What is vitamin B12 good for?
Vitamin B12 is important for the health of the nervous system and red blood cells. It is found in many animal products and fortified foods.
In the United States, approximately 6% of people under 60 and 20% of people over 60 have vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to anemia and serious nervous system problems.
If you need to consume more vitamin B12, you can get it from many animal products and fortified foods. In some cases, a healthcare professional may prescribe oral supplements or injections to increase your vitamin B12 levels.
In addition to the information below, learn more here about the benefits of vitamin B12.
Why do you need vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin, but the body cannot produce it. Instead, it is naturally found in many animal products.
Vitamin B12 is needed for numerous processes in the body, including:
- maintaining your ability to think
- regulate and create DNA
- produce energy
- maintaining brain and nervous system health
The liver stores extra vitamin B12 when you consume less of it. However, once these reserves are depleted, you may experience negative health effects.
What happens if you have low vitamin B12?
Low vitamin B12 levels can cause symptoms such as:
- tingling in your hands and feet
- difficulty walking
- confusion and memory loss
- depression and irritability
- problems with your sense of smell, taste, or vision
- heart palpitations
- fatigue
- headache
- pale skin
- weight loss
- glossitis (a painful, smooth, red tongue)
It is important to treat low vitamin B12 levels to prevent anemia. Vitamin B12 is associated with a specific type of anemia called megaloblastic anemia.
If you have anemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency, your red blood cells may be larger and more oval-shaped than usual. This irregular shape may prevent red blood cells from moving from the bone marrow into the bloodstream at the typical rate.
Is taking B12 daily good for you?
For most adults, the recommended daily intake of vitamin B12 is 2.4 micrograms (mcg) Trusted Source.
However, the recommendation is slightly higher for pregnant or breastfeeding people: 2.6 mcg per day. Infants up to 6 months old need only 0.4 mcg per day.
Vitamin B12 is water-soluble. Your body can store it for 2–5 years and releases excess B12 in your urine.
Many people can get enough vitamin B12 from everyday foods. However, because vitamin B12 is not naturally present in plant-based foods, vegans and vegetarians need to eat foods fortified with it.
Oral supplements can also raise vitamin B12 levels. If your diet is low in foods containing vitamin B12, or if your body cannot properly digest these foods, a healthcare professional may recommend taking an oral supplement every day.
The body usually absorbs vitamin B12 in a two-part process.
First, stomach acid separates B12 from the protein it is bound to. Then B12 combines with a protein in the stomach called intrinsic factor, and the body absorbs this pair in the ileum (the last part of the small intestine).
If you take vitamin B12 as a supplement, your body may bypass the first part of this process. This means injections may work better for you.
If you have a vitamin B12 deficiency, a healthcare professional may recommend an injection to raise your B12 levels. Vitamin B12 injections are also called hydroxocobalamin in the United States.
If you have anemia due to low vitamin B12 levels, you may need injections every other day for 2 weeks, or until your symptoms improve.
B12 supplements and dietary changes may not be effective for treating deficiencies caused by a medical condition, so doctors often recommend injections.
What are the best sources of vitamin B12?
Foods high in vitamin B12 include:
fish and seafood, such as salmon, mussels, and oysters; lean red meat and chicken; fortified breakfast cereals; eggs; dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and yogurtCan vitamin B12 have side effects?
Vitamin B12 is generally not considered toxic, even at high levels. But vitamin B12 injections can cause side effects, such as:
- pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site
- nausea and vomiting
- dizziness
- headache
It’s important to tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects, such as palpitations, after receiving a vitamin B12 injection.
Does vitamin B12 affect bowel movements?
Low vitamin B12 levels can cause diarrhea or constipation.
Additionally, vitamin B12 deficiency can prevent red blood cells from supplying enough oxygen to the digestive tract. This can lead to nausea, vomiting, gas, and bloating.
Vitamin B12 is important for the health of your cells and nervous system. Low vitamin B12 levels can cause tingling in your hands and feet, difficulty with mental functioning, and fatigue.
You can get more vitamin B12 by consuming certain animal products and fortified foods. If your vitamin B12 levels are low, a healthcare professional may recommend injections or oral supplements.
Source: www.healthline.com


