Vitamin B12 Side Effects

Vitamin B12 is considered safe and non-toxic vitamin. There are no perceived side effects of this vitamin and for this reason, no Tolerable Upper Intake Level for Vitamin B12 has been prescribed by The Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences.

An intake any one of the B-complex vitamins by itself for a sustained period of time can result in an imbalance of other important B vitamins in the human body. Because of drug interactions with other medicines, the potential for side effects although seemingly nonexistent cannot be ruled out.

Vitamin

Antibiotics taken over a long period of time have an adverse effect on body stores of vitamin B12. A simultaneous intake of vitamin B12 with antibiotic tetracycline interferes with the absorption and effectiveness of this medicine. Therefore, it is recommended that both should be taken at different times of the day.

Vitamin B12 Side Effects

Anti-ulcer medications like Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) and H2 receptor antagonists that are used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and peptic ulcer disease slow down the release of gastric acid into the stomach. There might be some interference of this with vitamin B12, since gastric acid is required to release vitamin B12 from food prior to absorption.

While taking in Metformin for diabetes, vitamin B12 levels maybe reduced. Medication for Chemotherapy also has the same effect. Phenobarbital and phenytoin seizure disorders may also interfere with the body's ability to use vitamin B12.

During such situations, the ideal remedy would be to consult a physician and registered dietitian to discuss the best way to maintain vitamin B12 status when taking these medications. Therefore, it is pertinent to say that although there are no revealed side effects, it is necessary to maintain caution particularly vis-à-vis vitamin B12's interaction with other medicines.

Vitamin B12 Side Effects

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The Side Effects Of Vitamin B12

This article discusses vitamin B12 and most of the reported side effects of taking B12. It also outlines some of the medical conditions that taking B12 may exacerbate.

Background

Vitamin

Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin needed for normal cell activity. It is a part of a group of cobalt containing B complex vitamins, which are also known as cobalamins. Like other B vitamins, vitamin B12is important for metabolism. It also helps in the formation of red blood cells and in maintaining the central nervous system. It is found in most foods which come from animal products including liver, fish, shell fish, meat and dairy products.

The Side Effects Of Vitamin B12

Side Effects

The good news is that vitamin B 12 is usually non-toxic, even when taken in large doses. However, people have experienced some adverse effects, even though these side effects are quite rare. Generally, when vitamin B12 supplements are taken orally then there is little chance of side effects occurring. Some people choose to take vitamin B12 administered with an injection. This type of ingestion as been associated with the following side effects:

o mild diarrhoea

o anxiety and panic attacks

o heart palpitations

o insomnia

o breathing problems

o chest pain

o skin rash, hives or itchy swollen skin

Some health professionals believe that patients develop these reactions not because of the B12, but because of the preservatives that are part of the injection formula. Currently, most injections contain preservatives. To be on the safe side, it is probably better to take B12 orally.

Medical Conditions

Other side effects may be experienced by people who have an allergy or a sensitive to cobalamin and cobalt. If this is the case, then it is advisable to avoid vitamin B12 supplementation altogether and instead seek to eat the foods that contain naturally occurring B12. In addition B12 should be avoided by people suffering from Leber's disease, a hereditary disease in which the optic nerve wastes away. Ingesting vitamin B12 can actually speed up the atrophy of the optic nerve resulting in rapid loss of central vision.

There is also evidence to suggest that patients who have undergone heart surgery and received coronary stents may have an increased risk of the artery narrowing again when they take vitamin B12. A small risk, but one to bear in mind.

On a positive note, pregnant and breastfeeding women can take vitamin B12 quite confidently when it is taken orally in amounts not exceeding the recommended daily allowance (2.6 mcg/day if pregnant and 2.8 mcg/day if breastfeeding)

As can be seen, vitamin B12 is a relatively safe vitamin with very few adverse side effects even when taken in large doses. More problems than not arise from B12 deficiency than they do from ingestion of the vitamin itself.

The Side Effects Of Vitamin B12

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Vitamin E Side Effects

The medical dictionary defines a side effect as a peripheral or secondary effect, especially an undesirable side effect of a drug or therapy. Vitamin E, taken from food sources alone, doesn't have any documented evidence of any side effects. But vitamin E as a supplement has potential side effects when it interacts with other medications or any other conditions.

Some of the common side effects that may occur due to vitamin E intake are allergic experiences like breathing difficulty, closing of the throat, and swelling of the lips, tongue or face. Some of the less serious side effects are fatigue, weakness, headache, nausea, blurred vision and diarrhea. Usually these side effects stop after stopping the vitamin E intake.

Vitamin

When a vitamin E supplement is taken with other medications for other diseases, there are interactions that are harmful. Vitamin E is known to cause increased risk of hemorrhage in those individuals who take worfin for anticoagulation or those who are deficient in vitamin K. Contradictory results emerge from studies on potential interactions between a combination of antioxidant supplementation (vitamin C, E, selenium and beta-carotene) and cholesterol-lowering agents. A three-year, randomized, controlled trial shows decreased effects of cholesterol-lowering agents and another five-year study shows no effect by the same antioxidant combination.

Vitamin E Side Effects

Vitamin E inhibits the uptake by cells of the antidepressant drug desimpramine, antipsychotic drug chlorpromazine, beta-blockers for high blood pressure and the anti-malarial drug chloroquine.

Increased gamma-tocopherol levels in the blood are associated with a reduced risk of developing prostrate cancer. Vitamin E, when taken in the form of an alpha-tocopherol supplement may lower gamma-tocopherol levels in the blood.

The condition under which the supplement is taken has a significant side effect. When oxidative stress is mild and when vitamin E containing tocopherols is taken alone without other antioxidants like vitamin C, it acts as a pro-oxidant rather than antioxidant because of less generation of free radicals under mild oxidative stress and the absence of vitamin C to neutralize the tocopherol radical. Hence, vitamin E should be taken along with other antioxidants.

Vitamin E Side Effects

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