Altered Neurotransmitter Metabolites in Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Author(s): Gregory Russell-Jones, Karl J. New

Vitamin B12 deficiency is often associated with neuronal symptoms such as difficulty sleeping, anxiety and depression. Using the Organic Acid Test as a tool it has been possible to examine various neurotransmitter markers to determine how they are altered in functional vitamin B12 deficiency, and therefor try to correlate these alterations with the symptoms. Depending upon the extent and type of functional vitamin B12 deficiency it has been found that lack of methyl B12 activity causes a dramatic increase in the levels of serotonin, dopamine and nor-epinephrine. Potentially the excess dopamine is causative for the increase in anxiety, whilst excess serotonin would eventually cause depression, and the lack of melatonin production, sleep issues. The findings have significant implications in the treatment of anxiety, depression and sleep disorders.