“Therefore, we conclude that there is a real need for natural sources of B12 that are both affordable and easy to find. The blossom of the rosella, the Hibiscus sabdariffa, stabilizes blood pressure, reduces blood fat levels, and help reduce weight. In certain doses, it also has antibacterial properties. Its antioxidant activity reduces inflammation. Even though it has been proven to help lose weight, inhibit fat deposits in the liver and adipose tissues and reduce inflammation, none of the rosella’s effects are correlated with an increase in homocysteine levels caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. This study observed the effects of rosella, in the form of an ethanol extract of the H. sabdariffa blossom (HSE), in preventing the damage caused by the above homocysteine increase, on account of Vitamin B12 deficiency in test animals,” she said.
Improve the Absorption of Vitamin B12
The study was performed using test animals with vitamin B12 restrictive diets, randomly grouped into six categories, based on treatment, age, and length of treatment (8 or 16 weeks). The parameters observed are the toxicity of homocysteine in the liver because of vitamin B12 deficiency, by assessing the level of vitamin B12 plasma and homocysteine plasma, respectively. The functionality of the liver was calculated by checking the activity of AST, ALT, and GGT plasma enzymes. The administration of HSE in test animals fed with vitamin B12-restricted feed generates a significantly different homocysteine plasma level between groups that are treated for 8 and 16 weeks.
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For her conclusion, dr. Irena declared that administering HSE may improve the absorption of vitamin B12 in the digestive tract of a test animal that has been given a vitamin B12-restrictive diet, thus reducing homocysteine toxicity levels. HSE also lowers the weight of these vitamin B12- restricted test animals. Her studies show that administering rosella blossom extract in test animals whose diet is restricted from vitamin B12 may stop liver damage caused by increased homocysteine levels in the liver. The extract also suppresses fat buildup and inflammation in liver cells. (est)