Vitamin B12 deficiency in celiacs

Untreated celiac disease is one of the risk factors for Vitamin B12 deficiency, due to the malabsorption of nutrients arising from the damage caused by gluten to a celiac's intestines.

When B12 is ingested, it is released into your body by the action of hydrochloric acid and enzymes. As it reaches your stomach lining it is bound with a secretion called Intrinsic Factor (IF) and then moved along to your small intestine. If the small intestine is working properly the B12-IF is passed through the walls into the bloodstream. Once absorbed, the B12 is stored in the liver until needed, for up to three years. Any excess is secreted in the urine.

This vitamin is needed in order to have healthy red blood cells and a healthy nervous system. Other benefits of B12 include alleviating depression in the elderly, improving life for asthma sufferers, assisting us with our sleep (due to its role in melatonin production). reducing the ringing in the ears of people with tinnitus and increasing the sperm count in men whose counts are low.

Vitamin B12 foods

• Fish - such as pilchards, sardines and herrings, cod and haddock
• Shellfish - Mussels, oysters and clams
• Offal - Kidney, Liver
• Meat - Rabbit, Lamb, Beef and Pork
• Poultry - Duck and Turkey

Shellfish is particularly good as the molluscs syphon the ocean floor and pick up micro-organisms that produce B12.

Eggs contain vitamin b12 but they also contain a substance that can block its absorption into the body. An overconsumption of soy foods and spirulina, can also either block the B12 intake, or increase the body's need for it.

Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms

• poor balance
• diarrhea
• unexplained weight loss
• loss of appetite
• chronic fatigue
• shortness of breath
• muscle weakness
• confusion

B12 levels

Normal levels are considered to be between 500 and 1300.

If your levels are low it is important to rectify the problem as a B12 deficiency can lead to pernicious anaemia (also due to a deficiency of Intrinsic Factor), osteoporosis (bone loss) and a weakened immune system.

Vitamin B12 injections and alternatives

They do tend to sting, perhaps due to the preservatives in the shots. They are also expensive, if you have to pay for them.

There are other options to the shots. You may prefer the sublingual tablets that dissolve under your tongue, or B12 patches. You can purchase these in health food shops or from Amazon.

The recommended dose tends to be 100-250 micrograms per day but for those of us with absorption problems that can go up to 1000-2000 micrograms per day. Check with your doctor if you are unsure what dose you need.