Is vitamin b12 good for fatty liver

Minerals are, in many ways, the unheralded and often forgotten heroes of keeping our bodies functioning at their best. While the nutrients, carbohydrates, proteins and fat may be better well known, minerals are equally vital for helping us get and stay healthy.

They play a key role in combatting disease, helping your body heal, managing ongoing chronic health problems such as high blood pressure, minimizing the impact of such common maladies as headaches and PMS, helping children grow up strong, enhancing mental performance at all ages, and fatigue. They truly are your secret weapon for getting and staying your healthiest.

In this easy-to-read and easy-to-use guide, pH Lab’s team of recognized medical doctors and specialists tell you about the role minerals play with common health issues along with detailed information about individual minerals. You’ll also learn more about the relationship between minerals and prescription medicines, why you need more than routine blood tests to see what minerals your body may need, and where you can get these tests.

LIFESTYLE CHOICES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO MINERAL DEFICIENCY

SODAS

Phosphoric acid is used to enhance the flavor of many carbonated drinks. It provides that tanginess that we enjoy. Although phosphorus is an integral part of bones, high phosphorous intake, such as from the acidic forms found in sodas, can cause essential healthy bone minerals such as calcium and magnesium to get pushed away while phosphates take their place leading to brittle bones (osteoporosis).

ALCOHOL

Chronic excessive alcohol users frequently have multiple nutritional and mineral deficits. Alcohol has strong diuretic effects which may contribute to loss of minerals in the urine. There are other mechanisms by which alcohol depletes minerals and affects bone formation. These are complex and technical issues, which are beyond the scope of this book and will not be addressed.

COFFEE

In some older studies, increased coffee intake was mentioned as a minor contributor to osteoporosis; recent studies did not find any differences. It is also noteworthy that different types of coffee contain different amounts of minerals. Overall regular use of one cup of coffee per day does not seem to have any adverse effects on minerals and bone health, while high use may.

WATER WITH LOW MINERAL CONTENT

The minerals in drinking water from a municipal source or from bottled water differ. Clinical studies suggest that drinking water that is rich in bicarbonate and potassium lowered calcium excretion in the urine and bone resorption. That means bone is being better preserved. Mineral waters rich in potassium, magnesium, medium calcium and low sodium content are useful for overall health not just for bone and cardiovascular benefits. Fluids lacking in minerals may be counterproductive to health.

STRESS

Stress increases cortisol levels and also interferes with other mineral-reabsorbing hormones. This may cause increased urinary frequency, decreased mineral absorption and loss of essential minerals.

LACK OF MINERAL-RICH FOODS

Many individuals may be lacking in minerals because they do not eat foods that are rich in minerals. It is generally difficult to see the results of such mineral deficits because the clinical signs maybe vague and nonspecific. For example, some of the short term clinical signs of mineral deficiencies may be rather nonspecific, such as fatigue, appetite changes, constipation, headaches, sleep disturbances, muscle tightness and cramps, changes in menstruation and premenstrual syndromes, hair loss, skin conditions.

Oral vitamin B12 supplementation demonstrated improved serum liver enzyme, glucose and malondialdehyde levels in NAFLD patients. ©Getty Images

Related tags: Vitamin b12, NAFLD, Supplements, Glucose

Oral vitamin B12 supplementation, specifically 1000 μg cyanocobalamin daily, for 12 weeks demonstrated improved serum liver enzyme, blood glucose and malondialdehyde levels in patients suffering from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

However, the changes did not reach significant levels than the placebo group; hence, further studies with larger sample sizes, different doses and types of vitamin B12 should be conducted, said a team of researchers.

The findings were documented in their research titled “The effects of vitamin B12 supplementation on metabolic profile of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomized controlled trial”​, published in the journal Scientific Reports.

“To our knowledge, rare human studies have evaluated the association between serum vitamin B12 and NAFLD. However, these studies have revealed inconsistent results. Some researchers have reported similar vitamin B12 levels in NAFLD patients compared to controls, whereas others showed lower or even higher levels,” ​said the team.

To test their hypothesis, a total of 40 patients, divided equally into intervention and placebo groups respectively, were recruited from the Gastroenterology Clinic and Radiology Center of Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, from January to February 2020. The male and female recruits were aged between 18 and 80.

Potential ingredient​

The team found that vitamin B12 supplementation significantly decreased serum levels of homocysteine compared to the placebo group. Past research defined higher serum homocysteine might alter intracellular lipid metabolism, resulting in liver steatosis (Werstuck, G. H. et al.​, 2001). Hence, the vitamin might have beneficial effects on NAFLD outcomes by decreasing hyperhomocysteinemia.

The serum alanine transaminase in the intervention group also decreased significantly but was not significant compared to the placebo group.

Other factors measured include fasting blood glucose and serum levels of malondialdehyde. In the present study, vitamin B12 supplementation did not significantly improve the markers of glucose metabolism. However, the decrease in serum levels of the fasting blood glucose was more pronounced in the vitamin B12 group than in the placebo group.

In addition, previous studies showed that levels of malondialdehyde, a marker of lipid peroxidation, were increased in NAFLD patients. But in the current study, the substance decreased significantly in the intervention group. However, it was non-significant compared to the placebo group.

Overall, between‑group comparisons did not reveal a significant difference. Liver biopsies could not be done on the recruits due to ethics; hence, the team used elastography assessments to evaluate the degree of liver steatosis and fibrosis more accurately and quantitatively.

“More human studies are needed to elucidate the relationships between folate or cobalamin deficiency and NAFLD. Accordingly, for the first time, the present study evaluated the effects of vitamin B12 supplementation on serum liver enzymes, grade of hepatic steatosis, and metabolic profiles in patients with NAFLD in a randomized controlled trial model,”​ concluded the researchers.

Source:​ Scientific Reports

“The effects of vitamin B12 supplementation on metabolic profile of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomized controlled trial”​

DOI:​ 10.1038/s41598-022-18195-8​

Authors:​ Hamid Reza Talari et al.​

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Related topics: Research, Supplements, Medical Nutrition, All Asia-Pacific, Blood sugar management, Inflammation, Dosage forms & delivery formats, Minerals

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