Chewable Methyl B12 plus Methyl Folate in one cherry flavor lozenge called  ZARY.

1. Methyl B12 – Active Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin)

Methylcobalamin is also called Methyl B12 and is the active form of vitamin B12. Active B12 means it is ready for the body to use and does not have to go through any changes.

Vitamin B12 helps in the repair of DNA in every cell. It is particularly important for the health of the brain, nerves, blood cells, fatty acids metabolism, gastrointestinal tract and heart.

Symptoms of Low Vitamin B 12:  

• Lack of energy
• Tingling and numbness in the feet and hands due to peripheral neuropathy
• Memory loss
• Depression
• Abnormal gait and lack of balance
• Anemia
• Burning of the tongue
• Poor appetite
• Constipation alternating with diarrhea
• Vague abdominal pain
• Increase in the level of Homocysteine which is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke.

Who is at risk for low Vitamin B12?    

1. Vegetarian/Vegan, because vegetables are devoid of Vitamin B12
2. Drugs: Metformin, Omeprazole, Cimetidine, Ranitidine, Antibiotics.
3. Gastrointestinal disorders such as chronic pancreatitis, atrophic gastritis, small intestinal resection or Stomach surgery, gluten enteropathy, Crohn’s disease and malignancy.

2. Methyl Folate  – 5-MTHF 

Methyl Folate – 5-MTHF ( 5-MethylTetraHydroFolate) is the Active Folate which means it is ready for the body to use and does not have to go through any changes.

Folate  is an important factor in the integrity of DNA. Folate is in particular important for the formation of red blood cells, metabolism of iron and an amino acid, called homocysteine. It is also important for neurotransmitter in the brain and fertility in men and women and for the neural tube formation in the fetus.

Folate Supplement

You may need folate supplement:

1. If you consume alcohol excessively.
2. if you do not eat green leafy vegetables regularly.
3. If you take medicines that can cause folate deficiency. These are: metformin, anti-seizure drugs (such as phenytoin and carbamazapine), methotrexate, sulfasalazine, triamterene, GERD medicines (such as omeprazole, cimetidine, ranitidine), and tetracycline antibiotic.
4. If you have a malabsorption syndrome such as Crohn’s disease, Celiac disease, chronic enteritis and other malabsorption syndrome.
5. If you are about to get pregnant, or you are already pregnant.
6. If you have genetic defect that decreases the conversion of dietary folate into Active folate (5-MTHF). You can choose to have genetic testing for MTHFR. However, if you have elevated homocysteine level, you can presume that you have MTHFR defect. In either case, you need Active folate (5-MTHF) as well as Vitamin B12 and Vitamin B6. You can monitor your homocysteine level to make sure that it comes down with treatment.

Elevated Homocysteine level is linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, dementia, Parkinson’s disease and insulin resistance (1, 2). Studies have shown that

Methyl B12 plus Methyl Folate and Vitamin B6 can lower homocysteine level and may reduce the risk of these disorders.

References:

1. Qin YY¹, Wang P², Qin JQ¹, Wei AQ¹, Huang P², Lai ZF¹, Lin FQ¹.Prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia during routine physical examination in Guangxi Province, China and related risk factors.J Clin Lab Anal. 2017 Apr 10.
2. Herrmann W¹, Lorenzl S, Obeid R.[Review of the role of hyperhomocysteinemia and B-vitamin deficiency in neurological and psychiatric disorders–current evidence and preliminary recommendations]Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr. 2007 Sep;75(9):515-27.[Article in German]