Vitamin B complex injection alternative… for metabolism and more

Every now and then, I receive phone calls from clients asking for vitamin B complex injection. It has not been available for awhile and what would be the optimal alternative? Let’s first look at what does vitamin B do in our body. B complex consists of vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9 and B12.
B1 (thiamine) helps to strengthen immune system and helps our body withstand stress.
B2 (riboflavin) protects body cells from oxidative damage and helps to maintain healthy mucous membrane (e.g. lining of the mouth)
B3 (niacin) is needed in repairing DNA, energy production, and steroid hormone production in the adrenal gland. It helps to reduce ‘bad’ cholesterol in therapeutic dose.
B5 is responsible for releasing energy from sugar, starch and fats. It also helps to support our adrenal glands (sits on top of our kidneys responsible for producing cortisol- hormone responds to stress)
B6 (pyridoxine) is essential for healthy nerve function, metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and amino acids.
B7 (biotin) is important for cell growth and maintaining healthy nails and hair
B9 (folic acid) is responsible for red blood cells production and normal development of fetus’s nervous system. Deficiency can cause neural tube defect (fetal spinal column doesn’t close completely)
B12 is important for red blood cells production, nerve health and metabolism of carbs and fat.
All b vitamins help in the metabolism process, converting food to glucose to provide the fuel of our body, and metabolism of fat and carbs.

Our clinical team suggests Vitaaid Bio-B complete as an oral alternative to injectable form of B complex. It is a combination of all essential B vitamins and lipotropic agents designed to support healthy metabolism and body’s energy production. They are in optimal ratios of stable and active forms readily usable by our body. This helps to achieve maximal bioavailability of the supplement.

While for those who are under more stressful lifestyle, Vitaaid Bio-B5 Forte would be an ideal choice. It is also a B complex with an optimal amount of B5 formulated to specifically designed to restore body’s depleted energy, support the adrenal function (adrenal gland sits on top of our kidney that releases ‘stress hormone’) and increase the body’s ability to cope with stress.

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References:
http://www.pediatriconcall.com
http://www.livestrong.com

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Steroid Free Topical Therapy for Eczema, Dermatitis & Psoriasis

Eczema is one of the most common chronic inflammatory skin conditions. In Canada, every 5 children and 12 adults, there is 1 suffering from eczema or dermatitis. Dry, red, inflamed and very itchy skins are the characteristics of eczema.

In severe case, skin may ooze, become scaly, crusted or hardened. It is prone to infection if skin is broken. Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disorder characterized by red, dry flakes, skin scales and plaques of raised skin. This skin disease affects over 6 million¹ people in the United States.
Many triggering factors cause dermatitis: pollution, chemicals exposure (e.g. detergents, soap), food allergies, food additives (artificial color, flavor), harmful substances in skin care and personal care products (e.g. sulphates, parabens, artificial fragrances, phthalates), climate change and stress.
Main goals are to control itch and heal the skin. Topical steroids with different potencies are the mainstay as the first step medical approach. They are usually very effective in reduce the itchiness in acute flare. However, long term use can also lead to an eczema vicious cycle:

There are also long term adverse effects from using steroid including thinning of skin, skin hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation, and weaken skin immunity.
Besides minimizing the triggering factors, our clinical team recommends steroid FREE topical B12 formulation, Max B12 Therapeutic Cream, which is a clinically proven therapy for dermatitis², eczema³ and psoriasis^4-5.

B12 has a powerful regenerating effect in injured skin and helps with wound healing. Therapeutic grade essential oils that are beneficial to skin health are also added in the formulation to further enhance the protection and healing process. For milder cases, Biozkin B12 plus+ cream would be the suggested choice. Both B12 formulations are Free of harmful substances: parabens, DEA, MEA, TEA, phthalates, MCI/MI, artificial color and fragrance.

References:

1. www.psoriasis.org
2. Pieck C, Stoerb C, Niedner R, et al. Topical vitamin B12- a new therapeutic approach in atopic dermatitis-evaluation of efficacy and tolerability in a randomized placebo-controlled multicentre clinical trial. Br J Dermatol. 2004 May;150(5):977-83
3. Januchowski R. Evaluation of topical vitamin B12 for the treatment of childhood eczema. J Altern Complement Med. 2009 Apr;15(4):387-9
4. Memmel U, Hoffmann M, Hartung J, et al. Vitamin B12 cream containing avocado oil in the therapy of plaque psoriasis. Dermatology 2001;203:141-7
5. Regana MS, Levancini CF, Ortigosa, JS. Topical vitamin B12: evaluation of its efficacy in plaque-type psoriasis. RevistaLatinoamericana de Psoriasis y ArtritisPsoriasica 2001;3:15-24

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How to prevent adding ‘pounds’ during the holiday season?

It’s the time of the year we attend parties, family and office gatherings with lots of food. It’s hard to resist good food and yet gaining weight seems to be unavoidable. Is this true? Let’s share some tips here to help prevent weight gain.

There are a few practical tips to share. Have a light snack before you go for the party (e.g. an apple, a banana or a glass of healthy & yummy protein shake). Never go to a party hungry. Pick up a small plate instead of a big one. For beverages, choose a glass of wine, or beer, carbonated water instead of sweetened or high fat drinks.

To minimize food intolerance, bloating or indigestion after partying is also crucial to keep our digestive system healthy. Pace yourself, chew more before swallowing all help with digestion. Supplementing with a full spectrum of digestive enzymes will aid in this process. For those who have food intolerance from complex carbohydrates (e.g. beans, yams, sweet potatoes), and lactose, enzymes consisted of efficacious dosage of alpha- & beta-galactosidase and lactase will be beneficial in such occasion.

Proper detoxification is also a key component to help reducing the chance of gaining weight. Chlorella and spirulina support body’s natural cleaning processes in key elimination systems such as the bowel, liver, and blood. Zeolite also helps to rid the heavy metals inside our body. All these toxins, wastes and free radicals adds up the ‘weight’.

Maintaining a good environment in our gut would help to get rid of the ‘gunk’ in our body. Adding a good quality multiple strains of good bacteria (probiotics) also helps to maintain a waistline.

The efficiency of metabolizing carbohydrates and fat cannot be overseen. Nutrient such as vitamin B12 is one of the important cofactors in the metabolism process.

Also, remember to focus on socializing instead on food. Holiday seasons meant to share happiness and the opportunity to catch up with our families and friends.

Happy holidays!

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Which Route Is Better to Administer B12 Injections?

Vitamin B12 is an important nutrient that performs different functions in our body. B12 is indicated for Vitamin B12 deficiency, pernicious anemia, people who have difficulty absorbing B12 orally due to diseases such as Crohn’s or Celiacs, patients who have had gastric bypass surgery or who are on long term acid suppression medication and/or someone on a vegetarian diet. Vitamin B12 also is also commonly incorporated into weight loss or weight management programs to help regulate the metabolism of carbohydrates and fat.

"IM or SC? Which route should I use to give myself the B12 shot?"

The most common form of B12 injection is Cyanocobalamin and both intramuscular (IM) and subcutaneous (SC or SQ) are the recommended route. In order to determine which route of injection is should be used, it is crucial to follow specific guidelines. If you have a low pain tolerance level, SC route will be preferred, as IM is generally more painful and therefore can cause a bit more discomfort. For overweight or those with low muscle mass, the SC route is preferred as muscle is below our subcutaneous fat layer, whereas those with more muscles and less subcutaneous fat the IM route is preferred.
No matter which way you choose to inject B12, proper hygienic technique needs to be ensured to minimize the potential of infection. Don’t forget to sanitize the vial and the area of injection before and after the shot using alcohol swabs and do not reuse needles.
For more Biosense Clinic Health Tips, check out our Clinical Blogs at https://www.biosenseclinic.com/blogs/clinical-blogs

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B12 Injection: Why Do It

Vitamin B12 is a water soluble vitamin that has multiple functions in our body, including keeping the body’s nerve and blood cells healthy, helping to make DNA and preventing a type of anemia called megaloblastic anemia. While B12 is naturally found in a wide variety of animal foods and certain fortified foods, some diets restrict the intake of B12 and some people are unable to absorb the amount of B12 necessary for daily intake. Due to this, many people have resorted to medical options to ensure they are getting enough B12, such as dietary supplements and more recently, B12 injection.

While there are oral supplements for B12, injectable provide a great, safe option for those that lack an intrinsic factor as well as those who have had gastrointestinal surgeries, weight management, or have the inability to break down B12 in its oral form. It is important to note that determining if there is a lack of B12 in the body is not always as simple as taking a blood test to look at B12 levels and each case should be looked at on an individual basis. Be sure to grab your injection and start feeling more energetic today!

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