Vitamin B12 Helps Prevent Canker Sores

	February 13, 2009
Vitamin B12 helps prevent canker sores

The painful condition known as recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS), or canker sores, might be prevented by supplementing with vitamin B12 according to research published in the January/February issue of The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. The cause of RAS is unknown, although local trauma and stress have been proposed as the most likely triggers.

Dr Ilia Volko and colleagues at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Calit Health Services in Beer-Sheva, Israel gave 58 men and women with RAS 1,000 micrograms sublingual vitamin B12 or a placebo to be taken before sleep for six months. Blood samples were evaluated for serum vitamin B12 levels at the beginning of the study. Participants were instructed to keep an “Aphthous Ulcers Diary” which was reviewed monthly by the research staff. Duration of aphthous stomatitis episodes, monthly number of ulcers, and pain severity were tracked in each group.

During the last two months of the trial, the average duration of outbreaks, number of ulcers, and pain decreased in the group treated with vitamin B12. By the end of the treatment period, 74 percent of those who received vitamin B12 and 32 percent of those who received the placebo had achieved remission, defined as the absence of aphthous ulcers. No differences were observed in the treatment group between those with varying initial serum vitamin B12 levels.

Because over 80 percent of the participants who received vitamin B12 were not classified as deficient in the vitamin due to having serum levels higher than 250 picograms per milliliter, the authors questioned the possibility of correction of vitamin B12 deficiency as a mechanism of action against aphthous ulcer, although they admitted that the identification of functional deficiency would have been improved by the inclusion of additional blood measurements such as methylmalonic acid and homocysteine. They suggest that vitamin B12 may have some still unrecognized functions. Since response to the vitamin took about four months, it was hypothesized that the oral treatment dose of 1,000 micrograms may be low. Prior research has demonstrated that injections of higher doses of vitamin B12 promote more rapid responses.

“Vitamin B12 seems to be an effective treatment for patients suffering from RAS regardless of their serum vitamin B12 level,” the authors conclude. “This treatment is simple and inexpensive and has no known significant toxic effects.”

“The frequency of RAS is as much as 25 percent in the general population,” observed Dr Volkov, who is a lecturer in Ben-Gurion University's Department of Family Medicine in its Faculty of Health Sciences. "Until now, there has been no optimal therapeutic approach."

Prevention

Today’s consumers are inundated with contradictory medical claims about vitamins and nutritional supplements, making it difficult to choose a science-based program to protect their precious health.

To take the guesswork out of what aging humans should do extend their productive lives, the Life Extension Foundation publishes an annual list of the Top Ten best vitamins and dietary supplements documented, including hormones and drugs.

When compiling this Top Ten list, the primary factor Life Extension considers is the preponderance of scientific evidence that substantiates the biological benefits of each dietary supplement recommended.

Next, Life Extension examines the cost-to-benefit ratio to enable consumers to obtain the maximum degree of protection at a reasonable price. This means that more expensive choices are ruled out if a lower cost item provides a similar degree of effectiveness.

Finally, convenience plays a very important part. Life Extension wants to make sure that consumers obtain the maximum potency available in the fewest numbers of capsules or tablets swallowed each day.

Top ten nutritional supplements

Multivitamins and minerals (Life Extension Mix)
Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil)
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
Mitochondrial function (Mitochondrial Energy Optimizer)
Hormone balance (DHEA, etc.)
Brain cell function (Cognitex)
Bone health (for women and men)
Prostate health (for men)
Neural and hepatic health (SAMe)
Cardiovascular health (aspirin)
Vitamin K, Gamma-Tocopherol (Super Booster)

The UltraMind Solution: The Simple Plan to Defeat Depression, Overcome Anxiety and Sharpen Your Mind,
by Mark Hyman, MD, 3-time NY Times bestselling author and pioneer in the cutting-edge field of functional medicine.

Why is it that there seems to be an epidemic of people with mood problems such as depression and irritability; attention and behavior problems such as ADD/ADHD and autism; and aging problems such as dementia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's?

Are we all simply destined to lose our focus, concentration and memory while at the same time becoming depressed, anxious and tired all the time?

According to a fascinating book, the answer is...of course not!

And there’s a simple 7-step solution that you can use right now to "unleash your body's hidden ability to dramatically improve mood, memory and thinking speed," according to Mehmet Oz, MD, who endorsed the book.

This new book, The UltraMind Solution: The Simple Plan to Defeat Depression, Overcome Anxiety and Sharpen Your Mind, is by Mark Hyman, MD, 3-time NY Times bestselling author and pioneer in the cutting-edge field of functional medicine.

How to increase your body's own natural flypaper-like sticky substance to gobble up and eliminate toxins that are dulling your mind...
What substance you eat every day that literally hardens and encrusts your brain, slowing your thinking and causing mood swings...
How 2 of the most powerful natural chemicals in your body, when out of balance, can send your brain into a thick fog (and make it harder to fit into your jeans)...

Enhanced Cinsulin® with Glucose Management Proprietary Blend

Unregulated and elevated blood sugar can present future problems if not taken seriously and managed vigorously through diet and exercise. Studies reveal that even active, health-conscious adults can experience higher than desired blood sugar levels as they age. In addition to a proper diet and regular exercise, certain minerals and plant-based nutrients, such as the extracts from cinnamon, coffee berry, green tea, and banaba leaf, and water-soluble quercetin, can help support healthy blood sugar levels in aging adults.

CellSensor™ Gauss Meter

You might not know it, but certain areas in your home and work have powerful electromagnetic fields (EMFs) that can inflict severe damage to cellular DNA. Protect yourself against this invisible radiation by testing areas that you frequent with a gauss meter, a device that measures the strength of EMFs. Once you identify where EMF radiation hotspots are, simply avoid these areas.

The Cell Sensor™ is a handheld gauss meter that instantly measures EMFs from all sources. The CellSensor™ is the only gauss meter on the market that can measure both cell phone radiation and electromagnetic fields (EMFs).

Life Extension Update

What's Hot

Life Extension magazine

If you have questions or comments concerning this issue or past issues of Life Extension Update, send them to ddye@lifeextension.com or call 1-800-678-8989.

For longer life,