TriVita Article On Twin Puzzles of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

The Twin Puzzles of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

How B vitamin supplementation may help by Dr. Scott Conard

Many puzzles are yet to be solved by modern medicine. As we continue to seek causes and solutions for the ills that plague mankind, confusion still swirls around two of the more “mysterious” ailments: chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia (FMS).

During National Chronic Fatigue Awareness Month in March, it’s appropriate to look at these two issues together, since they’re often paired in medical literature. They have some important traits in common:

We don’t know what causes either CFS or fibromyalgia
They share several symptoms
There is no cure
The confusion around these two syndromes is fed by their overlapping nature: It’s estimated that up to 70% of people diagnosed with CFS also fit the clinical guidelines for FMS, and vice versa. Most people with CFS have some kind of pain, which is a major symptom of FMS. And most people with FMS report fatigue, a major symptom of CFS. No wonder even doctors can be unsure which is which.
Vitamin B-12 and folic acid for managing symptoms
We do know, however, that many physicians and researchers (along with patients) support supplementation – including Vitamin B-12 and folic acid – as an important part of managing symptoms. Here’s a thumbnail look that helps explain why:

CFS: As the name suggests, this is a disorder that causes extreme fatigue. This fatigue is not the tiredness that goes away after you rest. Instead, it lasts a long time and limits your ability to do ordinary daily activities.

Symptoms of CFS include fatigue for six months or more, and other problems such as muscle pain, memory problems, headaches, pain in multiple joints, sleep problems, sore throat and tender lymph nodes. It is most common in women in their 40s and 50s, but anyone can have it. It can last for years.

FMS: Fibromyalgia makes you feel tired and causes muscle pain and “tender points.” Tender points are places on the neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms or legs that hurt when touched. Other symptoms can include trouble sleeping, morning stiffness, headaches, and problems with thinking and memory, sometimes called “fibro fog.”

No one knows what causes fibromyalgia. Anyone can get it, but it is most common in middle-aged women. People with rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases are especially prone to fibromyalgia.

Supporting mental function with B vitamins
Notice that both syndromes can affect mental function: memory and thinking problems can arise, and this may be a key to the use of B vitamins. As you may know, the medical links between B vitamins and brain function are strong and well documented.

So, it isn’t surprising that healthcare professionals in both traditional and alternative medicine, including experts in CFS and FMS, support the use of B vitamins and folic acid to help manage symptoms.

If you or a loved one have, or suspect you have, one of these confusing syndromes, it’s important to know that both are much more than just being tired, or having some muscle pain. CFS and FMS are often misunderstood, and deserve attention and treatment. I urge you to consult with your healthcare professional, and to see how the highest quality B vitamin supplementation might help.

Source: TriVita VitaJournal March 2009 pg 6.

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How Vitamin B-12 Became a Mainstay of Wellness

Dr. Libby brought his depth of knowledge to TriVita’s early TV programming.

Dr. Libby’s legacy of pioneering continues by Dr. Scott Conard

“To ‘B’ or not to ‘B’” – that was the title of an address I gave at a wellness conference in Scottsdale, Arizona recently. I was speaking, of course, about Vitamin B-12, and the event gave me the chance to review its growth from an undervalued vitamin to a recognized powerhouse in health. It also gave me the chance to recall my early involvement with TriVita® and respect for the work of Alfred Libby, M.D., the inventor of TriVita Sublingual B-12, B-6 and Folic Acid.

As you may know, Dr. Libby was a pioneer in nutrients and health, and an associate of Linus Pauling, Ph.D., the two-time Nobel Laureate and “Father of Vitamin C.” Early in his career, Dr. Libby discovered the dramatic health changes that B-12 could make, and worked for decades to raise awareness.

“We’ve given people back their lives”

Along with B-12, Dr. Libby was the “star” of the original TriVita TV infomercials beginning in 2000. It is still his original, patented formula (contained in over 11 million boxes of Sublingual B-12 sold) that has helped so many. Here, I’ve selected some of his memorable thoughts:

“We’ve given people back their lives,” Dr. Libby said. At the time, painful and expensive injections were the only way to supplement effectively with B-12. And, undiagnosed B-12 deficiency caused untold damage.

“B-12 deficiency, undiagnosed and untreated, wreaks havoc,” he declared. This “havoc” took many forms: • Moodiness • Low energy • A heart-damaging buildup of homocysteine • High cholesterol

He would talk about patients who, with Sublingual B-12, went from moodiness and lethargy to enthusiasm and energy… older people, sent to nursing homes because they were disruptive and difficult, becoming “functional human beings again”… heart patients having their blood pressure and cholesterol levels stabilized.

A key element in Dr. Libby’s Sublingual B-12 is its unique delivery system: “sublingual” means under the tongue, where the tablets dissolve and get quickly into the bloodstream. This is crucial to maximum absorption and maximum benefit.

Dramatic effects, and a change of career

In my own medical practice, I found the same kinds of patient results that Dr. Libby witnessed years before. In fact, that’s how I came to be associated with TriVita and Sublingual B-12. For years, my medical practice specialized in treating the elderly. Patients would come into my office complaining that they had no energy, felt “low” and depressed and they would beg for B-12 “shots.” After their shots they became so much more alive, so much more well, that I changed course in my career.

I founded TienaHealth to focus on preventive medicine, convinced that the way to make a difference in people’s lives was to help them get the vitamins and nutrients they need before health issues arise. After the world lost Dr. Libby in 2002, I began speaking up about Sublingual B-12 for TriVita, and am proud to continue today.

My own experience has shown me the truth of Dr. Libby’s statement: “It’s so fulfilling, so gratifying to be involved with this (Sublingual B-12)… and with the right company, TriVita.”

On his original infomercial, Dr. Libby would gesture toward the phone banks and say, “When I see the phones light up it reminds me of the song, ‘You Light Up My Life.’ That’s how I feel when I see those lights; people’s lives are lighting up.”

Having seen so many lives “light up” with Sublingual B-12, I can only say I wholeheartedly agree.

Source: TriVita VitaJournal February 2009 pg 6.

B-12 Deficiency – Its Undesirable Results and Risk Factors

by Scott Conard, MD

You don’t want to be deficient in B-12 for a number of reasons. First of all, if you are over 30, a B-12 deficiency can cause actual brain erosion. Furthermore, a severe B-12 deficiency depletes your energy stores. Finally, it can lead to these undesirable conditions:

• Irritability, personality change
• Brain fog
• Brain erosion
• Depression
• Psychosis
• Heart disease
• Dementia

So how do B-12 deficiencies come about? In life, there are quite a few risk factors that can contribute to it. Things such as:

• Stress
• Less ability to absorb B-12 after age 40
• Certain prescription drugs
• Extreme fatigue or anemia
• Elevated homocysteine levels
• Vegetarian lifestyle
• Gastric surgery or disease
• Digestive or intestinal problems.

To help overcome these risk factors, I strongly suggest supplementing your diet with TriVita’s Super Sublingual B-12 each and every day.That way, you’ll be helping to protect yourself from a B-12 deficiency and its very real dangers.

SUCCESS STORIES“… my thinking was clearer and my energy level had increased tremendously.”

“I had an opportunity to attend the Galaxy of Stars this year. My team leader noticed my face was tense when I got there, so he gave me TriVita’s Super Sublingual B-12 to try. I took a tablet and I immediately began to feel a slight change in my mood. When I came back for the Galaxy of Stars the following day, my friend marveled at how relaxed my facial expression was. Throughout the day, she would tell me how much more relaxed I looked. She also noticed that my mood had changed, my thinking was clearer and my energy level had increased tremendously. When my team leader saw me again, he noticed the difference, too. Thank you. TriVita!
— MARJORIE H. Phoenix, AZ

Source: TriVita Magazine February 2009 pg 5.

TriVita Super Sublingual B-12

B-12 deficiency can sometimes result in more than a lack of energy
With all the hectic demands of today, most people could use more energy. However, if you consistently experience exhaustion, irritability, forgetfulness or brain fog, it may be a sign of something more serious. In fact, any of these conditions could be a sign of B-12 deficiency.

Every “body” can lose B vitamins
There are many things in today’s world that can lead to a B vitamin deficiency. Stress is one cause. It comes in many forms – mental, physical, emotional and environmental – and it creates a demand for Vitamin B-12 within the body that’s greater than what a typical diet can supply. Similarly, certain prescription medications can cause Vitamin B-12 depletion just as easily as stress.

Diets can also lead to a deficiency in the B-12 vitamin. Most people get their B-12 vitamins from animal food products, so vegetarians and those with nutritionally poor diets greatly increase their chances of being deficient. Digestion problems are yet another cause of B-12 deficiencies. Gastric bypass surgeries, gastric reflux, IBS, colitis and other digestive conditions inhibit the body’s absorption of B-12 from foods. On top of this, your body’s ability to absorb B vitamins can start as early as age 40 and dramatically decrease every passing year.

Because there are so many ways to become Vitamin B-12 deficient, it’s important to aggressively help protect against and/or repair a deficiency by taking TriVita Super Sublingual B-12 daily. Learn more about vitamin B deficiency.

Ask Yourself
If you think you may have the signs of B-12 deficiency, then ask yourself the following questions:

• Do I lack energy and feel tired much of the time?
• Do I feel depressed or blue much of the time?
• Have I been under a lot of stress lately?
• Do I have brain fog or difficulty concentrating?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, chances are you’re experiencing a B-vitamin deficiency – and need to take immediate steps to remedy it. Don’t wait – because not taking care of this health risk can lead to other serious conditions.

Here’s how Super Sublingual B-12 delivers nutrients to your body and helps by improving mood, maintaining steady energy and eliminating brain fog

Learn about more ways Super Sublingual B-12 helps improve mood, energy and alertness.

Super Sublingual B-12:

• Provides a stronger concentration of B-12 for more energy and quick results
• Offers nutrients not stimulants to help provide sustained energy
• Maximizes absorption with Dr. Libby’s original patented sublingual delivery system – only found in TriVita’s products
• Provides the same benefits as a painful and expensive B-12 shot
• Speeds B vitamins directly into your bloodstream – Studies show these important nutrients can be measured in the bloodstream in as little as 30 minutes
• Ensure that you get the vital nutrients, unlike many other less reliable forms of B-12 vitamins.
• Includes ginseng for improved mental function and concentration
• Contains L-Ornithine Alpha Gluterate, to help slow aging of the brain
• Includes cocosin to work alongside vitamin B-12 for added energy
• Clinically tested for purity and effectiveness.Super Sublingual B-12’s new formulation of ingredients makes it faster acting, longer-lasting and more potent than ever before.
  

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  Product Usage

  Serving Size: 1 Tablet
  Number of servings per package: 30 servings

  Recommended Usage: Take 1 sublingual tablet every day. It’s best to take in the morning or afternoon and can be taken on a full or empty stomach.

  Please note: make sure you discuss this supplement with your physician if you are pregnant or nursing.

Source: TriVita Super Sublingual B-12 webpage.

The Science Behind TriVita’s Sublingual B-12

A growing body of research shows Vitamin B-12’s value in overall health
by Dr. Scott Conard

Does your resolution for wellness in 2009 include supplementing your healthy lifestyle with Vitamin B-12? If it doesn’t, you should be aware of mounting clinical evidence showing the connection between good health and this powerhouse vitamin. If you already supplement with B-12, this research gives you more reason to stay on track with your health habits.

Here’s a review of some of the B-12 studies that have recently made headlines. I think you’ll agree that it’s an impressive body of research.

Vitamin B-12 eases symptoms of congestive heart failure
While doctors prescribe various medications for congestive heart failure (CHF), Vitamin B-12 has been shown to be another effective way to lessen symptoms.

Vitamin B-12 helps create taurine, an amino acid which studies suggest may be useful in treating CHF symptoms. Participants in a study showed significant improvement in their ability to breathe, with a reduction in heart palpitations and fluid buildup.

Impressive relief for seasonal allergies
Several studies have suggested that Vitamin B-12 could help reduce seasonal allergies. In one clinical study, a group of seasonal allergy sufferers spent up to six weeks taking massive amounts of B-12 through sublingual delivery, just like TriVita’s Sublingual B-12, B-6 & Folic Acid. Many of the worst symptoms – sneezing, congestion and itchy, runny nose – were half as severe in the B-12 group as in the placebo group.

Mental function, vitamins and ADHD
Strong clinical evidence supports the link between essential nutrients and vitamins – particularly Vitamin B-12 – and mental function, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Studies have shown that a B-12 deficiency may decrease levels of substances needed to transmit nerve signals. This reduced ability to transmit nerve signals has shown up in brain tests conducted on children with ADHD.

In people of any age, this problem with nerve signals can lessen or damage mental functioning.

Reverse memory loss with B-12?
One of the premier medical authorities in the field, Harvard Medical School, endorses the use of B-12 to treat memory loss caused by a deficiency of this invaluable vitamin. The prestigious school supports findings that B-12 deficiency is among the reversible causes of memory loss, and that correcting this deficiency early on may help restore lost memory.

Younger people at risk for B-12 deficiency
There is clinical evidence that B-12 deficiency affects a much broader age range than many have thought. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition looked at B-12 blood levels among participants in three age groups: 65 and over, 50-64 and 26-49. They all had approximately the same levels of B-12 deficiency. That’s right: People as young as 26 turned out to be as B-12 deficient as some people over 65.

Brain erosion linked to low Vitamin B-12 levels
People with lower levels of Vitamin B-12 were six times more likely to have brain volume loss (also called brain erosion) than those with higher B-12 levels, according to a study published in the journal Neurology.

Researchers studied 107 adults ages 61 to 87 for five years. All the participants had B-12 levels within the normal range; however, the differences in brain volume were significant between those in the normal-low range and those in the normal-high range.

Quality matters: choose TriVita Remember:
not just any B-12 tablet can give you optimum health results. TriVita’s original, patented Sublingual B-12, B-6 & Folic Acid melts under your tongue, allowing B vitamins to be absorbed quickly and directly into your bloodstream. What’s more, the nutrients in TriVita Sublingual B-12 are perfectly balanced, so they help each other create more energy.

As an early advocate of the value of B-12, I’m pleased to see my research colleagues pursuing this important area. I hope these findings give you new reason to start – or stay with – TriVita’s quality B-12 supplements.

Source: TriVita VitaJournal January 2009 pg 6.

TriVita makes the Connection between Vitamin B & ADD

The Sublingual B-12 you’ve come to love could help your kids and grandkids overcome a common behavior disorder by Dr. Brazos Minshew High homocysteine levels and high stress go hand in hand. A recent study in Sweden tested children between the ages of 9 and 15. They found that the children with the lowest test scores had the highest levels of homocysteine, a stress-related hormone usually found in adults! The impairment associated with elevated homocysteine was called “neurocognitive.” Neurocognitive disorders include Attention Deficit Disorder (A.D.D.), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (A.D.H.D.), Oppositional- Defiant Disorder (O.D.D.), Tic Disorder (TD) and many others. Neurocognitive disorders are directly linked to elevated homocysteine in children.

There are many signs and symptoms associated with these brain disorders. The key is to distinguish between being energetic and being hyperactive. For instance, all children are easily distracted by exciting events. A child with brain impairment may be distracted by insignificant sights, sounds and smells. All children and adults make mistakes. A child impaired by a neurocognitive disorder will carelessly make mistakes even when the risk of injury is obvious. Learning disorders, depression and emotional fragility are all consequences of brain inflammation associated with elevated homocysteine. What can be done for elevated homocysteine levels? Homocysteine is a protein used in crafting a healthy foundation for all cells – brain cells, heart cells, bone cells – all of your cells. The problem with homocysteine occurs when it escapes from the cells and gets into the bloodstream. This happens because of nutrient deficiencies. One cause of nutrient deficiency is poor diet. Another cause is stress because stress uses up nutrient resources. When you run out of nutrient reserves, homocysteine can escape into your bloodstream where it goes on a rampage. It damages the cells our young ones are trying to build – including brain cells. Exposure to toxins (like lead) and injuries can also create homocysteine. The nutrients most closely associated with reducing homocysteine are Vitamins B-12, B-6, folic acid and biotin. These B vitamins form a balanced family of nutrients responsible for keeping homocysteine in the cell where it belongs. If one of these nutrients – especially Vitamin B-12 – is deficient for any reason, homocysteine will escape into the bloodstream. As the homocysteine levels rise, performance declines. Hyperactivity may be the result. Several medical studies have demonstrated that a balanced combination of B-12, B-6, folic acid and biotin can dramatically reduce blood levels of homocysteine. So far, no prescription drugs reduce homocysteine. Certainly, the common drugs given to children with behavior disorders (Ritalin, Strattera, Focalin, Adderall) will not reduce homocysteine, though they may change behavior. The B-12 family of vitamins is proven to reduce homocysteine. Nutrient deficiency leads to Neurocognitive disorders , such as A.D.D. and A.D.H.D. What is more, the B-12 family of vitamins can reduce the impact of stress. This works for children as well as for adults. If your young ones start to fidget or get a little moody, if they can’t concentrate or are not performing at school as well as they used to, try supplementing a healthy diet with TriVita’s Sublingual B-12. In addition to a healthy diet and balanced B-12 supplements, families can benefit from strategies to help improve organizational skills and relationships while reducing stress and frustration. These services are usually provided by health care professionals. Some children – especially as they enter their teen years – benefit from coaching. Nutrients (such as Sublingual B-12) and nurturing (encouragement and coaching ) go a long way in improving behavior . Most of us have experienced the benefits of supplementing our diet with balanced nutrients. Doesn’t it make sense that our stressed-out children and grandchildren could benefit too? Let’s give our kids the very best chance possible to develop into healthy adults without the damaging effects of stress and elevated homocysteine by supplementing with Sublingual B-12 as early as age eight. Children and teenagers will love the sweet, berry taste of TriVita Sublingual B-12. An appealing taste makes it more likely that they’ll use Sublingual B-12 consistently, which is important if you want to see behavioral changes. Adults with a family history or recent diagnosis of high homocysteine levels should consider supplementing with TriVita HCY Guard rather than TriVita Sublingual B-12, B-6 & Folic Acid. Source: VitaJournal July 2007 pg 8

Beating The Winter Blues

Seasonal Affective Disorder and B-12: The mood connection
by Dr. Scott Conard

For some people, the winter months bring mood changes that are seasonal but have little to do with the spirit of the holidays. These people may seem sad because they have SAD: seasonal affective disorder. Also called seasonal depression, this condition is often blamed on exposure to less sunlight during shorter days and colder winter temperatures.

While studies continue to find the causes and treatments for SAD, one thing is clear: People who have this mood disorder show symptoms that are very much like depression.

Does SAD affect someone you know?

Symptoms of SAD, according to the American Psychiatric Association, can include:

• Excessive sleeping, overeating and weight gain during the fall/winter months
• Extreme fatigue or inability to keep up a normal schedule
• Feelings of sadness, loss of feelings, apathy and irritability.

That last item is especially interesting to medical professionals like me who pursue the connections between mood troubles and B vitamins. As you may know, studies

indicate that people with a B-12 deficiency can experience symptoms including mood swings, mental confusion, forgetfulness and even psychotic behavior, like seeing and/or hearing things.

For some time, evidence indicated that it was older adults who tended to have Vitamin B-12 deficiencies, but now we know more. As I wrote in the VitaJournal last month, one study showed that people as young as 26 may be just as lacking in B-12 as some people over 65! This study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, went on to say that regardless of age, those who didn’t supplement with Vitamin B-12 were twice as likely to be deficient as those who did.

A disorder that favors women and younger people

Given the new evidence about young people and B-12 deficiency, it’s important to know one more thing about SAD: it tends to affect more women than men, more younger people than older ones. So if you or someone you know tends to experience depression-like symptoms in the winter months, check with your healthcare provider to see if the problem might be SAD, or a B-12 deficiency.

Treatments for SAD can include spending more time outdoors or sitting near special fluorescent lamps.

Is it “holiday blues” or SAD?

Since many people experience stress and sadness during the holidays, it’s worth considering whether or not SAD might be a factor. Since SAD and the holiday season both occur during the shorter days of winter, the “holiday blues” might be undiagnosed SAD. Especially at this time of year, I urge you to consider whether or not you’re getting enough Vitamin B-12. Since B-12 has such an impact on mental energy and mood, I often recommend B-12 supplementation with TriVita’s quality products. My best wishes for a healthy holiday season filled with joy.

Source: VitaJournal December 2008 pg 6.

The New Faster Acting, Longer-Lasting B-12

The best Sublingual B-12 is now even better! You benefit more because it has so much more Our new Super Sublingual B-12 brings you many added advantages:
	• 3 times— the Vitamin B-12 for more energy and quicker results • Ginseng for improved mental function and concentration • L-Ornithine Alpha Glutarate to help slow aging of the brain • Cocosin to work alongside Vitamin B-12 for added energy • Convenient once-a-day dosage.
And, our new Super Sublingual B-12 also retains many of the superior features of our original brand. So with all these extra advantages, you may now want to step up to our all new Super B-12 version. The better the absorption, the greater the effectiveness Quick and maximum absorption of Super Sublingual B-12 is ensured by TriVita’s original, patented delivery system. Our exclusive process speeds B vitamins directly into your bloodstream when they dissolve under your tongue. Taken daily you’ll feel energized from the essential nutrients in our Super Sublingual B-12 as they target and nourish your nerves and brain, It offers your body super support There are many reasons to include Super Sublingual B-12 in your daily supplementation to support your overall good health. First, it provides key nutrients to help keep your nerves healthy. Every day, your nerves are damaged by normal wear and tear; Vitamin B-12 helps your body repair and replace these nerves at night, while you sleep. When you’re deficient, however, this vital work isn’t completed, which can lead to a whole host of serious nervous system problems. Second, Super Sublingual B-I2 helps your body manufacture red blood cells and properly replicate DNA. This helps protect against problems of anemia (a deficiency of red blood cells, leading to unusual tiredness and other lethargic symptoms). Source: TriVita magazine, November 2008, pg 4 For more information on all TriVita’s products click here!