Vitamin B12 and Folate are indispensable vitamins for some
of the crucial physiological processes in the body such as cellular metabolism,
especially in DNA synthesis, healthy red blood cell formation, methylation, and
mitochondrial metabolism, and the function of the central nervous system.
B12 deficiency can affect individuals of all ages. People
who eat little or no animal foods, such as vegetarians and vegans, might not
get enough vitamin B12 from their diets. Only animal foods have vitamin B12
naturally. When pregnant women and women who breastfeed their babies are strict
vegetarians or vegans, their babies might also not get enough vitamin B12.
Therefore, Vegetarians and the elderly are at higher risk of vitamin B12
deficiency. Among the elderly, vitamin B12 deficiency occurs in about 20% of
the population; more than 60% of these deficiencies are due to food-cobalamin
malabsorption syndrome caused by gastrointestinal problems. But in the elderly
vitamin B12 deficiency is often unrecognized because the clinical
manifestations are subtle. People of all age groups may develop folate
deficiency however primary age groups affected by Folate deficiency include
women of childbearing age, children, pregnant women, and older people.
A study conducted in 2019 in Haryana, (Northern India),
indicates that the magnitude of folate insufficiency and vitamin B12 deficiency
in women of reproductive age is a substantial public health concern.
Low levels or deficiency of Vitamin B12 and Folate have
serious effects on health. This may result in negative clinical manifestations
such as elevated levels of homocysteine, anemia, psychiatric disorders like
depression, and cardiovascular diseases.
Our Formulation
Unived’s Basic B12 and Folate is formulated with vitamins in
their naturally biologically active form and in the right dosage unlike
synthetic versions of vitamins in many other supplements that are not
biologically active and that contain high dosages of Vitamins than required.
For example, it is known that the total amount of vitamin
B12 that is absorbed increases with vitamin B12 intake but that the percentage
absorption decreases with increasing doses because of the saturation of the
absorption mechanisms [2]. Unived Basics offer Vitamin B12 at an ideal and
recommended dosage of 2.2mcg for maximum absorption.
Mode of action:
Vitamin B12:
- Acts as a methyl donor to membrane phospholipids,
neurotransmitters, amines, DNA and RNA, and myelin-based proteins. - Helps to transform methyl tetrahydrofolate, the circulating
form of folate to tetrahydrofolate, the active form of folate that helps in the
synthesis of nucleotides and DNA. - Plays a role in cellular respiration and energy.
- Converts homocysteine to methionine.
- Forms new red blood cells through proliferation of
erythroblasts (immature red blood cells).
Vitamin B9:
Participates in the methionine cycle and biological
methylation reactions.
Production and maintenance of new cells, for DNA synthesis
and RNA synthesis through methylation, and prevents changes to DNA.
Folate, in the form of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate
(5-methylTHF), transfers a methyl group to homocysteine, thereby generating
methionine and THF thus lowering the levels of homocysteine.
References:
1. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB12-Consumer/
2. O'Leary F, Samman S. Vitamin B12 in health and disease.
Nutrients. 2010 Mar;2(3):299-316. doi: 10.3390/nu2030299. Epub 2010 Mar 5.
PMID: 22254022; PMCID: PMC3257642.
3. Andrès E, Loukili NH, Noel E, Kaltenbach G, Abdelgheni
MB, Perrin AE, Noblet-Dick M, Maloisel F, Schlienger JL, Blicklé JF. Vitamin
B12 (cobalamin) deficiency in elderly patients. CMAJ. 2004 Aug 3;171(3):251-9.
doi: 10.1503/cmaj.1031155. PMID: 15289425; PMCID: PMC490077.
4. Scaglione F, Panzavolta G. Folate, folic acid and
5-methyltetrahydrofolate are not the same thing. Xenobiotica. 2014
May;44(5):480-8. doi: 10.3109/00498254.2013.845705. Epub 2014 Feb 4. PMID:
24494987.
5. Oh, Robert C., and David L. Brown. "Vitamin B12
deficiency." American family physician 67.5 (2003): 979-986.
6. Butola, Lata Kanyal, et al. "Vitamin B12-do you know
everything." Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences 9.42
(2020): 3139-47.
7. Romain, M., et al. "The role of vitamin B12 in the
critically ill—a review." Anaesthesia and intensive care 44.4 (2016):
447-452.
9. Koury, Mark J., and Prem Ponka. "New insights into
erythropoiesis: the roles." Annu. Rev. Nutr 24 (2004): 105-131.
10. Reena Das et al., Vitamin B12 Status in Women of
Reproductive Age in Rural Areas in Haryana, Northern India (P10-117-19),
Current Developments in Nutrition, Volume 3, Issue Supplement_1, June 2019,
nzz034.P10–117 19, https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzz034.P10-117-19
11. Warzyszynska, Joanna E., and Young-In J. Kim.
"Folate in human health and disease." eLS (2014).
12. Merrell BJ, McMurry JP. Folic Acid. [Updated 2022 Nov
4]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing;
2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554487/
