REPOST [PathOfHealth #2949]: Rethinking & Clarifying the B12 Issue (Dr. Vivian V. Vetrano)

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

 

Dr. Vetrano, now in her 90s I believe, published this brief article some

time ago. Perhaps this will help to clarify some of the issues involved with

so-called B12 deficiency.

 

Best,

Elchanan

_____

 

Rethinking & Clarifying the B12 Issue

By Dr. Vivian V. Vetrano

<http://www.roylretreat.com/articles/b12.html>

http://www.roylretreat.com/articles/b12.html

 

 

There is no such thing as a B12 deficiency, even in 100% raw vegan food

eaters. They do not have to eat dirt, animal products, or take pills to

secure coenzymes of B12. Bacteria in the intestinal tract make it for us,

and the metabolically usable and necessary forms of coenzyme B12 are

contained in unprocessed, fresh natural plant foods, particularly in nuts

and seeds. The real problem in so-called B12 deficiency is a failure of

digestion and absorption of foods, rather than a deficiency of the vitamin

itself.

 

Vitamin B12 coenzymes are found in nuts and seeds as well as in many common

greens, fruits, and many vegetables. If we ate 100 grams of green beans,

beets, carrots, and peas we would have half of our so-called daily minimum

requirement of Vitamin B12 coenzymes providing our digestion and absorption

are normal. From Rodale's The Complete Book of Vitamins, page 236 we find

the following clarification: " As you know, the B complex of vitamins is

called a 'complex' because, instead of being one vitamin, it has turned out

to be a large number of related vitamins, which appear generally in the same

foods. "

 

A little publicized source of active Vitamin B12 coenzymes is from bacteria

in the mouth, around the teeth, in the nasopharynx, around the tonsils and

in the tonsilar crypts, in the folds at the base of the tongue, and in the

upper bronchial tree. This source alone will supply sufficient quantities of

Vitamin B12 coenzymes for the very small requirement of total vegetarians,

especially considering that their needs for this vitamin are not as great as

for those on conventional diets.

 

I have studied the Vitamin B12 issue thoroughly, and have learned that

biochemists, neutraceutical scientists, and many writers mistakenly use the

term Vitamin B12 for cyanocobalamin, THAT IS NOT USABLE BY THE BODY BUT

which is in all vitamin B12 supplements. When speaking of Vitamin B12 they

are referring to the semisynthetic Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) that

initially was contaminated with poisonous cyanide during its chemical

extraction from animal tissues. Carbon columns are used during the

extraction process and the carbon combines with nitrogen from the medium

forming the poisonous cyanocobalamin, that scientists insist on calling

Vitamin B12. The original method used to extract Vitamin B 12 from its

sources included heating the medium in a weak acid, the addition of cyanide

ion, and exposure to light. In this process the coenzymes were converted to

cyanocobalamin, yet this was over looked. (Review of Physiological

Chemistry, Harper, Harold A., Lange Medical Publications, New York, 1977,

page l81. Also refer to Cobalamin: Biochemistry and Pathophysiology, Wiley.

N. and F. Sicuteri, New York, 1972.) MOREOVER, in the manufacture of vitamin

supplements, cyanide is added to the medium because the carbon and nitrogen

are needed to form large molecules as are found in vitamins; and IN ADDITION

they need it to extract the B12 from fermentation liquors and liver

homogenates. Carbon is needed in great quantities when making vitamins or

any other manufactured vitamin or substance that mimics the natural vitamin

that normally contains a lot of carbon.

 

THE TWO VITAMIN B12 COENZYMES KNOWN TO BE METABOLICALLY ACTIVE IN MAMMALIAN

TISSUES ARE 5-deoxyadenosylcobalamin and methylcobalamin (methyl-B12. When

extracted in light, these two coenzymes undergo photolysis and are

destroyed. Natural B12 is found solely in plants and animals, and that is

the only form that can be called " coenzyme B12. "

If an animal or individual is given cyanocobalamin the body removes the

cyanide because it is not usable as a coenzyme and it is toxic. Then the

cobalt of the former cyanocobalamin can combine with other substances that

are not toxic and actually form Vitamin B12 coenzymes that are usable by the

body. These normally existing Vitamin B12 coenzymes are labile and break

down easily unless inside living tissue.

 

Potassium in the body can react with the cyanide found in cyanocobalamin -

the " Vitamin B 12 " - and form toxic potassium cyanide (KCN). Potassium

cyanide is a poisonous compound used as a fumigant. This is one reason why

the body jettisons the " Vitamin B 12 " (i.e., cyanocobalamin) injections so

rapidly. Within 24 hours most (about 90%) of the cyanocobalamin in

supplements has been eliminated.

 

The names of cobalamins formed by the body or in a laboratory are: l.

hydroxocobalamin if it combines with a hydroxyl ion (OH), and 2.

aquocobalamin, when it combines with water. Cobalamin also combines with

anions such as nitrite a form of nitrogen, chloride, and sulfur. These are

not usable by the body. The two active coenzymes that can be formed in the

body after stripping off the cyanide are 5'deoxyadenosylcobalamin, or

adenosylcobalamin for short, and methylcobalamin. The problem is that the

cyanide is toxic and makes many people sicker than they were before taking

the supplement.

 

Cyanocobalamin is in every vitamin B12 supplement known because it is stable

and less costly to manufacture. But it is not usable in the body. If the

body has sufficient energy it may be able to offload the cyanide and benefit

from the useful component. Mainly, what people experience after taking

cyanocobalamin supplements is stimulation. The toxic effect of the cyanide

triggers a rush of energy as the body works hard to excrete the poison, and

this fools people into believing that the supplement has " worked " to heal

them. Meanwhile, if their blood tests show an increase in B12, it mainly

reflects the amount of the CYANOCOBALAMIN in the blood stream. The usable

forms are carried into the cells and can't be discovered by testing the

blood as is the current practice. Blood tests are often inaccurate and, as

previously stated, in the case of cyanocobalamin supplementation and B12

injections, about 90 % of it has been eliminated from the body in 24 hours.

 

Looking at it Hygienically, no Vitamin B12 therapy can cause a recovery from

any so-called deficiency disease. It may only hide the symptoms and cannot

give an individual health. When people report that their apparent B12

deficiency symptoms have been relieved by cyanocobalamin supplementation,

they are mistaken. They are not getting usable Vitamin B12 coenzymes, and

their bodies are forced to convert the cyanide form into the active forms,

methylcobalamin, and adenosylcobalamin. This extra function stimulates but

wastes nerve energy, and they are are actually getting worse, not better.

They have not addressed the cause of their troubles.

 

In summary, vegans and raw fooders all have sufficient amounts of coenzyme

B12 in their diets, and FROM THAT produced in their bodies. The most common

basic cause of a natural cobalamin deficiency is a failure to digest, absorb

and utilize the various cobalamins from food and from the intestinal tract

as in the case of gastritis or gastroenteritis. The cause of malabsorption

is commonly a gastrointestinal disorder and this was known by pathologists

way back in the l800s. In this case, one's lifestyle must be assessed and

brought into unison with the needs of the living organism.

 

Furthermore, absorption of the natural B12 coenzymes can take place in the

mouth, throat, esophagus, bronchial tubes and even in the upper small

intestines, as well as all along the intestinal tract. THIS DOES NOT INVOLVE

THE COMPLEX ENZYME MECHANISM FOR ABSORPTION (INTRINSIC FACTOR) IN THE SMALL

INTESTINE AS REQUIRED BY CYANOCOBALAMIN. THE COENZYMES ARE ABSORBED BY

DIFFUSION FROM MUCOUS MEMBRANES

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

My B-12 says methylcobalamin on it and you are saying that ALL B-12 is

cyanocobalamin ?

[Guest guest]

On Thursday 11 October 2007, mstrong56 wrote:

> My B-12 says methylcobalamin on it and you are saying

> that ALL B-12 is cyanocobalamin ?

 

the report I am reading mentions this, that in Britain, many

patients went blind by using the 'cyano' form of B12 due to

a long term build up of cyanide and that the methyl form

popular in Japan is gaining popularity now in the U.S. as

it is reported to be more bio-available.

 

see my reply to Erica today on thread

" Re: [Raw Food] Re: Vitamin B12 "

 

--

the kneeling fool

[Guest guest]

Hi-

I find this article alarming, and intend to show it to

my ND. I had been pleased to discover

B-12/folate/complex in liquid form, and taking

injections. They initially help my neuropathy and

mood. Now I have to rethink it. The cyanide

issue...yikes.

Thanks to Elchanan--again.

Nan

 

--- Elchanan <Elchanan wrote:

 

> Hi everyone,

>

> Dr. Vetrano, now in her 90s I believe, published

> this brief article some

> time ago. Perhaps this will help to clarify some of

> the issues involved with

> so-called B12 deficiency.

>

> Best,

> Elchanan

> _____

>

> Rethinking & Clarifying the B12 Issue

> By Dr. Vivian V. Vetrano

> <http://www.roylretreat.com/articles/b12.html>

> http://www.roylretreat.com/articles/b12.html

>

>

> There is no such thing as a B12 deficiency, even in

> 100% raw vegan food

> eaters. They do not have to eat dirt, animal

> products, or take pills to

> secure coenzymes of B12. Bacteria in the intestinal

> tract make it for us,

> and the metabolically usable and necessary forms of

> coenzyme B12 are

> contained in unprocessed, fresh natural plant foods,

> particularly in nuts

> and seeds. The real problem in so-called B12

> deficiency is a failure of

> digestion and absorption of foods, rather than a

> deficiency of the vitamin

> itself.

>

> Vitamin B12 coenzymes are found in nuts and seeds as

> well as in many common

> greens, fruits, and many vegetables. If we ate 100

> grams of green beans,

> beets, carrots, and peas we would have half of our

> so-called daily minimum

> requirement of Vitamin B12 coenzymes providing our

> digestion and absorption

> are normal. From Rodale's The Complete Book of

> Vitamins, page 236 we find

> the following clarification: " As you know, the B

> complex of vitamins is

> called a 'complex' because, instead of being one

> vitamin, it has turned out

> to be a large number of related vitamins, which

> appear generally in the same

> foods. "

>

> A little publicized source of active Vitamin B12

> coenzymes is from bacteria

> in the mouth, around the teeth, in the nasopharynx,

> around the tonsils and

> in the tonsilar crypts, in the folds at the base of

> the tongue, and in the

> upper bronchial tree. This source alone will supply

> sufficient quantities of

> Vitamin B12 coenzymes for the very small requirement

> of total vegetarians,

> especially considering that their needs for this

> vitamin are not as great as

> for those on conventional diets.

>

> I have studied the Vitamin B12 issue thoroughly, and

> have learned that

> biochemists, neutraceutical scientists, and many

> writers mistakenly use the

> term Vitamin B12 for cyanocobalamin, THAT IS NOT

> USABLE BY THE BODY BUT

> which is in all vitamin B12 supplements. When

> speaking of Vitamin B12 they

> are referring to the semisynthetic Vitamin B12

> (cyanocobalamin) that

> initially was contaminated with poisonous cyanide

> during its chemical

> extraction from animal tissues. Carbon columns are

> used during the

> extraction process and the carbon combines with

> nitrogen from the medium

> forming the poisonous cyanocobalamin, that

> scientists insist on calling

> Vitamin B12. The original method used to extract

> Vitamin B 12 from its

> sources included heating the medium in a weak acid,

> the addition of cyanide

> ion, and exposure to light. In this process the

> coenzymes were converted to

> cyanocobalamin, yet this was over looked. (Review of

> Physiological

> Chemistry, Harper, Harold A., Lange Medical

> Publications, New York, 1977,

> page l81. Also refer to Cobalamin: Biochemistry and

> Pathophysiology, Wiley.

> N. and F. Sicuteri, New York, 1972.) MOREOVER, in

> the manufacture of vitamin

> supplements, cyanide is added to the medium because

> the carbon and nitrogen

> are needed to form large molecules as are found in

> vitamins; and IN ADDITION

> they need it to extract the B12 from fermentation

> liquors and liver

> homogenates. Carbon is needed in great quantities

> when making vitamins or

> any other manufactured vitamin or substance that

> mimics the natural vitamin

> that normally contains a lot of carbon.

>

> THE TWO VITAMIN B12 COENZYMES KNOWN TO BE

> METABOLICALLY ACTIVE IN MAMMALIAN

> TISSUES ARE 5-deoxyadenosylcobalamin and

> methylcobalamin (methyl-B12. When

> extracted in light, these two coenzymes undergo

> photolysis and are

> destroyed. Natural B12 is found solely in plants and

> animals, and that is

> the only form that can be called " coenzyme B12. "

> If an animal or individual is given cyanocobalamin

> the body removes the

> cyanide because it is not usable as a coenzyme and

> it is toxic. Then the

> cobalt of the former cyanocobalamin can combine with

> other substances that

> are not toxic and actually form Vitamin B12

> coenzymes that are usable by the

> body. These normally existing Vitamin B12 coenzymes

> are labile and break

> down easily unless inside living tissue.

>

> Potassium in the body can react with the cyanide

> found in cyanocobalamin -

> the " Vitamin B 12 " - and form toxic potassium

> cyanide (KCN). Potassium

> cyanide is a poisonous compound used as a fumigant.

> This is one reason why

> the body jettisons the " Vitamin B 12 " (i.e.,

> cyanocobalamin) injections so

> rapidly. Within 24 hours most (about 90%) of the

> cyanocobalamin in

> supplements has been eliminated.

>

> The names of cobalamins formed by the body or in a

> laboratory are: l.

> hydroxocobalamin if it combines with a hydroxyl ion

> (OH), and 2.

> aquocobalamin, when it combines with water.

> Cobalamin also combines with

> anions such as nitrite a form of nitrogen, chloride,

> and sulfur. These are

> not usable by the body. The two active coenzymes

> that can be formed in the

> body after stripping off the cyanide are

> 5'deoxyadenosylcobalamin, or

> adenosylcobalamin for short, and methylcobalamin.

> The problem is that the

> cyanide is toxic and makes many people sicker than

> they were before taking

> the supplement.

>

> Cyanocobalamin is in every vitamin B12 supplement

> known because it is stable

> and less costly to manufacture. But it is not usable

> in the body. If the

> body has sufficient energy it may be able to offload

> the cyanide and benefit

> from the useful component. Mainly, what people

> experience after taking

> cyanocobalamin supplements is stimulation. The toxic

> effect of the cyanide

> triggers a rush of energy as the body works hard to

> excrete the poison, and

> this fools people into believing that the supplement

> has " worked " to heal

> them. Meanwhile, if their blood tests show an

> increase in B12, it mainly

> reflects the amount of the CYANOCOBALAMIN in the

> blood stream. The usable

> forms are carried into the cells and can't be

> discovered by testing the

> blood as is the current practice. Blood tests are

> often inaccurate and, as

> previously stated, in the case of cyanocobalamin

> supplementation and B12

> injections, about 90 % of it has been eliminated

> from the body in 24 hours.

>

> Looking at it Hygienically, no Vitamin B12 therapy

> can cause a recovery from

> any so-called deficiency disease. It may only hide

> the symptoms and cannot

> give an individual health. When people report that

> their apparent B12

> deficiency symptoms have been relieved by

> cyanocobalamin supplementation,

> they are mistaken. They are not getting usable

> Vitamin B12 coenzymes, and

> their bodies are forced to convert the cyanide form

> into the active forms,

> methylcobalamin, and adenosylcobalamin. This extra

> function

=== message truncated ===

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

It should be pointed out that B12 supplements from methylcobalamin, rather than

cyanocobalamin, are readily available, making the concern raised in this article

about cyanide

irrelevant, as long as we are taking the right supplements.