Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 (or Cobalamin) is necessary for the production of red blood cells and plays an important role in maintaining the health of nerve cells and in the formation of genetic material. It is a water-soluble vitamin and is found in animal-derived foods such as meat, fish, milk products and eggs. Vegetarians are therefore at risk of B12 deficiency.

Deficiency of vitamin B12 affects both men and women in equal numbers. Deficiency can result in anaemia and nerve cell damage.

Symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency

Initial symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency can include:

Dizziness
Feeling stressed or anxious. More information on vitamins & stress at vitaminz.co.nz.
Paleness
Shortness of breath
Fatigue
Anaemia
Hearing difficulties

If left untreated Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause progressive damage to the nervous system, especially the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. When the spinal cord is involved, the first symptoms include difficulty in feeling vibrations in the feet, loss of position sense, and loss of muscle co-ordination.

Other symptoms of untreated vitamin B12 deficiency may include, mild depression and confusion, hallucinations, personality and mood changes, irritability, and damage to the optic nerve.

Interactions

Absorption can also be impaired by deficiencies in folic acid, iron or vitamin E . Use of nicotine or excessive alcohol can also deplete B12.

Improved absorption of vitamin B12 occurs when it is taken with other B vitamins or calcium. Some medications may also cause an increased use or decreased absorption of vitamin B12 (eg corticosteroids, oral contraceptives, colchicine, proton pump inhibitors).

Bee Pollen and Vitamin B12

Bee Pollen contains relatively high levels of all the B vitamins including vitamin B12. Although Bee Pollen is often sold in capsule form it is in fact a food.........the most complete food in nature and often referred to as natures perfectly balanced multi-vitamin and mineral supplement!

Nutrition is a complicated business and vitamins, minerals, amino acids etc, all need to work in harmony together in order to aid absorption and provide a positive effect. This is hard to achieve with laboratory produced supplements. Among many other things, Bee Pollen contains high levels of all the B vitamins, calcium, iron, folic acid and vitamin E - all of these vitamins and minerals that help with vitamin B12 absorption. Bee Pollen is a perfectly balanced food......the way nature intended.

The highest-quality bee pollen comes from the purest natural environments. Abeeco bee pollen is sourced from bees who work free-range surrounded by beautiful mountain ranges and national parks on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. Abeeco's Bee Pollen is quite different to most due to the purity of product. Most bee pollen granules sold in dietary supplements are sourced from the USA and China. Independent laboratories frequently find traces of heavy metals present in these bee pollens as a direct result of air pollution. Bee Pollen is only as good as the environment from which the bees collect the pollen. We've been in the bee pollen business for over 15 years and are the trusted home of Pure NZ Bee Pollen.