Dr. Mercola: Undervalued Vitamin Slows Brain Shrinkage by as Much as 90 Percent

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“The Power of Bioavailable B Vitamins – What Could Your Life Look Like If You Had More?”
Low levels of B vitamins are becoming more commonplace just as researchers discover exciting new benefits for this valuable family of nutrients. For the sake of your body and brain, I suggest you take advantage of their new findings and, above all, make sure you’re not making these eating and supplement mistakes.

Hardly anyone talks about B vitamins these days.

I believe that’s about to change. With our deteriorating food quality, rising assaults on gut health, and a living environment that becomes more toxic by the day, it’s clear that we need this complex of brain and body nutrients more than ever.
energetic people
Most people are eager to remain mentally sharp, energetic and independent into their later years

As you’ll soon see, researchers are discovering potential benefits of the family of B vitamins that are much greater than we ever imagined.

Because of this, the day we give B vitamins the attention they deserve has finally arrived...

With our changing world and growing search for ways to live a long, healthy and independent life, I think you’ll agree, the timing couldn’t be better.

I invite you to take a fresh look at a group of vitamins that could potentially change the quality of your life for years to come.

Keep in mind, you don’t need to have a flat-out deficiency in any of these vitamins. Surprisingly, many of the subjects in the studies you’re going to hear about didn’t. They just had lower levels.

Increasing their intake of these vitamins made all the difference for these study subjects. Going from low or even routinely recommended minimal levels to optimal levels allowed them to benefit in significant ways!
13 Signs You May Be Low in B Vitamins

Low levels of B vitamins can affect your body in many different ways because of the vitamins’ far-reaching and interrelated effects.
vitamin b deficient woman
A B vitamin complex deficiency can show up in multiple ways

Any one of these common symptoms could be a result of low levels of one or more B vitamins:

    Inability to sleep well
    Fatigue and apathy
    Mental “fog,” confusion, and forgetfulness
    Mood swings and irritability
    Gastrointestinal symptoms
    Joint or muscle discomfort
    Muscle weakness
    Loss of muscle mass
    Numbness or tingling in fingers and toes
    Frequent bruising
    Headaches
    Irritability
    Dry, cracking skin

Because the vitamin B complex is a group of eight major B vitamins that work together, you can impact their synergy just by running low on one.

For example, many of the B complex vitamins are needed for healthy skin. If you’re low in one or two, that can affect the actions of the others.
Why You Could Be at Risk for a Vitamin B Deficiency
lady buying groceries
Packaged processed foods can be low in B vitamins

Fresh, whole foods like meat, fish, dairy, and whole grains provide ample supplies of B vitamins.

Yet once you process those foods, you jeopardize the integrity of the B vitamins as many are sensitive to heat, light, air, and long storage times.

Also, certain groups of people are more likely to have a deficiency or suboptimal levels of one or more B vitamins:

    Those with gut issues (the vitamins may not be absorbed properly)
    Those who regularly drink alcohol
    Vegetarians and vegans
    Those who drink more than four cups of coffee daily
    Those regularly consuming a high-calorie, high-carbohydrate diet with low nutrient value
    Those avoiding key dietary sources of B vitamins, like dairy and whole grains
    Older adults (your ability to produce intrinsic factor for absorption decreases)
    Those taking antacids and proton-pump inhibitors (could interfere with absorption)

B vitamins in general aren’t absorbed well. Add one or more of the above factors and you can easily put yourself at risk for low levels or a deficiency.

One of the key B vitamins whose availability and absorption can be impacted by several of these conditions (especially avoiding animal products) is vitamin B12 or cobalamin.

It’s estimated that 1 in 4 American adults are deficient in this important “energy vitamin,” and nearly half the population may have blood levels considered too low.

A vitamin B12 deficiency can exist for years under the radar without causing symptoms. By the time you start noticing its classic signs of fatigue, mental “fog,” forgetfulness, mood swings, and muscle weakness, you can be significantly deficient.
Some of the Most At-Risk Vitamins – B Vitamins!

As I’ve just pointed out, many of the B vitamins are susceptible to damage from various sources: heat, light, oxygen, and acid and alkaline solutions, as well as storage.

Considering the harsh and high-heat processing methods used to create convenience and packaged foods available today, it’s no surprise that processed foods may be deficient in B vitamins!

Here’s a guide to the B vitamins your body needs each day, the recommended amounts, how they can be damaged during processing and storage, and the important roles they play in your health:

As you view this chart, I invite you to ask yourself an important question: “How might a shortage in this vitamin affect my health and well-being?”
Thiamine (Vitamin B1)
    1.2 mg; 1.4 mg (pregnant and lactating women)
    Sensitive to heat, oxygen, humidity, and light, and very sensitive to alkaline pH
    Essential for metabolism of fats and carbohydrates, energy metabolism for nervous system and muscles*
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
    1.3 mg; 1.6 mg (pregnant and lactating women)
    Sensitive to humidity and light
    Essential for growth and muscle development, eye health, and healthy skin*
Niacin (Vitamin B3)
    16 mg; 18 mg (pregnant and lactating women)
    Stable
    Essential for the proper function of enzymes and a healthy nervous system, skin, nails and GI function*
Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5)
    5 mg; 7 mg (pregnant and lactating women)
    Sensitive to heat and humidity
    A structural element of many coenzymes, plays a central role in energy metabolism and the synthesis of sex hormones*
Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6)
    1.7 mg; 2 mg (pregnant and lactating women)
    Very sensitive to heat, and sensitive to humidity, light and acid pH
    Essential for the body’s utilization of protein and the synthesis of neurotransmitters*
Folate (Vitamin B9)
    400 mcg; 600 mcg (pregnant and lactating women)
    Very sensitive to heat, acid pH and light, and sensitive to humidity
    Required for the production of red blood cells in bone marrow*
Biotin
    30 mcg; 35 (pregnant and lactating women)
    Sensitive to humidity and light
    Supports healthy normal growth, digestion, muscle function, healthy skin and hair, and cellular health*
Cobalamin (Vitamin B12)
    2.4 mcg; 2.8 mcg (pregnant and lactating women)
    Sensitive to heat, oxygen, humidity, and contact with iron or copper
    Supports protein, carbohydrate and fat metabolism, GI and nervous system health, immune function and the healthy production of red blood cells*

The B vitamins most at risk of losing their vitamin activity are in this order (from worst to best): Pyridoxine (B6), Thiamine (B1), Vitamin B12, Folic Acid, Niacin, Biotin, and Riboflavin (B2).
B Complex Vitamins: You Can’t Thrive Without Them
brain & nervous system
Your brain and nervous system can be the first areas to be affected if you are low in certain B vitamins*

The entire family of B vitamins is essential for your health. As we’ve just seen, these water-soluble nutrients are required for your healthy normal:

    Brain and nervous system function*
    Growth and development*
    Immune function*
    Energy production*
    Cell metabolism*
    Organ and tissue health*
    Muscle, skin, and eye health*
    Appetite and digestion*

The B vitamins act as coenzymes and play a key role in the metabolism of carbohydrate, protein, and fat.*

Like a well-oiled machine, B vitamins work together to support energy production and the health of your brain, liver, muscle, nervous and immune systems, skin, and eyes.*

Unlike fat-soluble vitamins and the one exception, vitamin B12, excess amounts aren’t stored in your body. Rather, if not immediately needed, they pass through your body in your urine.

This means you must get the entire B complex of vitamins through diet every day.

Because you need them in the right proportions to each other, I recommend a vitamin B complex rather than individual B vitamins.
Why B Vitamins Are So Crucial for Your Memory
happy man and woman
B vitamins are important for mood, motor function, memory, and nerve and brain health*

When you have a limited supply of B vitamins, your central nervous system can be the first to be affected.*

Omega-3 fatty acids are vitally important for your brain health, and now researchers are finding B vitamins to be valuable as well.

All of the B vitamins are important for brain and nerve cells, but some stand out for their role in supporting memory, cognitive health, and brain performance:  vitamin B1 (thiamine), B3 (niacin), B6 (pyridoxine), B12 (cobalamin), and folate.*

As I previously mentioned, mental fogginess and forgetfulness are two of the top warning signs that you may not be getting enough vitamin B12.

Vitamin B1 is well-known for supporting positive moods and promoting brain function, especially concentration, memory, and reaction time.*

Vitamins B6, B9, and B12 help convert homocysteine into methionine, an important building block for proteins.* If you are low in any of these three B vitamins, that process can be interrupted and your homocysteine levels can rise – an undesirable condition that’s linked to brain shrinkage.*

A recent study demonstrated the powerful effects of these B vitamins on brain tissue.* Either placebo or high doses of folic acid, vitamins B6, and B12 were given daily to a group of 186 men and women over the age of 70.

Those subjects who received the B vitamins and who had healthy levels of omega-3 fatty acids saw significantly slowed brain shrinkage rates after two years – 40 percent less than the placebo group!*

Another study three years later showed similar, but even more striking results.* And this time, omega-3 fatty acid status wasn’t included.

After two years on high doses of folic acid, vitamins B6, and B12, brain shrinkage slowed as much as sevenfold, specifically in the gray matter region related to memory – that’s a decrease of up to 90 percent!*
Are We Seeing the Return of Malnutrition, Courtesy of the “Poor Man’s Diet?”
corn kernel on hand
A limited diet can lead to vitamin B deficiencies

In the early 1900s, the American South experienced a devastating epidemic that was associated with the “poor man’s diet” – a diet consisting mainly of corn products and resulting in malnutrition.

Behind this epidemic was a condition known as pellagra. It resulted from a deficiency in niacin or vitamin B3.

Characteristics of pellagra include mental disturbance, personality changes, and memory loss. Not surprisingly, the condition originates in the gut.

Today we know that vitamin B3 has a powerful influence over mood and mental health.* And so do vitamins B1, B2, B6, B8, and B12.

All of these vitamins’ deficiency signs have an uncanny resemblance to mental health symptoms. Could there possibly be a connection between these signs and today’s declining food values and processed as well as limited food diets?

Researchers have been looking closing at the effects of B vitamins on mood and other mental health issues. They’ve discovered that B vitamins play an important role in supporting:

    The production and function of neurotransmitters*
    The maintenance of myelin, the fatty sheath surrounding your nerve cells*
    The healthy normal communication between brain and nerve cells *
    The synthesis and breakdown of brain chemicals involved in mood control*

In regard to niacin, some researchers now believe that certain individuals need more niacin on a regular basis. They may need ultra-high doses just to remain well!

I believe this is the tip of the iceberg. We’re just starting to learn and appreciate the value that B complex vitamins hold for mental and emotional health.*

And here’s something else researchers have recently learned about B vitamins…
Research Team Discovers New Potential Benefit of Vitamin B Complex Supplementation
air pollution effects
Air pollution affects 92 percent of the world's population

Shockingly, a recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that 92 percent of the world’s population breathes polluted air.

And at least 1 in every 4 worldwide deaths are attributable to these toxic environments.

Poor air quality can cause serious damage to not just your lungs, but also your heart, brain, and other organs.

Exposure to high levels of very fine particulate matter or particles with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less, known as PM2.5, can trigger mutations in genes and interfere with how they work in your body.

Other studies have found PM2.5 can also damage brain cells and T helper cells that play a key role in your immune function.

An international research team, for the first time ever, studied the effects of B vitamin supplementation on healthy, non-smoking subjects exposed to a “hazardous level” of PM2.5 in downtown Toronto.

The researchers found that taking high levels of supplemental B vitamins – specifically vitamins B6, B9, and B12 – for four weeks:

    Reduced genetic damage in 10 gene locations by 28 to 76 percent*
    Protected mitochondrial DNA from the harmful effects of pollution*
    Helped repair some of the genetic damage*

While this is just the first study suggesting these potential benefits, the fact remains that 90 percent of people around the world live in areas where the annual average PM2.5 level is worse than the WHO’s “safe standard” of 10 mcg.

If B vitamins at high dosages could help offset damage to organs and help protect fragile mitochondrial DNA, then I believe they deserve closer scrutiny!*
Not Your Ordinary B Vitamin Complex...
vitamin b complex

I wish I could say it’s easy for everyone to get plenty of B vitamins and to be able to absorb and utilize them properly, but I can’t. As we’ve just seen, there are far too many barriers for many people to get the levels they might need for optimal physical and mental health.*

The B vitamins in your multivitamin provide the basics. From there, I recommend a vitamin B complex for added assurance, especially if you fall into one of the higher risk groups that I mentioned earlier. 

My Vitamin B Complex is a complete complex of the eight major B vitamins in their ideal proportions. Organically bound, these B vitamins contain their co-factors and coenzymes to optimize their bioavailability.

Because they are biologically active, this complex of vitamins can go to work in your body right away.* Plus, they last longer than typical isolated vitamins.

Your metabolism and health depend on the completeness of nutrients. Vitamins don’t exist as isolated compounds in nature. They depend on their co-factors and coenzymes to interact with other vitamins. This is particularly true for B vitamins as their coenzymes are involved in all metabolic processes.

The unique patented formula PANMOL® provides the complete complex of B vitamins and a multitude of organically bound and biologically active B vitamins that you would normally only find in wheat germ or whole grain cereals.

How can this be, you may be wondering? The secret is the plant matrix used to create them!
Bioavailable and Biologically Active B Vitamins – Grown in a Plant Complex!
Lungau, Austria laboratory
The vital phytosubstances for my Vitamin B Complex are grown in Lungau, Austria

I was very excited when I discovered this process...

We’ve partnered with a lab outside of Lungau, Austria that’s doing something very innovative – so unique they’ve patented the process.

They’re creating bioavailable and biologically active B vitamins in a matrix of sprouts grown from organic quinoa seeds!

Let me explain how this works...

To make their patented formula PANMOL®, they start with the eight major synthetic bio-identical B vitamins and organic quinoa, an ancient gluten-free seed that’s closely related to spinach and beets.

The B vitamins are added to the water used for sprouting the quinoa seeds. During the sprouting process, the sprouts take up the vitamin-saturated “broth” and incorporate them into the plant. When the sprouts reach the ideal stage, they’re harvested and powderized.

The end result is a B vitamin complex that:

    Has the B vitamins organically bound to the plant for food-based benefits
    Contains the eight familiar B vitamins and a multitude of well-balanced and biologically active B vitamins complete with co-factors and coenzymes
    May be better absorbed in your body than regular isolated synthetic B vitamins*

By using a patented stage-by-stage procedure, this lab has been able to develop a concentrated and complex life source of micronutrients that, until now has never been achieved in biological research.

But we didn’t stop there. We added one more special nutrient to our unique formula…
Next… We Added Japanese Benfotiamine for Enhanced Bioavailability and Cellular Support*

European doctors have been using a little known, yet special form of vitamin B1 or thiamine for decades to:

    Support healthy endothelial function and cardiovascular health*
    Help protect against oxidative stress of brain and nerve tissue*
    Support healthy cardiac muscle cell function*
    Support healthy kidney function*
    Support healthy vision*

What’s truly unique about benfotiamine is that it is fat-soluble. This unusual trait allows it to enter your cells with much greater ease than regular water-soluble thiamine. It also remains active in your body for a longer period.

Because benfotiamine passes through cell membranes so easily, its enhanced bioavailability and bioactivity potential help protect cells, tissues and organs.*
benfotiamine crosses cell walls
Fat-soluble benfotiamine crosses cell membranes with ease

And since it is a form of thiamine, it’s ideal for supporting your cognitive function, nervous and musculoskeletal systems, and digestion.* A study even shows benfotiamine may help decrease the production of amyloid plaque in the brain.*

As you already know, thiamine helps convert carbohydrates and fats into glucose or fuel for your body. It’s also used to regulate glucose metabolism.*

Whenever you eat simple carbohydrates or sugars that turn into glucose in your body, you automatically need more vitamin B1 or thiamine to handle its metabolism.

Benfotiamine supports healthy thiamine levels in your body, which in turn promotes optimal production of the enzyme thiamine pyrophosphate, or TPP.

This is what makes benfotiamine especially valuable… TPP plays a role in maintaining healthy advanced glycation end product (AGE) activity. Studies show that benfotiamine disrupts three major pathways that can lead to the formation of toxic substances in your body, including AGEs.*
FIRST to Market: There’s Simply Nothing Else Like My Vitamin B Complex – Order Today While Supplies Last!

I’m proud to say that we are the first to be bringing this one-of-a-kind B vitamin complex to market.

My Vitamin B Complex is a truly unique product:

    Contains the patented PANMOL® vitamin B complex
    The B vitamins are organically bound to the quinoa sprouts for enhanced bioavailability and potential benefits*
    Contains more than just the eight familiar B vitamins – It contains a multitude of well-balanced and biologically active B vitamins complete with co-factors and coenzymes
    May be better absorbed in your body than regular isolated synthetic B vitamins*
    Contains fat-soluble Benfotiamine that can cross cell membranes with greater ease for enhanced thiamine bioavailability and cellular support in your body and brain*

We’ve always known that the B complex of vitamins was essential for a healthy body and brain. Yet, what researchers are now discovering is remarkable!

The potential benefits they have uncovered go above and beyond, and, in my opinion, are very significant. I believe they provide another important way for you to take control of your health. Why not take advantage of them? 

Order your supply of Vitamin B Complex today and see what extra bioavailable B vitamins can do for your life!

P.S. Don’t forget, my Money Back Guarantee makes your Vitamin B Complex order risk-free. You must be satisfied with your purchase or you may return it. (Please see full return policy details below.)
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Top 5 Frequently Asked Questions

    1. Q: “I take a multivitamin supplement. If I take B Vitamin Complex will I get too many B vitamins?”

    A: Because B vitamins are water-soluble and are not stored in your body, you can’t take too many. Your body will utilize only what is needed. Keep in mind the studies you read about – they all used high levels of B vitamins!
    2. Q: “Are the levels of the B vitamins measured before the sprouting process or in the finished product?”

    A: What you see on the label (and the Nutrition Facts) is what is in the finished product. This is a very controlled process which is why we get the exact levels we want in the end product.
    3. Q: “I eat a grain-free, low-carb diet. What about the quinoa that’s used for sprouting – isn’t that a grain?”

    A: Considered holy by the Incas in ancient times, quinoa is a pseudo-grain, unlike wheat. Although we cook quinoa like a grain, it is actually a seed. Quinoa contains no gluten and isn’t a common allergen.

    We start with organic quinoa seeds and the sprouting process uses up the quinoa’s pro-inflammatory sugars and eliminates antigens. The sprouted quinoa plants with the organically bound B complex vitamin are then powderized. This powder is very different from quinoa flour, which still contains antigens and carbohydrates.
    4. Q: “Are the vitamins in the Vitamin B Complex synthetic like other B vitamin supplements?”

    A: Our lab starts their patented process with synthetic bio-identical B vitamins, but that’s where the similarities end.

    During the sprouting process, the B vitamins become organically bound to the organic quinoa sprouts. Because they are incorporated into the plant, they are no longer isolated. The B vitamins are now complete nutrients with coenzymes and co-factors to provide the potential for improved absorption, unlike typical synthetic B vitamins.
    5. Q: “I currently use Vitamin B12 Energy Booster Spray, but the Vitamin B Complex contains B12. Should I take both?”

    A: The Vitamin B Complex contains 6 mcg of Vitamin B12 or cobalamin, which is more than double the daily recommended amount (by traditional standards). My B12 Energy Booster contains one milligram (mg) per serving, which is considerably higher. If you are in a high-need group (many people are) – eating a vegetarian diet, over 50, or have digestive issues that would prevent you from absorbing B12 – then I recommend you take both. The amount of B12 in my Vitamin B Complex may not be enough for you..

    Vitamin B Complex contains B12 in the form of cobalamin. As you know, I recommend taking the methylcobalamin form of B12. The Panmol vitamin B complex starts with a mixture of methylcobalamin, cyanocobalamin, and adensylcobalamin (which is converted methylcobalamin – the form you want).

    The resulting form in the harvested complex is labeled cobalamin and includes all the different forms. Because it is now organically bound to the plant and no longer in isolated form, the end result B12 is different from the starting materials.


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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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