Compositions and methods for preventing and/or treating vitamin B12 deficiency
A method for preventing and/or treating vitamin B12 deficiency is taught. The method comprises administering a composition comprising pseudovitamin B12-producing bacteria, optionally in conjunction with mucin-degrading and/or propionate-producing bacteria, to a subject in need thereof. The method is particularly suitable for administration to subjects suffering from vitamin B12 deficiency due to metformin treatment for type-2 diabetes, and to subjects having undergone bariatric surgery.
1. A method of treating vitamin B12 deficiency in a subject, the method comprising:
administering a composition comprising:
an amount of Eubacterium hallii and/or Intestinimonas butyriciproducens effective to increase production of pseudovitamin B12 and/or propionate in the subject's intestine, and
a physiologically acceptable carrier
to the subject so as to treat vitamin B12 deficiency in the subject.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the subject has been diagnosed as having a vitamin B12 deficiency, and the vitamin B12 deficiency is secondary to a condition selected from the group consisting of metformin treatment for type-2 diabetes, pernicious anemia, atrophic gastritis, chronic inflammation of the pancreas, a surgical procedure where part of the stomach and/or small intestine are removed, weight loss (bariatric) surgery, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, bacterial infection, heavy drinking, Graves' disease, lupus, long-term use of acid-reducing drugs, malnutrition, bulimia, anorexia nervosa, HIV/AIDS, obesity, high body mass index, pre-diabetes state, insulin resistance, a vegetarian diet, a vegan diet, and any combination thereof.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises:
a propionate-producing bacterium.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the propionate-producing bacterium is present in the composition in an amount ranging from about 10 4 to about 10 15 cells.
5. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the propionate-producing bacterium is Akkermansia muciniphila.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the composition is a pharmaceutical or supplement composition in a form selected from the group consisting of a capsule, tablet, and powder.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the I. butyriciproducens and/or E. hallii and, optionally, a propionate-producing bacterium, is present in lyophilized or microencapsulated form in the composition.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein I. butyriciproducens and/or E. hallii is present in the composition in an amount ranging from about 10 4 to about 10 15 cells.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises:
a mucosal binding agent.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises:
a cobalt source selected from the group consisting of cobalt ions, a cobalt salt, cobalt chloride, cobalt sulphate, cobalt acetate, cobalt nitrate, and any combination thereof.
11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method treats vitamin B12 deficiency in a subject.
12. A method of treating a subject to increase production of pseudovitamin B12 and/or propionate in the subject's intestine, the method comprising:
administering a composition comprising:
an amount of Intestinimonas butyriciproducens and/or Eubacterium hallii effective to increase production of pseudovitamin B12 and/or propionate in the subject's intestine, and
a physiologically acceptable carrier
to the subject so as to increase the production of pseudovitamin B12 and/or propionate in the subject's intestine so as to treat the subject.
13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the subject has been diagnosed as having a vitamin B12 deficiency.
14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the subject has a vitamin B12 deficiency secondary to a condition selected from the group consisting of metformin treatment for type-2 diabetes, pernicious anemia, atrophic gastritis, chronic inflammation of the pancreas, a surgical procedure where part of the stomach and/or small intestine are removed, weight loss surgery, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, bacterial infection, heavy drinking, Graves' disease, lupus, long-term use of acid-reducing drugs, malnutrition, bulimia, anorexia nervosa, HIV/AIDS, obesity, high body mass index, pre-diabetes state, insulin resistance, a vegetarian diet, a vegan diet, and any combination thereof.
15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the composition consists of I. butyriciproducens and a physiologically acceptable carrier.
16. A method of treating vitamin B12 deficiency in a subject, the method comprising:
administering to the subject an amount of Eubacterium hallii and/or Intestinimonas butyriciproducens effective to produce pseudovitamin B12 and/or propionate in the subject's intestine, so as to treat and/or prevent vitamin B12 deficiency in the subject.
17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the subject has a vitamin B12 deficiency secondary to a condition selected from the group consisting of metformin treatment for type-2 diabetes, pernicious anemia, atrophic gastritis, chronic inflammation of the pancreas, a surgical procedure where part of the stomach and/or small intestine are removed, weight loss surgery, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, bacterial infection, heavy drinking, Graves' disease, lupus, long-term use of acid-reducing drugs, malnutrition, bulimia, anorexia nervosa, HIV/AID S, obesity, high body mass index, pre-diabetes state, insulin resistance, a vegetarian diet, a vegan diet, and any combination thereof.
18. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the method treats vitamin B12 deficiency in a subject.
19. A method of treating a subject diagnosed as having a vitamin B12 deficiency to increase production of pseudovitamin B12 and/or propionate in the subject's intestine, the method comprising:
administering to the subject an amount of a composition comprising Eubacterium hallii and/or Intestinimonas butyriciproducens effective to increase the production of pseudovitamin B12 and/or propionate in the subject's intestine,
so as to treat the subject's vitamin B12 deficiency thereby.
20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the composition consists of I. butyriciproducens and a physiologically acceptable carrier.
21. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the subject has a vitamin B12 deficiency secondary to a condition selected from the group consisting of metformin treatment for type-2 diabetes, pernicious anemia, atrophic gastritis, chronic inflammation of the pancreas, surgical procedure where part of the stomach and/or small intestine are removed, weight loss surgery, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, bacterial growth, heavy drinking, Graves' disease, lupus, long-term use of acid-reducing drugs, malnutrition, bulimia, anorexia nervosa, HIV/AIDS, obesity, high body mass index, pre-diabetes state, insulin resistance, a vegetarian diet, a vegan diet, and any combination thereof.