Laughing gas and vitamin B-12

[Guest guest]

, Hud, and the group,

Just in case you aren't aware of it, I want to let you know that

nitrous oxide (N2O, or laughing gas) will inactivate vitamin B12 in

your body. It does this by oxidizing the cobalt ion in the vitamin

to

a higher oxidation state. The reaction isn't reversible, so the

vitamin B-12 must be replaced if the cobalt is oxidized. If you have

had considerable exposure to nitrous oxide and have not had your B-12

status checked nor have taken supplementary B-12, it might be a good

idea to look into this, since B-12 deficiency can produce some of the

symptoms seen in CFS.

Rich Van Konynenburg