Vitamin B-12 And GBS I doubt that many HSI members have been diagnosed with the relatively rare Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) - a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by the destruction of the myelin sheaths that surround and protect the nerves. But I know at least one member is coping with GBS. Her name is Kathy, and her questions about GBS prompted instructive answers from HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., who has some excellent information for all of us about supplementing with vitamin B-12. In an e-mail, Kathy wrote: "I was diagnosed last Aug with Guillain-Barre Syndrome. I had never heard of it before and I really have no idea why I got it. I am still very tired and therefore the doctor did a blood test for B12 and found mine to be very low so he prescribed 1000 mg of B-12 per day. I found a timed released 1200 mg of B-12 and I am taking that with the hope it will help. I wondered if the low B-12 could be a cause or effect of the GBS? "Another question is how can I get more B-12 in my diet? Can age make B-12 harder to get out of your diet? I am only 52 years old and I know from my hospice volunteering that many older people, men it seems, get B-12 shots so is this another problem with aging?" In general, most of us absorb vitamins less effectively as we age. So B-12, like other nutrients, doesn't reach the system quite as well as it did when we were young pups. But according to Dr. Spreen, there are steps we can take to help B-12 do its best work. Here's Dr. Spreen's response to Kathy's questions: "Guillian-Barre is a mystifying nerve problem. You're VERY lucky to have your B-12 level come back low (with the range of normal used today the level has to be ridiculously low to be picked up by the test as abnormal). "I had many chances to recommend B-12 for shingles (for which it works well, since there are no 'cures' I was free to prescribe it without having to worry about not adhering to medical convention). However, I did not get an opportunity to try it for Guillain-Barre, which was too bad, because I think it should help (even with normal blood levels). B-12 works on the nerve sheath, which is irritated in GBS. "The daily dose is fine, and could be continued for a long time (I'm sure it's 1000 mcg, though, and not mg). However, I'd suggest a few changes: first, forget time-release form. It's hard enough for the body to absorb without putting it in a pill designed NOT to release it. In fact, any oral form cannot be counted on. I'd suggest the sub-lingual route, meaning under-the-tongue. "My other suggestion would be to use methyl-B-12, instead of cyano- or hydroxo-B-12. It's harder to find and more expensive, but worth every penny." As for dietary sources, Dr. Spreen says that B-12 is only available in any reasonable amount in red meat, "no matter what the vegans say about legumes having enough." To Your Good Health, Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute | 
