Vitamin B12 is a vitamin B compound soluble in water, and is a necessary vitamin for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Chemotherapy involves the use of heavy drugs in an attempt to destroy cancer cells and prevent the spread of cancer. There are many side effects of chemotherapy, depending on the collection and types of drugs used. Some of the common side effects of these treatments are fatigue, nerve damage, cognitive impairment, or "chemical fog". If you are undergoing chemotherapy, consult your doctor or oncologist before using vitamin B12 .
Benefits of Vitamin B12 During Chemotherapy
Fatigue
Chemotherapy destroys any rapidly growing or dividing cells, including healthy cells. As a result, chemotherapy may reduce the number of red blood cells, causing fatigue. Vitamin B12 is a necessary vitamin for the production of red blood cells, and vitamin B12 deficiency that increases fatigue. Through vitamin B12 supplementation, red blood cell production can be increased, helping to improve symptoms associated with fatigue, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Neural tissue damage
Chemotherapy can damage nerve tissue, which may lead to peripheral neuropathy, causing pain, acupuncture and numbness in your hands and feet. Peripheral neuropathy caused by chemotherapy can last for months or years or for the rest of your life. According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, vitamin B12 supplements, as well as vitamin B6 , can have a beneficial effect on reducing the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy associated with chemotherapy.
Brain fog
Chemotherapy can cause some cognitive abnormalities that include brain fog, or brain chemistry. The chemical brain indicates a decrease in your ability to think, focus and recall memories, both during and after receiving chemotherapy treatments. According to the book Encyclopedia of Dietary Supplements, vitamin B12 supplements may be able to restore some cognitive functions in people undergoing chemotherapy, who have suffered from the loss of mental abilities resulting from treatment, although more research is needed to assess the effect Of vitamin B12 on the brain.
Recommendations
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, vitamin B12 is considered safe and non-toxic, even at high doses. This is because vitamin B12 is a water soluble vitamin, which means that any excess intake of this vitamin will not be stored in the body, but will be excreted in the urine. The recommended dietary doses of vitamin B12 for most adults are 2.4 micrograms per day. However, if you are undergoing chemotherapy, you may need higher doses of vitamin B12, to prevent deficiency and help to improve and reduce the side effects of chemotherapy.
Benefits of Vitamin B12 During Chemotherapy
Fatigue
Chemotherapy destroys any rapidly growing or dividing cells, including healthy cells. As a result, chemotherapy may reduce the number of red blood cells, causing fatigue. Vitamin B12 is a necessary vitamin for the production of red blood cells, and vitamin B12 deficiency that increases fatigue. Through vitamin B12 supplementation, red blood cell production can be increased, helping to improve symptoms associated with fatigue, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Neural tissue damage
Chemotherapy can damage nerve tissue, which may lead to peripheral neuropathy, causing pain, acupuncture and numbness in your hands and feet. Peripheral neuropathy caused by chemotherapy can last for months or years or for the rest of your life. According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, vitamin B12 supplements, as well as vitamin B6 , can have a beneficial effect on reducing the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy associated with chemotherapy.
Brain fog
Chemotherapy can cause some cognitive abnormalities that include brain fog, or brain chemistry. The chemical brain indicates a decrease in your ability to think, focus and recall memories, both during and after receiving chemotherapy treatments. According to the book Encyclopedia of Dietary Supplements, vitamin B12 supplements may be able to restore some cognitive functions in people undergoing chemotherapy, who have suffered from the loss of mental abilities resulting from treatment, although more research is needed to assess the effect Of vitamin B12 on the brain.
Recommendations
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, vitamin B12 is considered safe and non-toxic, even at high doses. This is because vitamin B12 is a water soluble vitamin, which means that any excess intake of this vitamin will not be stored in the body, but will be excreted in the urine. The recommended dietary doses of vitamin B12 for most adults are 2.4 micrograms per day. However, if you are undergoing chemotherapy, you may need higher doses of vitamin B12, to prevent deficiency and help to improve and reduce the side effects of chemotherapy.
