Guest Columnist
Can Vitamin B12-Laced Energy Drinks Really Boost Vitality?
By
May 15, 2008 - 7:34:07 PM

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - If you consume those popular, high-priced energy drinks on the market, you've probably scanned the nutrition label and discovered, along with high amounts of caffeine and sugar, a listing for the nutrient vitamin B12. Doses of vitamin B12 in these drinks can range from 40% all the way up to a whopping 5,000% of the U.S. government's recommended daily intake.

There's no disputing the important role vitamin B12 plays in the human body -- it is essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system and the formation of red blood cells. But do massive doses of vitamin B12 provide the energy boost these drink marketers claim?

"There really is no clinical evidence that large amounts of vitamin B12 provide an immediate surge of energy," said Glenn L. Gordon, MD, a noted gastroenterologist and adjunct assistant professor at St. Louis University. "These claims probably have more to do with the level of sugar and caffeine in these products, rather than the B12." Dr. Gordon asserts that the connection these drink manufacturers make to energy and vitality is more rooted in the common knowledge that vitamin B12 deficiency is associated with fatigue, weakness and mental confusion.

Vitamin B12 works with folic acid in many body processes including synthesis of DNA, red blood cells and the insulation sheath that surrounds nerve cells, and facilitates the conduction of signals in the nervous system. The recommended daily allowance of vitamin B12 for the average adult is roughly one microgram per day. Though studies have linked vitamin B12 to a possible role in fighting cancer and heart disease, as of yet the connections are inconclusive. Until an argument for high doses of B12 can be clinically proven, the focus should be on making sure vitamin B12 deficient individuals get enough of this essential nutrient.

Quarter of U.S. Population is Vitamin B12 Deficient

Affecting 75 million adults in the U.S., vitamin B12 deficiency is most common in the elderly, but can also occur in vegetarians, gastric bypass patents, those suffering from Crohn's disease and Celiac disease and people who take acid blockers, like Pepcid or Zantac, on a long-term and regular basis. Normally, vitamin B12 is absorbed by the stomach and intestines. Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia usually happens when the digestive system is not able to absorb the vitamin.

The manifestation of B12 deficiency is much more serious than a simple bout of low energy. Left untreated, the condition can lead to significant anemia and serious neurological problems such as dementia-like symptoms, mood swings, depression, numbness, balance problems, shooting sensations in the extremities and urinary incontinence.

Only a blood test by a physician can determine whether a patient is vitamin B12 deficient. In the past, treatment options for vitamin B12 deficiency were limited to oral supplements for those with normal digestive tracts and painful, inconvenient intramuscular injections for patients whose digestive systems cannot absorb B12 through food or oral supplements. Recently, the availability of nasal sprays have provided a painless option for vitamin B12 deficiency sufferers. Since the nasal membranes are quite thin, the blood vessels are closer to the surface, making nasal administration an effective mode for delivering B12. One of the newest FDA-approved vitamin B12 nasal sprays is CaloMist, a convenient once-daily nasal spray that helps patients maintain consistent vitamin B12 levels in the bloodstream.

The bottom line is: see your doctor. "If you or a loved one exhibits the classic signs of vitamin B12 deficiency - fatigue, mood swings, confusion or shooting sensations down the limbs - seek medical attention as soon as possible," Dr. Gordon says. "Only a physician can determine whether you are vitamin B12 deficient and plot the right treatment course."

If you don't fall within any of the risk categories for B12 deficiency and you eat a balanced diet, chances are you're probably already getting all the B12 your body needs. In fact, the average person has up to seven years' worth of vitamin B12 stored in their liver. The human body only uses and stores as much B12 as it needs, any excess is literally flushed down the toilet through urination. While the massive amounts of B12 in these energy drinks won't cause harm, the energy surge consumers might feel is probably due to the large amounts of sugar and caffeine these beverages contain.

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