Vitamin B12 deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency, not only in developing countries, but in developed countries, too. In this article you will find answers to commonly asked questions, like: What is the role of vitamin B12 in human body? What are the food sources of vitamin B12? What is the daily requirement of vitamin B12 in children and in adults? What are the deficiency symptoms of vitamin B12?
ROLE OF VITAMIN B12 IN HUMAN BODY
• Role in DNA synthesis and cell multiplication e.g. red blood cells
• Keeping the integrity of nerve cell membranes
• Role in protein metabolism
WHO IS AT THE RISK OF DEVELOPING VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY?
• Pure vegetarian (vegans): this is because vitamin B12 is present in the food of animal origin only.
• Elderly people: The chances of vitamin B12 deficiency increase with the growing age, even with adequate vitamin intake in the food. The most common causes in the elderly people with B12 deficiency are i) atrophic gastritis in ~60% ii) pernicious anemia in ~35%
• People with chronic gastrointestinal disorders e.g. Crohn's disease, H. pylori infection
• People who are in the habit of taking frequent antacid tablets and have repeated antibiotic courses
• Chronic alcoholics
• Pregnant and lactating mothers who have been running on sub-clinical B12 deficiency for years.
Note: stomach mucosa produces an intrinsic factor which combines with the B12 present in the food. This complex is absorbed through the distal part of the small intestine, the ileum. So any disorder affecting the stomach or ileum eventually affects B12 absorption, too.
DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS OF VITAMIN B12
• Symptoms of Anemia: Megaloblastic anemia - Anemia is due to the formation of immature blood cells. The usual symptoms of anemia like paleness, tiredness, weakness after physical work, breathlessness, giddiness, lack of concentration may or may not be present.
• Symptoms which are Reversible: Peripheral neuropathy - Tingling, pricking, crawling sensations or numbness of hands and feet due to the degeneration of peripheral nerves
• Symptoms which are Partially Reversible: Subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord (SCD) - When advanced up to the spinal cord level SCD presents as weakness in the lower limbs, unsteady gait, alteration in vibration and touch sensations
• Irreversible Changes Involving Brain: This occurs mainly in growing infants and elderly people. In infants it is manifested as defective brain development with cognitive dysfunction, reduced IQ, mental retardation, birth defects, and in the elderly It is seen in the form of brain atrophy with dementia.
• Miscellaneous symptoms: Problems with vision, altered taste and smell sensations, psychiatric problems like depression and mood fluctuations, inflamed tongue, incontinence
Note: vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) is often combined with vitamin B6 (folic acid) during treatment. The earlier the diagnosis, the better the prognosis and the chances of a permanent cure.
Daily requirement: 2-4 µg
Excess vitamin is eliminated by the body.
Top Ten Sources of Vitamin B12
Read More: Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E
1. Whole: Rethinking the Science of Nutrition by T. Colin Campbell and Howard Jacobson
2. Superfoods: The Food and Medicine of the Future by David Wolfe
3. The Great American Health Hoax: The Surprising Truth About How Modern Medicine Keeps You Sick by Raymond Francis
4. Mayo Clinic A to Z Health Guide by Mayo Clinic (Authors)
5. I've Been Thinking . . .: Reflections, Prayers, and Meditations for a Meaningful Life by Maria Shriver
6. Genetics Isn't Everything: How to Make Your 'G-e-n-e-s' Fit You by Katherine S. Egan
7. How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease by Michael Greger M.D.
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This article was very educational. Thank you! I’m a vegetarian so my doctor prescribes me vitamin B12 shots twice a year and I also take multivitamins daily. It makes me feel more energetic and healthy. I take it very seriously because when I first became a vegetarian I developed anemia. It’s important to make sure that your body gets all the nutrition that it needs either from diet or supplements.
ReplyDeleteBest post on vitamin B12. everyone has heard about vitamins but very knew about it in depth and i am one of those. i came to know many interesting and very useful information after reading this article :y.
ReplyDeleteIt is really a new concept come to know from the post that vegetarians may suffer from the deficiency for vitamin B12😲… really scary to know! Because, I know some persons, those are pure vegetarians…. So need to share this information with them….🤔
ReplyDeleteI didn't know b12 was so important. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteOMG !! (:^ Really very important share for everyone. I have some knowledge abot B12 but you share there are more kinds of things.
ReplyDeleteWe should make sure our body with nuttritions.
I have had issues for years with my B levels. When one is off, there are likely others. This was actually very helpful. I had no idea that oysters had so much B12 in them! I am still not a fan but I will eat more fish now knowing this. I am not a fan of liver though. Bookmarking the page to come back to when I go shopping!
ReplyDeleteGood
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