The role vitamins and minerals play in the development and maintenance of good health has become common knowledge. As a result, many people strive to meet nutritional goals by complementing a good diet with supplementation.
Another important part of the equation is your patient’s ability to absorb and use those vital vitamins and minerals, like the ever-important vitamin B12. Inside your patients’ guts is a naturally produced glycoprotein known as intrinsic factor. This glycoprotein is required to aid the absorption of B12. Without a healthy gut, the bioavailability of B12 is substantially reduced.
This article explores and shares the benefits of B12 for your patients and how encouraging the consumption of high-quality supplements, such as Dee Cee’s Super Probiotic can help to ensure intrinsic factor amounts are optimized.
Key takeaways
Getting enough vitamin B12 through diet and supplementation is only half of the battle. Intrinsic factor, a protein produced in the stomach, is required for the body to absorb B12 effectively. Supplementation, including probiotics, can help.
B12 absorption and intrinsic factor
Before diving into the relationship between intrinsic factors and vitamin B12,1 it’s important to understand the potency of the vitamin and what intrinsic factor actually is. With that foundation of knowledge, the interplay between the two becomes apparent.
B12 deficiencies – why vitamin B12 is crucial
Those who have inadequate levels of B12 can suffer from a variety of health problems.2 Symptoms of deficiency can include fatigue, weakness, pallidness, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, lightheadedness and even mental health issues. Many of these symptoms are related to the primary concern related to a lack of B12—anemia.
B12 benefits and sources
Adequate levels of B12 are essential for a healthy cardiovascular system and nervous system. Practically, this translates to B12 levels affecting mental health, energy levels, endurance, and more. The caveat? The human body cannot produce the vitamin.
In other words, vitamin B12 must be obtained through diet and supplementation. Foods like eggs, meat and milk are excellent sources of B12. People with alternative diets—such as vegetarians and vegans—may be at risk of B12 deficiency due to the lack of animal products in their diets. This is one example of where supplementation comes into play.
The role of intrinsic factor in B12 absorption
Intrinsic factor3 is a protein produced in the stomach lining that the large intestine uses to absorb B12. If someone is lacking this protein, they can become B12 deficient even if they are consuming enough of the vitamin. As such, a healthy gut that produces the right amount of intrinsic factors is a prerequisite to proper B12 absorption.
Without the ideal presence of intrinsic factors in the intestine, it’s important to improve gut health and try to increase levels of this vital protein. Supplements can help with both the natural production of intrinsic factor and its availability.
How to supplement for intrinsic factor
Bacteria have a subpar reputation thanks to their role in illnesses, but not all bacteria are bad. Some are actually quite the opposite, and having the right number of good bacteria in the gut is key to a healthy, functioning digestive system (and body as a whole). This includes proper absorption of vitamins and minerals.
Supplementing with probiotics4 is one of the best ways to encourage a healthier gut. These good bacteria contribute to improved intestinal health and aid the body in digestion—including the absorption of vital nutrients. If someone is having issues with B12 deficiencies, probiotics give the digestive system the boost it needs to operate more efficiently and become healthier.
Absorbing B12
Because vitamin B12 is such an influential nutrient, it is important to not only obtain enough of it through diet and supplementation but also to ensure it is absorbed properly by the body. Probiotics contribute to a healthy gut, which is essential to the production of the intrinsic factor or the protein responsible for helping the intestines absorb B12.
Dee Cee Labs’ probiotics can help your patients
When choosing any supplement, including probiotics, opting for quality ingredients from a reputable manufacturer is of the utmost importance. DeeCee Laboratories positions itself on both the cutting edge of supplement innovation and in the upper echelon of quality thanks to its impressive standards and FDA-registered facility.
References
- Ankar A, Kumar A. Vitamin B12 Deficiency. [Updated Oct. 22, 2022]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; January 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441923/. Accessed March 14, 2024.
- Azzini E, et al. A Brief Review on Vitamin B12 Deficiency Looking at Some Case Study Reports in Adult. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(18):9694. PubMed. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8471716/. Accessed March 14, 2024.
- Al-Awami HM, et al. Physiology, Gastric Intrinsic Factor. [Updated July 17, 2023]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; January 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546655/. Accessed March 14, 2024.
- Lye Huey Shi, et al. Beneficial Properties of Probiotics. Trop Life Sci Res. 2016;27(2):73–90.NCBI. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5031164/. Accessed March 14, 2024.
