Common Vitamin Protects Your Pancreas
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted December 1, 2024
You’ve probably heard about vitamin B12 for its role in keeping your blood and nerves healthy.
But could it also be the key to protecting your pancreas?
New research from Sichuan University in China suggests that this unassuming B vitamin might have even more benefits than we thought—helping to reduce the risk of acute pancreatitis, a painful and potentially life-threatening condition.
Acute pancreatitis is a sudden inflammation of the pancreas, the organ responsible for producing enzymes that help digest food and hormones that regulate blood sugar.
When it becomes inflamed, it can lead to severe complications, including infection, tissue damage, and organ failure. In many cases, pancreatitis requires hospitalization and intensive care.
For years, treatment options have been limited to supportive care—meaning that doctors focus on managing the symptoms rather than addressing the root cause of the inflammation.
But now, researchers are exploring whether vitamin B12 could offer a new way to prevent or reduce the severity of this condition.
Vitamin B12s unique ability to protect the pancreas may lie in its role in cellular energy production.
Vitamin B12 is crucial role in generating ATP (adenosine triphosphate), often called the “energy currency” of cells. ATP provides the energy cells need to perform their functions, including resisting damage and recovering from stress.
According to the study, vitamin B12 increases ATP levels in pancreatic tissues, which appears to help the pancreas withstand the stress that leads to acute pancreatitis.
The researchers used a method called Mendelian randomization to analyze genetic data from large population studies, including the UK Biobank and the FinnGen consortium. They found that people with genetic variants linked to higher vitamin B12 levels had a lower risk of developing acute pancreatitis.
But the research didn’t stop there. The scientists also conducted mice experiments to see how, in real-time, vitamin B12 might protect the pancreas.
Mice that were deficient in vitamin B12 developed severe pancreatic inflammation when exposed to substances that normally induce pancreatitis. However, when the researchers gave normal mice vitamin B12—either before or after inducing pancreatitis—it significantly reduced pancreatic damage and inflammation.
In other words, vitamin B12 appeared to act as a protective shield for the pancreas, helping it resist the stress and inflammation that lead to pancreatitis.
While these findings are exciting, it’s important to remember that most of the research has been conducted on animals. Human trials are needed to confirm whether vitamin B12 can provide the same protective benefits for people.
That said, maintaining healthy levels of vitamin B12 is essential for overall health, and this study gives us one more reason to ensure we’re getting enough of it—especially for those at higher risk of pancreatitis, such as individuals with a genetic predisposition, folks with gallstones, or those who drink a lot of alcohol.
Foods that are rich in vitamin B12 include…
- Fish and seafood (especially shellfish like clams)
- Meat (beef, liver, chicken)
- Dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt)
- Eggs
If you’re concerned about your vitamin B12 levels, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor, who may recommend dietary changes or supplements to help you meet your needs.
P.S. Diabetes breakthrough helps rebuild the pancreas? Find out here.
Source:
Chen, Y., Li, X., Lu, R., Lv, Y., Wu, Y., et al., (2024). Vitamin B12 protects necrosis of acinar cells in pancreatic tissues with acute pancreatitis. MedComm, 5(11), e686.
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
View More Free Articles
Stop Obsessing Over Diet Trends
Can we stop with the endless diet debates already? Every other week there’s a new headline shouting about which diet is best for weight loss, heart health, or diabetes. Paleo, keto, low-carb, high-protein… it’s exhausting. And now, a new meta-analysis is out comparing the Mediterranean diet, the DASH diet, and something called AHEI (that’s “Alternative...
A New Reason to Ditch Processed Junk
If you’ve ever walked the inside aisles of your local grocery store and thought, “This is all just junk,” your instincts were spot on. A new study published in the journal Thorax just added another red flag to the list of dangers linked to ultra-processed food—a 41 percent higher risk of lung cancer. That’s right....
When Being Winded on Stairs Is Serious (And When It Isn’t)
I had an athlete visit me recently because he experienced shortness of breath while climbing stairs. He is in great shape, so he was worried about what it might mean. “Doc,” he said, “I run five miles three times a week. Why am I huffing and puffing after two flights of stairs?” His concern is...
Study EXPOSES Hidden Danger Lurking in Your Car
We think of our homes and cars as safe havens. But according to a startling new study, they may be flooding your lungs with microscopic plastic particles—every single day. Researchers in France recently found that adults inhale an average of 68,000 microplastic particles daily from indoor air alone. To put that in perspective, that’s about...
Mailbag: Is Modern Food Making You Snore?
“What can cause snoring, and is there a way to correct this issue?” —Seeking Silence Hi Seeking, Snoring happens when the soft tissues in your throat relax and vibrate as air passes through during sleep. While several factors can cause snoring—from sleep position to nasal congestion—I want to share one trigger that might surprise you....
Simple Food Swap SLASHES Dementia Risk 28%
Let’s be honest… who would jump at the chance to cut their dementia risk by 28 percent. And no, you don’t need to run marathons, survive on broccoli, or learn to play the zither (whatever that is) to make it happen. All it takes is one easy swap—something that’s probably already in your refrigerator. Researchers...
This SMART Floss Exposes Hidden Health Danger
Scientists have created dental floss that doesn’t just clean between your teeth—it also tracks your stress while you’re flossing. Now, I know what you’re thinking… “Great—now even flossing is going to stress me out by telling me how stressed I am.” But this fascinating new tool from Tufts University could be a game-changer for understanding...
Is This "Safe" Sweetener Damaging Your Brain?
The headlines are alarming… “Popular Sugar Substitute Linked to Brain Cell Damage” and “Erythritol Could Damage Critical Brain Barrier” are just two of the dozens I’ve spotted recently. But before you toss every sugar-free product in your pantry, let’s take a closer look at what this study actually shows—and what it doesn’t. The latest research...
This Summer Threat Could SPIKE Your Blood Sugar
Picture this… It’s another scorching hot summer day. You crank up the air conditioning while watching the weather forecast, which predicts yet another “record-breaking” heat wave. It’s starting to feel like just another miserably uncomfortable summer. But what you might not realize is that—if you have diabetes—those rising temps could do far more damage to...
Move Over Yogurt—5 Foods That Pack MORE Probiotics
Let’s talk about your gut. The microbiome is the collection of trillions of bacteria and other tiny organisms that live in and on your body—especially in your gut—and help keep you healthy. I’ve written often about how vital it is to maintain a healthy microbiome. And you might have dutifully added yogurt to your shopping...