stress and b12

[19191919]

i heard that stress uses up more b12 how does this happen. I have noticed the neuro symptoms worsening with it, but since I had a stoke its hard to get a clear picture. Any thoughts appreciated before I go and see my GP .

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Not really much on the scientific side but personal observation on my part.

My theory would be that stress kicks of processes in the brain that mean more B12 is needed there.  Not sure if anyone knows the full biochemistry of stress in the brain.

Its also possible that its a general drain on energy use - think stress can mean you burn up calories quicker and you may be fidgeting etc more without being conscious of it.

[fbirder in reply to Gambit62]

Stress is one of those things that seems to affect just about every bodily function.

I like your theory of burning more calories when stressed. 

[pvanderaa in reply to Gambit62]

I agree a lot of brain activity is involved in stress.  But there is also a physical side as well. 

 However, physical muscular work or activity is different. I find myself feeling better the longer I work once I get going,  I can over do it quite easily as I feeling good.  I presume B12 is being released from the IM injection sites.

In either case my urine is always much darker so I presume my B12 reserves are being used up.

I find taking 2x 800 mg of folic acid helps me get through my daily commute.  Although smooth and not apparently stressful on some days, the folic acid does help.  So stress may not be directly related to B12 (my levels are high in any case) but more to general metabolism that B12 does support.

Thinking work is also different from stress. However, before I had my ulcer and subsequent stomach surgery, I used to drive myself into stress and high stomach acidity to think better.  

[19191919 in reply to pvanderaa]

thank you. i did find elements of that too. i do classes and this has helped. its this falling around that comes more with stress, but it comes at other times too particulrly when tired, the stroke is clearly a factor too. have to take pain killers too, but also rely on my mind and distraction to overcome pain. may be its burn out. i hope things may settle when less stress about. thank you for your input.

[pvanderaa in reply to 19191919]

B12 can also seem to heighten a sense of pain.  

If you have had nerve damage such as the loss of the mylin sheath due to a B12 deficiency, it is thought that this is repairable.  My experience is that it takes a very long time and any repair is pretty weak in that it seems the return quickly.

When the mylin sheath is repaired, the signal strength in the nerve is stronger which the brain will interpret as pain for a few days until it recalibrates to the stronger signal.

If you tell yourself that the heightened pain is an illusion due to nerve repair.  You can relax and the stress goes away too.

That said, I find any kind of tooth pain unbearable but muscular pain I can deal with.

Are you also supplementing with Vit B6 and a daily multivitamin?  I also take D3 and TMG.

[19191919 in reply to pvanderaa]

Hiya P. Thank you once again its all terribly relevant. will ensure I take the supplements you suggest. Thank you so much for caring. x

[Secondchance]

I have found symptoms worse when I feel stressed, tired or after more exercise. Alcohol also makes mine worse. I need more B12 with any of these. I did read an article somewhere related to increased B12 required with exercise.

[pvanderaa in reply to Secondchance]

Alcohol, although it does not react with B12 directly, does consume to other B vitamins that B12 needs to do its job.

I can drink alcohol, but if I do, the hangover lasts around 4 days (last time I checked).  I've gone off any alcohol completely.

[19191919 in reply to pvanderaa]

Thanks for the info will pass it on to a friend with PA who drinks like a fish x