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.

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