Chalk Up Two More for B12

A July study from the Journal of the American Geriatric Society examined whether deficient B12 status or low serum B12 levels are associated with worse sensory and motor peripheral nerve function in 2,287 older adults. B12-deficient status was found in 7.0% of participants, and an additional 10.1% had low serum B12 levels. Poor B12 (deficient B12 status and low serum B12) was associated with worse sensory and motor peripheral nerve function. Nerve function impairments may lead to physical function declines and disability in older adults, suggesting that prevention and treatment of low B12 levels may be important to evaluate.

Another study from the journal Gut showed that adding vitamin B12 to standard hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment significantly boosts the body's ability to keep the virus at bay. Between 60% and 80% of those infected with the viral liver infection HCV will go on to develop chronic hepatitis, and roughly a third of them will progress to cirrhosis and terminal liver disease.

Ninety four patients with HCV infection received standard treatment or standard treatment plus vitamin B12. There was no difference between the two treatment approaches at 4 weeks, but there were significant differences in response at all the other time points, particularly 24 weeks after stopping treatment, which is the aim of HCV treatment and the closest it can be get to a cure. Overall, adding vitamin B12 to standard therapy strengthened the rate of sustained viral response by 34%, the findings showed.