B-12 Boost Sublingual Tablets 60 Count

Description

If there ever was a heart-mind vitamin, then B12 is it. Synthesizing neurotransmitters that govern mood, energy, sleep, appetite, and motivation all the while supporting heart and circulatory health, Vitamin B12 is a brilliant multi-tasker and not a vitamin to ignore.*

Suggested Use: Take one cherry-flavored tablet daily or as directed by your healthcare practitioner.

Individuals taking medication should discuss potential interactions with their healthcare practitioner. Do not use if tamper seal is damaged.

Bottle Contains: 60 quick-dissolve tablets

Ingredients: Folate (as Quatrefolic® (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid, glucosamine salt), Vitamin B12 (as MecobalActive™ methylcobalamin)

Other Ingredients: Xylitol, ascorbyl palmitate, silica, and natural cherry flavor.

Does Not Contain: Wheat, gluten, yeast, soy protein, animal or dairy products, fish, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, ingredients derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs), artificial colors, artificial sweeteners, or artificial preservatives.

LifeSpa’s medical-grade supplements are designed to support specific bodily functions. Each LifeSpa formula has been carefully researched, developed and clinically tested, using a combination of science and innovation to create a thoroughly effective product.

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The Current Level for Diagnosed B12 Deficiency is Too Low

Current research suggests that the accepted blood serum level for a diagnosis of B12 deficiency is just too low. (1,2) It is currently anything less than 200 picograms per milliliter (pg/mL). (3) However, many people experience symptoms of deficiency at much higher levels.

Many health organizations, including the National Institute of Health, are now recognizing that patients with B12 blood serum levels between 200-350 pg/ml are “low-normal” and would benefit from B12 supplementation (4, 5), but even this is probably too low.

Current research shows that those with blood serum levels less than 678 pg/ml, especially older individuals, may receive clinical benefits from B12 supplementation and that physicians should consider supplementation in all patients with levels below 407 pg/mL. (1)

Vitamin B12 Deficiency in the US

While many researchers focus on testing and treating B12 deficiency in the developing world, there still hasn’t been a major population study in the United States to measure this critical deficiency since the Framingham Offspring study conducted by Tufts University in the year 2000. Researchers there found that at least 40% of the population tested “low-normal” or deficient for vitamin B12, but the latest research shows that the 40% of folks at 350 pg/mL or lower should really be considered to be deficient. (6)

Vegetarians, the elderly, those who have had gastric bypass surgery, and those on long-term use of certain medications are at much higher risk for deficiency. This is due to reduced absorption and intake of B12 from food sources. (2,7-9)

B12 Supports Mind and Mood

The main function of B12 is to support the nervous system while maintaining healthy brain chemistry and synthesizing neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin and epinephrine. These govern mood, energy, sleep, appetite, drive, motivation, movement, cognition and numerous other brain functions.

Studies have shown that people with certain mood issues and cognitive concerns respond well to B12 supplementation, especially older individuals. There is a strong correlation between low B12 levels and cognitive issues associated with aging. One study reported that 50% of the subjects with mood issues were also deficient in vitamin B12. (10-13)

B12 Supports a Healthy Heart

Low levels of B12 are linked to elevated levels of the amino acid, homocysteine, which can negatively affect multiple systems of the body. The relationship between B12 and homocysteine is so strong that measuring homocysteine levels is considered one of the tests to measure B12 levels. (14)

Perhaps B12’s most valuable function concerns the heart. Chronically high levels of homocysteine are linked to multiple heart health concerns. (15-17) The most active form of B12, called methylcobalamine, is essential for converting homocysteine into methionine (a naturally occurring amino acid) through a process called methylation. Folate is required for this conversion and they work in concert to lower homocysteine levels. New studies reveal that high homocysteine levels are also correlated with the presence of certain mood imbalances and cognitive concerns. (18-20)

Why Are We Deficient?

It is difficult to detect a B12 deficiency, because the related health issues may not appear for some 5-6 years. (3, 5) Another problem is that of the several biomarkers regularly used for measuring B12 levels, none are entirely accurate and all of them have their benefits and drawbacks. Even measuring B12 blood serum levels may not provide an accurate picture of how much is available to the body on the cellular level. (21, 22)

When you combine the facts that many people have stopped eating red meat (which is high in B12), that B12 is a large, bulky and hard-to-absorb vitamin, and that as we age the digestive strength necessary to break down B12 can diminish (23), you can start to understand why this is such a prevalent national health issue.

Food Sources of B12 

Some of the foods richest in B12 are fish, meat, eggs and dairy, which is why vegetarians and vegans are at such great risk for B12 deficiency. Vegetarian sources do exist, but there are not many of them and they generally are not a significant source unless fortified during food production. (24)

Weak Digestion Makes For Poor Absorption of B12

Dietary B12 is released from certain foods in the stomach by hydrochloric acid (HCl). If the digestive acids are low, then B12 absorption is also low. When HCl levels are optimal, the production and secretion of pepsin (the enzyme responsible for unbinding B12 from ingested foods) is also held in balance. This allows the free B12 to bind to another protein, called the intrinsic factor, which carries it to the distal part of the small intestine for processing, and eventually to the liver where it is stored.

As we age, digestive strength typically weakens and the production of pepsin can be decreased by up to 40% independent of any other factors, resulting in significantly reduced absorption and bioavailability of B12. While I don’t believe this necessarily has to happen to everyone, seniors are at significant risk for this reason. (25-27)

The more likely cause of this, rather than just aging, is the insidious congestion of the bile and pancreatic enzyme ducts due to the ingestion of processed foods. For more on this, check out my articles on digestion, bile and gallbladder health.

What Type of B12 is Best?

Perhaps the most common form on the market today is cyanocobalamin. While it is the most inexpensive form, it is not the most active. Cyanocobalamin must be converted to methylcobalamin, which is the most active and more effective form of B12.

Learn the Best Way to Take Vitamin B12

For years, B12 injections were trendy for boosting energy. It was believed that absorption of B12 orally in the cobalamin form was low. New research is showing that oral supplementation with methylcobalamin is just as effective and carries the added benefits of lower cost and ease of administration. (28, 29) Hooray!!! No more shots!

In addition, adequate amounts of folate and a mood supportive chemical, called SAMe, are all needed to convert (or methylate) the cyanocobalamin into methylcobalamin. Using the methylcobalamin form orally, this cumbersome process of activating the B12 is already accomplished. B12 and folate support healthy methylation through their roles in the synthesis of methionine from homocysteine and the synthesis of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) – a naturally-occurring compound found in almost every tissue and fluid in the body and well-known mood support supplement. (30,31)

The Best Folate: 5-MTHF (5-methyltetrahydrofolate)

5-MTHF is the most biologically active form of folate. Folic acid is a synthetic form of folate and while not harmful, it is not as effective as folate or 5-MTHF. It is the predominant type of folate present in food and the form into which the body must convert all other forms of folate. Along with vitamin B12, folate serves as a donor of methyl groups in many nervous system and metabolic processes, including the conversion of homocysteine to methionine, the synthesis of monoamine neurotransmitters, the production of melatonin, and the synthesis of DNA. (32, 33) In addition, red blood cells require vitamin B12 and folate for proliferation and manufacturing. (34) B12 is also essential for neurological health, and chronic insufficiency can affect the spinal cord, peripheral nerves, the optic nerve and the brain. (35)

B12 Dosage Recommendations

The best way to take B12 is in a sublingual form. Be sure it is a combination of methylcobalamin and folate in the 5-MTHF form. About 2500mcg of B12 is an effective clinical dose. It is best taken in the morning for a B12 boost all day.

References:

Additional Science

B-12 Boost™ is the most biologically active form of the water-soluble B vitamin, folate. It is the preferred form of folate supplementation due to an array of conditions that can limit conversion or absorption of folic acid. Data indicates that supplementing with 5-MTHF increases plasma folate more effectively than folic acid. MecobalActive™, which is found in the B-12 Boost™ formula, is a highly pure form of methylcobalamin that does not use any harmful solvents during manufacture.*

5-MTHF (5-methyltetrahydrofolate)

5-MTHF is the most biologically active form of folate. It is the predominant type of folate present in food and the form into which the body must convert all other forms of folate.^[1] Along with vitamin B12, folate serves as a donor of methyl groups. The body utilizes methyl groups in many nervous system and metabolic processes, including the conversion of homocysteine to methionine, the synthesis of monoamine neurotransmitters, the production of melatonin, and the synthesis of DNA. In addition, sufficient folate is necessary for brain and nervous system functions and for a healthy pregnancy outcome.*

5-MTHF—Preferred Over Folic Acid

Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate that is used to fortify foods. It is often found in dietary supplements as well. Despite some research showing that folic acid and 5-MTHF have equivalent bioavailability, 5-MTHF is often the preferred form to replenish folate. This is due, primarily, to the presence of digestive or metabolic variabilities that can affect the conversion of folic acid to 5-MTHF.^[2-4] Furthermore, studies have shown that 5-MTHF increased plasma folate more effectively than folic acid irrespective of genetic differences in metabolism.^[1,5] A study in women of childbearing age showed that 5-MTHF was more effective than folic acid in improving overall folate status.*^[6]

Using 5-MTHF instead of folic acid has several important advantages. 5-MTHF provides the biologically active form of folate, reduces the potential for masking hematological symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, reduces interactions with drugs that inhibit dihydrofolate reductase, overcomes folate metabolism challenges associated with functioning of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), and prevents the potential negative effects of UMFA in the peripheral circulation.*^[7]

Quatrefolic®

In LifeSpa’s B-12 Boost™, 5-MTHF is provided as Quatrefolic—the glucosamine salt of 5-MTHF. Quatrefolic is proven to have greater stability, solubility, and bioavailability over the commonly used calcium salt form of 5-MTHF. In a randomized crossover study, subjects received 400 mcg/d of Quatrefolic or 5-MTHF calcium salt. Titer-normalized Cmax and AUC demonstrated a 10% higher bioavailability of Quatrefolic.^[8] Quatrefolic has several in vitro and in vivo preclinical and clinical studies to characterize and assure the safety profile of the product.*^[9]

B-12 Boost™

LifeSpa’s B-12 Boost™ combines Quatrefolic and vitamin B12 as MecobalActive™ in cherry-flavored, quick-dissolve tablets. MecobalActive is a pure form of methylcobalamin. Many vitamin B12 supplements on the market contain cyanocobalamin. The liver is able to convert a small amount of cyanocobalamin to methylcobalamin; however, methylcobalamin is the preferred form because it is the bioactive form and is, therefore, better utilized.^[10] Another point of interest regarding B12 supplementation is the commonly held belief that intramuscular injections of B12 are more effective than oral supplementation. In fact, oral supplementation is just as effective and carries the added benefits of lower cost and ease of administration.^[11,12] Unlike other sources of methylcobalamin on the market, MecobalActive does not use any harmful solvents during its manufacture. The patented, advanced production methods used to create MecobalActive also result in a methylcobalamin with greater purity and lower moisture, which translates to greater stability.*

Functions of B12

Vitamin B12 supports healthy methylation through its roles in the synthesis of methionine from homocysteine and synthesis of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe). As an example of its importance in homocysteine metabolism, one study showed that the addition of B12 to a folate regimen had a greater impact (7%) on homocysteine than did folate alone.^[13] Like folate, erythroblasts require vitamin B12 for proliferation during their differentiation.^[14] B12 is important for neurological health, and chronic insufficiency can affect the spinal cord, peripheral nerves, the optic nerve, and the brain. Research also supports a role for methylcobalamin supplementation in modulating melatonin secretion, enhancing light sensitivity, normalizing circadian rhythms, and improving sleep-wake cycles.*^[15,16]

General Disclaimer:

Keep closed in a cool, dry place out of reach of children.

References:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19917061

2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20603044

3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12600857

4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17176169

5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14769778

6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16825690

7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24494987

8. Crossover Comparative Bioavailability Study of 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate Glucosamine Salt (GN10G) Compared to the Reference Metafolin® in Healthy Volunteers. IPAS-5MTHFA-583-09 final report. Desio, Italy: Gnosis S.p.A.; March 15, 2010: 1-33. [available from the manufacturer Gnosis S.p.A. upon request]

9. Thomas J, Heimbach, J, Soni M. Determination of the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) Status of (6S)-5-Methyltetrahydrofolic acid Glucosamine Salt. Expert panel statement. Desio, Italy: Gnosis S.p.A.; July, 2010: 1-46. [available from the manufacturer Gnosis S.p.A. upon request]

10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9855571

11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9694707

12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21556950

13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9569395

14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15189115

15. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9108574

16. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1516676