St Peters Chiropractic Care Checks for Vitamin B Deficiency and MMA
Boost your brain (and gut and nervous system) power with B vitamins. But learn a little about MMA - methylmalonic acid. That’s a big word! It is an even bigger conversion element to understand and test. Old Mill Chiropractic shares just how B vitamins and methylmalonic acid are related, how they are checked and how crucial they are to a smooth functioning body system. St Peters vitamin B deficiencies need to be revealed. Your St Peters chiropractor is just the one to shine a spotlight on them. Chiropractic services address the whole person!
B12 DEFICIENCY EFFECT ON BRAIN
Researchers have recognized for some time that Vitamin B12 deficiency can produce severe and irreversible damage to the brain and nervous system. Such deficiency is truly an issue for homocysteine (slows the conversion of methionine to homocysteine which converts to other amino acids via B12, B11, and B6) and methylmalonic acid (raises) levels. (1) Recently, researchers explored more deeply in what way vitamin B9 folate and B12 deficiencies are connected to metabolic diseases and influenced memory function, cognitive impairment, glucose metabolism and inflammation modulation. They decided that folate and B-12 deficiencies damaged memory function by hampering hippocampal insulin signaling and upsetting the gut microbiota. (2) The gut and brain are intimately linked! Old Mill Chiropractic helps St Peters chiropractic patients find out just what their B vitamin levels are currently so they can boost them as needed to safeguard the brain and the gut.
HOW TO TEST FOR B12 LEVEL
New research indicated that testing methylmalonic acid serum levels to define B12 levels more accurately. Testing for methylmalonic acid serum levels is a more preceise way to figure out B12 levels. MMA is elevated in 90–98% of patients with B12 deficiency. Why? Methylmalonic acid stays in the myelin sheath of the nerve if B12 does not convert it properly. A blood test for MMA can identify vitamin B12 deficiency sooner. The body makes very little MMA – necessary for metabolism and energy production – on its own. MMA levels rise in the blood and urine if there isn’t enough vitamin B12 available for conversion. (3,4) Old Mill Chiropractic encourages St Peters chiropractic patients to check B levels and increase them as needed.
HOW TO IMPROVE B12 LEVELS
Potential issues leading to B12 deficiency are inadequate intake of B12 through diet (animal products [eggs, meat, milk] and algae), impaired absorption due to drugs taken like proton pump inhibitors and histamine 2 receptor agonists), surgical removal of small bowel for Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, bariatric surgery, bacterial overgrowth into small bowel, diabetes’ medication metformin, malnutrition due to alcoholism, and nitrous oxide abuse. (5) To improve B12 levels, St Peters chiropractic patients may want to start by addressing the dietary intake of more vitamin B12-rich foods. Old Mill Chiropractic is definitely prepared to chat about supplementation ideas with you as well. It is all part of the St Peters chiropractic treatment plan!
CONTACT Old Mill Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. James Cox on The Back Doctors Podcast With Dr. Michael Johnson as he discusses the importance of chiropractic care and gentle spinal manipulation via The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management to maintain a healthy immune system including the nervous system.
Schedule your St Peters chiropractic appointment at Old Mill Chiropractic today. Your brain, gut and nervous system will thank you for having your B vitamin levels checked via the MMA connection!
