December 20, 2007 by Orville Campbell, MD.

 By Orville Campbell, MD

Introduction

B-12 has so many excellent uses. It is a water-soluble vitamin. B-12 is necessary for the proper function of the nervous system and helping your body to make blood. Vitamin b12 is known for the energy and vitality it imparts to individuals who take it. It is sometimes called Energy in a Bottle! The source of B-12 is chiefly from dairy products and meats.

B12 Deficiency

A deficiency may lead to anemia and problems with the sensation of vibration. Anemia can make one continually tired or fatigued and even crave things such as clay or ice. Your energy is depleted!

B-12 deficiency is also associated with dementia and mood disorders. A deficiency could possibly alter your pap smear results. Excessive alcohol intake, chronic stomach diseases, strict vegetarianism, or any chronic poor absorption states places one at increased risk for b12 deficiency. Also, recent research suggests that diabetics on a certain medication may be at increased risk for b12 deficiency. If you are a diabetic, discuss this very important issue with your health care provider. Finally, the older we get, the greater the risk of b12 deficiency. Individuals over the age of 65 may be at greatest risk.

Injection vs Oral

What is the best way to take this vitamin? Is B-12 best taken by swallowing, injection, or sublingual (dissolved under the tongue)? Injections for the most part are expensive and unnecessary unless there is inability to take oral and poor absorption. High dose oral can be as effective as injections. However, sublingual provides a very efficient and rapid restoration of B-12 levels. Sublingual gets around the issue of poor absorption in the gut.

Final Thoughts

My recommendation is sublingual b12. However, the final decision should be made in conversation with you and your health care provider. Obtain a quality sublingual product (or liquid if you prefer) from a provider of quality Nutrition Supplements: http://healthywize.com/4404908

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December 20, 2007 by Orville Campbell, MD.

 By Orville Campbell, MD

Truth #1: Price

Don’t ever select a vitamin based on price. There is a reason in a significant number of cases why one vitamin is cheaper than the other. When you decide on what is an acceptable quality, then compare price for that same quality of vitamins so you are comparing oranges with oranges and apples with apples. Watch out for companies with well recognized names who have purchasing power. Read the label even more.

Truth #2: Source of Vitamins

If quality and natural matters to you then make sure the source of your vitamins is whole foods. Read the label to see if you have a synthetic (made up in lab) vitamin. If it is a whole food vitamin then the company will usually be proud to advertise as such and list the source of the vitamin. For example, the label should say how much vitamin A, percentage of RDA, and the source such as carrots. Whole food vitamins are more expensive but more natural to the body.

Truth #3: It’s in there

Again if quality and natural matters then avoid supplements that are rich in artificial fillers, coloring / dyes, and flavoring. Again, you must be a detective and read the labels.

Truth #4: Not a Cure All

Vitamins are supplements. Just as all dietary supplements, they are not cure alls for disease states. They supply what the body is missing to heal itself for perform natural physiologic functions. They are not medicines. However, if not used in an appropriate manner and in consultation with a health care provider, they can harm you. For example, if you are on a blood thinner such as coumadin for whatever reason, you would not want to take vitamin K supplementation. It will oppose the coumadin to try and thicken the blood.

Truth #5 Those Who Should Take Vitamins

The question is frequently asked, who should take vitamins? The answer is most people. The reason is most do not get enough vitamins because of a deficiency of adequate fruits and vegetables in the diet. Look at the plate of most people eating around you. Are those plates colorful with fruits and vegetables or are do they lack color because of all the starch and meat?

Finally

Choose your supplements carefully based on a whole food source and quality compounding. When you find the right vitamin, then comparison shop for the similar supplement. Most people need vitamins because of the lack of fruits and vegetables in the diet. Do use all nutrition supplements in consultation with your health care provider.

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December 20, 2007 by Orville Campbell, MD.

 By Orville Campbell, MD

What is B12? Why Do We Need It?

B-12 is a water-soluble vitamin (versus the fat soluble vitamins: A, D, E, and K). It is necessary for the proper functioning of the nervous system and helping the body to make blood. This vitamin is known for the energy and vitality it imparts to individuals who take it. For this reason, thousands of individuals elect to get shots or injections. But are shots necessary when there is a sublingual (dissolved under the tongue) alternative? This issue will be discussed below. B12 is sometimes referred to as Energy in a Bottle! Its source is chiefly from dairy products and meats.

B12 Deficiency

A deficiency or lack of may lead to anemia and problems with the sensation of vibration. Anemia can make one continually tired or fatigued and even crave things such as clay or ice. Your energy is depleted!

B-12 deficiency is also associated with dementia and mood swings or other mood disorders. A significant deficiency could possibly alter your pap smear results. Excessive alcohol intake, chronic stomach diseases, strict vegetarianism, or any chronic poor absorption states places one at increased risk for deficiency. Also, recent research suggests that diabetics on a certain medication may be at increased risk for deficiency. If you are a diabetic, discuss this very important issue with your health care provider. Finally, the older we get, the greater the risk of deficiency. Individuals over the age of 65 may be at greatest risk.

Injections (Shots) versus Sublingual

It is no secret in the medical community that swallowing a vitamin b12 pill and depending on full absorption from the gut is unreliable. For this reason shots and sublingual routes are the more popular ways of getting b12 in your body. Shots can be painful. So, are shots really necessary? In some unusual cases yes, but for most people shots are not necessary. Under your tongue are numerous blood vessels. That is why medicines taken sublingually can gain rapid access to the blood stream. This rapid access to the blood stream can lead to a rapid increase in the level of a medicine. If you don’t believe me, ask the patient with heart disease who develops chest pain if sublingual nitroglycerin works.

Vitamin b12 can gain rapid access to the blood via the sublingual route. So leave behind painful and expensive injections. Do have your health care provider check your b12 levels to monitor if you are staying in a mid-range targeted level. Get a quality supplement with has little artificial flavoring and fillers as possible. Start enjoying the benefits without the painful shots.

Get Quality Sublingual Vitamin B12 Supplement: http://www.HealthandWellnessMarketing.com/6.html

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December 20, 2007 by Orville Campbell, MD.

 By Orville Campbell, MD

Ginseng is an adaptogen that has been demonstrated to decrease the blood sugar. It has also been shown to decrease the hemoglobin A1C (See: Am J Health-Syst Pharm 59(4):339-347, 2002). The hemoglobin A1C is your sugar control number. For diabetes to be considered in good control, this number should be less than 7%.

The closer the number to 6.5, the better. This number reflects the percentage of your red blood cells attached to sugar. As this number increases over 7, the risk increases for eye disease, including blindness and kidney damage and kidney failure. Diabetes is the number cause for individuals ending up on dialysis. Ginseng has other benefits which include: enhancing and supporting the immune system, adaptation to stress, energy, a sense of well-being, and stamina. Why is this important? Individuals with diabetes, tend to have fatigue or low energy, an immune system that is decreased in strength, and be prone to infections such as yeast, urinary tract, and respiratory infections.

Tunguska Blast is a dietary supplement that I have come across that is rich in plant adaptogens. Adaptogens are herbal or plant substances that help to energize the body and support its systems such as the immune, urinary, digestive and nervous systems. They can also help the body to adapt to physical and mental stress or internal and external stressors. One such adaptogen in Tunguska Blast is a Ginseng called Eleutherococcus Senticosus. Eleutherococcus can also support better oxygen utilization by muscles. Better oxygen utilization makes exercise more efficient and can lead to greater stamina. The more the individual with diabetes exercises, the better the glucose taken up by the muscles and the lower the blood sugar. Regular exercise will lead to better sugar control and a decreased risk for infection, heart disease, kidney disease, eye disease, etc.

Since diabetics are prone to urinary tract infections and digestive system disturbances, other adaptogens in Tunguska Blast may be of benefit since they support vital system functions. Let’s consider a few. Rhaponticum Carthamoides can further enhance physical performance by supporting the increase in muscle mass. Sorbus Aucuparia is an adaptogen that can enhance the body’s ability to prevent vitamin C deficiency. Glycyrrhiza Uralensis supports the proper functioning of the digestive, urinary, and respiratory systems. Other adaptogens in this supplement are: Licorice root, Chinese Magnolia (Schizandra Chinensis), and Golden root (Rhodiola Rosea).

Before starting any dietary supplement always consult with your health care provider, especially if you are on prescribed medicines such as blood thinners or blood sugar lowering medicines. Supplements help the body to heal itself or adapt to stress. They are not cures or treatments. Be careful of those who hold out supplements as cures or treatments.

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December 20, 2007 by Orville Campbell, MD.

If you have diabetes, there are multiple things you should ask your doctor. However, I have identified 5 must knows. If you don’t know these things about your diabetes, you could end up with kidney damage (and on dialysis), eye damage (and blind), and nerve damage in your hands and feet.

Question #1: Is my diabetes controlled?

To answer this, you should know your hemoglobin A1C level. This lab tells you the percentage of your red blood cells attached to sugar. In non-diabetics it’s usually less than 6%. If your diabetes is controlled, you want this number to be less than 7% (the closer to 6.5 the better). As this A1C level climbs over 7, you can have life-threatening complications. The aforementioned question is probably the most important.

Question #2: How often should I see an eye doctor?

A diabetic should see an eye doctor at least once per year. You may have to see one more frequently if you have eye disease. Uncontrolled diabetes can cause an eye disease called diabetic retinopathy. This kind of retinopathy causes the blood vessels at the back of the eye to grow and may be even burst and bleed. Progression can lead to permanent blindness. Diabetics are at greater risk for cataracts due to the higher blood sugars.

Question#3: Do I have kidney damage from my diabetes?

If the answer to this question is yes, then you need to see a kidney doctor (a nephrologist). Diabetes is the number one cause in the U.S. of people losing their kidney function and needing dialysis (stage 5 kidney disease). If you have kidney disease, ask your doctor to tell you the stage. There are 5 stages. The higher the stage the worse the kidney function. Stage 1 is mild, and at stage 5, you will most likely need dialysis or kidney transplantation. Your creatinine level (waste product in your blood), age, sex, race, and weight are all used to calculate the kidney function or stage of kidney function.

Question#4: What is my vitamin D level?

If you have stage 3 or greater kidney disease, you are at risk for vitamin D deficiency. Ask your doctor if you need vitamin D levels? If you do, you need 25-vitamin D and 1,25-vitamin levels. Depending on which level is low and which stage of kidney disease you are in will determine the specific treatment. The skin and liver are involved with critical steps in vitamin D production, but it is the kidney that activates or gives life to vitamin D. 1,25-vitamin D is the active and usable form of vitamin D. Your parathyroid glands are four little glands around the thyroid gland in the front part of your neck. It helps to regulate the calcium, phosphorous and vitamin D production via a hormone called parthyroid hormone (PTH). As one progresses in kidney disease, this gland may be damaged. If you have stage 3 or greater kidney disease, you need a PTH level in addition to the said vitamin D levels. A high PTH level combined with calcium problems and vitamin D deficiency can lead to weakened and painful bones.

Question #5: How often should I be checking my blood sugar?

The frequency of blood sugar checks should be tailor-made for you. This is a decision you should make in consultation with your doctor. You should however be checking your blood sugar at least twice per day before eating. There are some circumstances where you should check your sugar after eating (postprandial). Diabetics on an insulin pump may have to check their sugars 4 or more times per day. Again, consult with your physician. Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to nerve damage called neuropathy. This can lead to a loss or decrease in the sense of pain, touch, and vibration. However, pain and tingling can be signs of neuropathy.

Final Words:

Diabetes control is not an accident. You have to be intentional about diabetes control and your health and wellness. Make sure you ask these key questions. As an aside, if you are on a certain diabetic medicine (metformin) for at least one year, you could be at risk for low vitamin B12 levels. Find out if you need B12, calcium, vitamin D or necessary adaptogens.

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