Uterine fibroids are noncancerous tumor growths in the uterus. Fibroids can vary in size from an apple seed to a baseball, and they can appear as a single fibroid or in a colony of several dozens. Past women’s health research has examined the effects of certain foods and supplements on estrogen levels, which may influence the development of fibroids. Vitamin B12 is one vitamin used frequently in these studies, but its exact effects remain unknown.
Signs and Symptoms
In most women, fibroids do not cause any noticeable symptoms. As a result, fibroids are normally found incidentally during a woman’s annual pelvic exam. However, if you have symptomatic fibroids, you may experience heavy, painful and prolonged menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain and pressure, lower back pain, frequent urination, difficulty emptying your bladder and pregnancy and labor complications, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.
Fibroids, Estrogen and Progesterone
The exact cause of fibroids remains unknown. However, research indicates that genetics and hormones may play a role in fibroid development. Estrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate throughout your menstrual cycle and stimulate the growth of the uterine wall. Fibroids contain more estrogen and progesterone receptors than the surrounding unaffected uterine tissue. During pregnancy when estrogen and progesterone levels are consistently high, fibroids grow more rapidly. Lastly, fibroids tend to shrink and their occurrence decreases when estrogen and progesterone levels significantly drop during menopause.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin part of the B complex. Like the other B vitamins, B12 is important for metabolism. In addition, your body uses vitamin B12 for the formation of red blood cells and for the function and maintenance of the central nervous system. A vitamin B12 deficiency can cause certain types of anemia, loss of balance and weakness and tingling in the extremities, according to MedlinePlus, an online health information database from the National Institutes of Health.
Vitamin B12 and Estrogen
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reports that certain foods and supplements contain natural forms of estrogen or can stimulate its production. Past research has attempted to establish a link between vitamin B12 and increased estrogen, which, in turn, could contribute to fibroid development. A study published in the “International Journal for Vitamin Nutrition Research” from 2006 measured the effect of vitamin supplementation, including vitamin B12, on estrogen levels in postmenopausal women. However, estrogen levels were not significantly altered by the supplements. Another study published in “Maturitas” in 2005 showed only a small alteration in vitamin B12 levels in postmenopausal women using an intranasal estrogen spray.
Conclusions
Research has, so far, not shown a link between vitamin B12, estrogen and subsequent fibroid growth. Due to the heavy menstrual bleeding you may experience with fibroids, you may need to actually supplement your diet with vitamin B12 to prevent anemia. As always, discuss fibroid treatment options and possible need for vitamin supplementation with your health care provider before initiating any new regimen.
References
- US Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health: Uterine Fibroids Fact Sheet
- MedlinePlus: Vitamin B12
- National Center for Alternative and Complementary Medicine: Menopausal Symptoms and CAM
- International Journal on Vitamin Nutrition Research: Effects of Short-Term Supplementation with Ascorbate, Folate, and Vitamins B6 and B12 on Inflammatory Factors and Estrogen Levels in Obese Postmenopausal Women
- Maturitas: Intranasal 17beta-Estradiol Treatment and Vitamin B12, Folate and Homocysteine in Menopause
- Health Herbs: Fibroids, Ovarian Cysts, Endometriosis
