I have never been a fan of vitamins. They fall in to a category of interventions with presumed safety and benefit. An important study in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows the opposite; that vitamins can cause harm in patients with chronic kidney disease. The following appears on the BC Renal Agency Website: In April, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published a study that looked at whether high doses of B vitamins (folic acid, B12, B6) helped people with kidney disease due to diabetes. The study found that high doses of these vitamins were actually harmful. Study participants who took the vitamins had an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. They also had reduced kidney function. Please note this study was done with non dialysis patients, and so is most applicable to them.Key points for patients with kidney disease (not on dialysis) Patients with diabetes and kidney disease damage should not take high doses of vitamin B and folic acid.
This does not apply to doses in a multivitamin or if the vitamins are prescribed for a known vitamin deficiency. BCPRA recommends that patients discuss vitamin use with their doctors or dietitians at their next clinic visit. In addition to vitamins, is a good idea for patients to make their care teams aware of any supplements and/or non-prescription medications they take. As a kidney patient, you may have questions about this study and what it means to you. We hope the more detailed information below is helpful. We encourage you to speak to your kidney doctor or other health professional if you have more questions. What does this study mean for me?This study is important if you have diabetes and reduced kidney function. Patients with kidney disease often have a higher level of homocysteine (an amino acid) than the average person. This can be linked to greater risk of heart attack and stroke. Previous research has shown that B vitamins lower homocysteine levels. However, this study found that taking high doses of vitamin B appears to significantly increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
It also worsens kidney function for people with diabetes. This occurred even though homocysteine levels were reduced by the vitamin doses. The study shows that people with diabetes and kidney damage should not take high doses of vitamin B and folic acid. This does not mean you should stop taking a prescribed daily multivitamin. Multivitamins have much lower doses and there may be other benefits for you.Do kidney doctors routinely prescribe vitamin B for diabetic kidney patients? There is a special vitamin tablet for patients with kidney disease (both on dialysis and not). The tablet includes much lower doses of folic acid, vitamins B12 and B6. This study was conducted in non dialysis patients, and so is most applicable to them. To read the full JAMA study click here To read a Globe and Mail article on the study click hereDiet/NutritionB12 Shots: Should You Get One?Markham HeidFor more, visit TIME Health.More and more, ours is a worn out, sleep-deprived, distracted nation.
It’s no wonder a shot of energy and focus would appeal to many of us. And that’s exactly what B12 injections deliver—literally—for those who lack sufficient stores of the nutrient.“B vitamins are essential for proper cellular respiration,” explains Dr. Roxanne Sukol, medical director of Cleveland Clinic’s Wellness Enterprise. Without adequate supplies of B12, most of the cells in your body will struggle to take in enough oxygen, which can affect everything from your energy levels to your mood and concentration, Sukol says. Classic symptoms of a B12 deficiency also include diarrhea or constipation, pale skin, and shortness of breath, according to the National Institutes of Health.The nutritional necessity of B12 explains why it’s such a popular supplement, and also why some celebrities have touted B12 injections as the magic ingredient in their health regimens. The vitamin’s links to increased energy have also made B12 popular among some dieters and weight loss clinics—the thinking being that more energy will translate to more exercise.“
But unless you have a B12 deficiency, there’s really no role for it,” Sukol says of B12 shots and supplements. Put simply, more isn’t better. And even if you’re low on B12, there’s no evidence injections of it will help you lose weight, says Dr. Brent Bauer, director of the complementary and integrative medicine program at Mayo Clinic. “Everybody’s looking for a shortcut,” he says. “B12 supplementation has its benefits, but it’s not a solution for weight loss.”So weight loss is out, but B12 shots have been associated with other conditions, too. In fact, there’s some solid research on B12 injections for the treatment of fibromyalgia and myalgia encephalomyelitis.Food sources of the vitamin include eggs, meat, and dairy products. People who eschew those foods are at elevated risk. “When I test vegans for B12, they’re usually on the low side—if not deficient,” Sukol says. Some gut-related diseases like Crohn’s or Celiac—as well as most types of weight loss surgery—can also limit the amount of B12 your system absorbs, she adds.
But figuring out if you’re low on B12 is trickier than you might suppose. A much-cited 2000 study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found nearly 40% of the population have B12 levels that fall at or below what experts consider the low end of normal. While you might assume anything in the “normal” range means you’re in good shape, Sukol says that’s not always the case.“Blood tests are not always black and white the way we’d like them to be,” she says. “If I have a patient taking a lot of naps and complaining about poor concentration, I might recommend B12 supplementation even though the blood tests look normal.”You’ll notice she says “supplementation” and not “injections.” Unless you have one of the above conditions that prevent your gut from breaking down and absorbing the vitamin, a B12 pill is as effective as a B12 poke, research suggests. “For many people, an oral supplement is just as good [as an injection].”Finally, when it comes to the safety of both B12 injections and oral supplements, you don’t have much to worry about.