Posted on 09/26/2011 7:20:05 PM PDT by decimon
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Older people with low levels of vitamin B12 in their blood may be more likely to lose brain cells and develop problems with their thinking skills, according to a study published in the September 27, 2011, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Foods that come from animals, including fish, meat, especially liver, milk, eggs and poultry, are usually sources of vitamin B12.
The study involved 121 people age 65 and older living on the south side of Chicago. Their blood was drawn to measure levels of vitamin B12 and B12-related metabolites that can indicate a B12 deficiency. The participants also took tests measuring their memory and other cognitive skills. An average of four-and-a-half years later, MRI scans of the participants' brains were taken to measure total brain volume and look for other signs of brain damage.
Having high levels of four of five markers for vitamin B12 deficiency was associated with having lower scores on the cognitive tests and smaller total brain volume.
"Our findings definitely deserve further examination," said study author Christine C. Tangney, PhD, of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. "It's too early to say whether increasing vitamin B12 levels in older people through diet or supplements could prevent these problems, but it is an interesting question to explore. Findings from a British trial with B vitamin supplementation are also supportive of these outcomes."
(Excerpt) Read more at eurekalert.org ...
Ping
Hmmn, methinks I now know why my MD put me on vitamin B-12. (;>(
later
Vegans explained.
So that explains the faulty thought processes of all those left-wing vegetarians. (My apologies in advance to conservative vegetarians - who are presumable smart enough to take extra B12.)
Wonder why they picked the south side of Chicago?
Bumper sticker on pickup truck: I didn’t claw my way to the top of the food chain to just eat vegetables!
Poorly nourished - the reason they voted for Barry?
I take B12 every day
oh, where was I?
heh. me too. my last tablets run out in 2 days. if only i could afford good meat these days.
Soon you will need a prescription for EVERY SINGLE VITAMIN.
Interesting. People who take Metformin are at increased risk of having low B12 levels. Also, I’ve read that B12 should be taken sublingual. Of course I read that after I bought myself a B12 supplement the other day.
Note to self, eat more meat....
b
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