.


There are Many Possible Causes of a B12 Deficiency

  • Inadequate dietary Vitamin B12.
    The main source of B12 in the diet is animal products; vegetarian and vegan diets are low in vitamin B12.
  • Poor ability to absorb Vitamin B12.
    This can be due to a poor digestive process (such as low stomach hydrochloric acid, lack of intrinsic factor, poorly functioning small intestine).
  • Medications that interfere with Vitamin B12 absorption.
    Examples include metformin, oral contraceptives and those that decrease stomach acid.
  • Specific genetic SNPs in the methylation pathway can potentially decrease your ability to activate or recycle the Vitamin B12 in your body as well as transport it from your blood to your tissues.
    A nutrigenomics analysis can identify these SNPs.

A Holistic Approach to Assessing Vitamin B12 Status

As as Functional Nutritionist, I use many clues — including diet, symptoms, lab tests (with optimal reference ranges), and genomics — to determine and address your condition at its root problem. This is a very different health care model from symptom management.