What Are The Benefits Of Sublingual Vitamin B12?

A water-soluble vitamin, B12 is an essential nutrient that your body can store for several years. B12 deficiencies are not common, but elderly and vegetarian populations are more at risk for deficiencies. According to MayoClinic.com, B12 is needed to make DNA, red blood cells, nerve cells, as well as for digestion. As a tablet taken orally, it may not absorb well in the stomach or intestines; therefore, there are some advantages to trying a sublingual B12 supplement.

Absorption

MayoClinic.com states that B12 deficiencies are rare, however, your doctor may have recommended you take a supplement. According to NutraSanus.com, sublingual B12 supplements are better absorbed by the body. Instead of having to pass through the stomach and the intestines, where it might not be absorbed well, B12 can be placed directly into circulation sublingually. There are blood vessels on the lining underneath the tongue which absorb the vitamin. Sublingual applications can allow for a faster and more complete absorption of the vitamin. Talk to your doctor before taking any new vitamins or supplements.

Neurological Health

Vitamin B12 is crucial in maintaining the health of your nerve cells. According to MayoClinic.com, low levels of B12 can lead to ataxia, which is characterized by shaky movements and an unsteady gait. You can also experience tingling sensations in your muscles, muscle weakness, spastic movements and incontinence. The website also states that your B12 level need not be significantly low in order to experience these symptoms; Elderly and vegetarian populations are at risk for B12 deficiency as well as those with diagnosed anemia, liver disorders or recovering alcoholics. If you feel you may not be getting enough B12, talk to your doctor about sublingual B12 before trying it.

Homocysteine Levels

Homocysteine is an amino acid that the American Heart Association's website states may play a role in heart disease. High levels can result in atherosclerosis by potentially damaging the inner lining of arteries, which can lead to clotting. The site also states that B12 can help to break down homocysteine, essentially lowering homcysteine levels and reducing the risk of heart disease. An article entitled "The Neurological Manifestations of Vitamin B12 Deficiency" by Dr. N.K. Sethi and colleagues was published in 2005 in "The Internet Journal of Nutrition and Wellness." The article states that B12 is needed for the breakdown of homocysteine to methionine. Inadequate B12 levels can lead to a build-up of homocysteine; thus, potentially, sublingual B12 supplementation can reduce homocysteine levels.

Memory

Taking a sublingual B12 can help prevent memory deterioration. At Jordan University Hospital in Jordan, 838 patients' blood samples were analyzed along with their symptoms and demographics. The results were published in the "Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal" in July 2009. Researchers discovered that within the population, B12 deficiency was high. These low levels of B12 were associated with memory impairment among patients in the population.