Today’s copy of the regular newsletter I receive by email from H&B is entitled De-mist-ifying the causes of brain fog and is all about B12.
Much of the info they include seems accurate to me, with one glaring omission. Not one single mention of PA. It is, apparently, the elderly, vegans and vegetarians who are at most risk of b12 deficiency. The answer, unsurprisingly, is to buy H&Bs products.
I know they exist to make money, but it strikes me as highly irresponsible not to make any reference to PA or to considering consulting a GP. Also foolish, as they could have promoted the oral sprays they sell.
I have written to them to complain and thought I’d share here in case of interest to other members.
Admin edits - please note that this is a prime example of how advertising hype works and some of the tactics that make it obvious that something is advertising hype - eg promoting own products as a solution to a problem
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They also incorrectly reference (in parentheses) that B12 is also known as cynocobalamin.
Are there H&B products that PA sufferers can use?
I suppose that they're not selling injections so maybe avoid talking about PA altogether.
All of this is such a minefield.
I also personally believe that Pernicious Anemia needs a rebrand. I think it needs to become known as autoimmune gastritis. Then we'd know that injections and Drs are required.
Pernicious anemia is really an outdated term that leads to even more mess and confusion. And for a disease that can lead to elevated levels of confusion, it's all a bit too much to swallow!
Cyanocobamalin was the name of the original B12 injections and I have been having them since 1972 - now more than fifty years ago - in fact my next one is due on Monday
1.5 micrograms could only ever be sufficient in someone who has a properly-functioning entero-hepatic recirculation of B12.
helping the body absorb folic acid
I usually take "absorb" to mean getting something from mouth, gut, skin, into out bloodstreams for onward distribution. (Well, roughly that.) Does anyone think gut absorption of folic acid is improved by B12?
Breast-feeding mothers may need an extra 0.5mcg a day, particularly if they’re also vegetarian or vegan.
Being vegetarian or vegan doesn't increase absolute requirement for B12. Breast-feeding mothers need more B12 (than similar/same people not breast-feeding) but hat need exists whether they get it from consuming vast quantities of meat or a tablet.
What happens if I consume too much vitamin B12?
There’s no set upper limit for vitamin B12, as there is very little evidence that too much is harmful. But the NHS advises having no more than 2mcg a day.
They quote this NHS site which actually says:
What does the Department of Health and Social Care advise?
You should be able to get all the vitamin B12 you need by eating a varied and balanced diet.
If you take vitamin B12 supplements, do not take too much as this could be harmful.
Taking 2mg or less a day of vitamin B12 in supplements is unlikely to cause any harm.
It is the greatest of my allegations that a company the size of H&B, with the numerous professionals they employ, their vast turnover, and their claims to provide meaningful advice on issues of health cannot tell the difference between a MILLIGRAM (mg) and a MICROGRAM (mcg).
Thanks for all the replies and for highlighting the errors in their info that I didn’t know. Their inability to tell the difference between MG and MCG is indeed shocking.
It maybe that they are assuming that PA suffers can’t benefit from the oral sprays they sell, but that’s wrong of course and so, if it is their assumption, further highlights their lack of research.
Rebranding of PA is an interesting idea and could well help.
Hope everyone who is experiencing these extra high temps across the UK and elsewhere is staying cool!
Thank you for this and thanks to those who have commented.
I can't help but feel there's a fresh young aspiring journalist newbie in the position of the writer for their newsletter who doesn't have a clue about what they are saying.
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