This Vitamin Deficiency Can Cause
Depression
It seems that everyone has felt the
suffocating weight of depression at some point in their lives. Many people, unfortunately, feel this weight
constantly…theses people suffer from chronic depression. It’s well known that depression, as a chronic
state of being, is much more widespread in our present-day society than it was
even 5 or 10 years ago.
Personally, I believe the cause, in
most cases, to be of a spiritual, mental, and emotional origination. People spend too much time in this physical
dimension; too much time in the heart of chaos and very little to no time at
all practicing meditation. Even sitting
quietly and focusing all of one’s attention on the breath for 5 minutes a day
will have dramatic results.
Well, this article is actually
meant to describe a physical cause of depression: a vitamin B12 deficiency.
Studies have shown that symptoms
like depression, memory loss, irritability, Alzheimer’s, paranoia, and
confusion can dramatically diminish by taking vitamin B12. Recent research shows that approximately 30%
of all adults are deficient in this vitamin which could cause symptoms of
Alzheimer’s and depression, leading to a misdiagnosis.
Vegetarians are at particular risk
of deficiency since vitamin B12 is obtained primarily from animal protein. People with celiac or Crohn’s disease may
also be at risk. As are those who
regularly take certain drugs like the diabetes drug metformin, and antacids, especially proton pump inhibitors.
One of the most common symptoms of
a B12 deficiency is neuropathy; a tingly sensation in the extremities, usually
the feet. Other symptoms can include
poor balance and poor coordination, as well as anemia (pernicious anemia).
Deficiency is usually a direct
result of insufficient stomach acid which is needed to break down the vitamin
so that it can be absorbed. This is why
antacids contribute so greatly to B12 deficiency. Intrinsic
Factor (IF) is a protein that is needed to break down B12 and is usually
lacking in older individuals. The common
solution is to take B12 in large doses.
Since the B vitamins are water soluble, there is no risk of overdose.
Vitamin
B12 Complete
Source(s):
Irwin Rosenberg, MD, senior scientist and director of the Nutrition and
Neurocognition Laboratory at Tufts University, Boston.
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