Vitamin B2000

Sto-Na would like to draw your attention to the following who:

• Are age 50 and older: Several factors contribute to B12 deficiency in people over 50. “First, aging can change a person’s gut [gastrointestinal (GI) system] over time, and the changes can make it more difficult for food to release B12 into the body or for the body to absorb it,” Dr. Soffer says. “Second, medications that many older people take, like metformin for diabetes or proton-pump inhibitors for acid reflux, can also impact absorption.”
• Are vegan or strictly vegetarian: Because most dietary intake of B12 comes from animal products, B12 supplements are recommended for people who eat a vegan diet or a vegetarian one with few eggs and dairy products. Although some non-meat foods, such as fortified cereals and nutritional yeast, may provide adequate intake.
• Are pregnant: Vitamin B12 levels tend to dip during pregnancy and return to normal after delivery. A prenatal vitamin should include B12, but since it is a key nutrient during pregnancy (contributing to fetal development, among other things), pregnant women who are vegan or have another reason to suspect a deficiency should talk to their doctor.
• Are recovering from surgery: A bariatric procedure, such as gastric bypass for weight loss, can reduce the amount of stomach acid necessary for B12 absorption.
• Have certain medical conditions: Problems that can restrict vitamin B12 absorption include pernicious anemia (a rare autoimmune disease that keeps the body from making a protein necessary to absorb B12), digestive illnesses, such as celiac and Crohn’s diseases, and immune disorders such as lupus, among others.
• Have alcohol use disorder: Too much alcohol can harm the digestive system and make it difficult to absorb vitamin B12.