What are the health benefits of taking B12?
Top Reasons to Supplement B12 Methylcobalamin
- Prevent Megaloblastic Anemia
- Help Prevent Neurological Diseases like Multiple Sclerosis
- Cancer
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Prevent Inflammation
- Enhance Energy Levels
- Improve Memory
- Improve Metabolism
- Improve the Health of Hair, Nails and Skin
- Help Prevent Cardiovascular Disease
Why is vitamin B12 so important?
Vitamin B12 is an important nutritional requirement for the body as it aids in the production of red blood cells, protects the nerves from damage and ensures structural stability of certain chromosome regions, apart from being able to also carry out other bodily functions.
Does vitamin B12 promote weight loss?
Vitamin B12 does not directly cause weight loss, but it does help with many functions throughout the body related to weight and metabolism. First, B12 helps the body break down the food we eat and use it for energy.
Can you take too much B12?
The answer is yes. Hypercobalaminemia is the medical term for having high serum vitamin B12 levels. Credible reports suggest various reasons why a person may have excessive B12.
How much B12 should you take a day?
The recommended daily amount of vitamin B-12 for adults is 2.4 micrograms.
What happens when your vitamin B12 is low?
B12 deficiency can cause a variety of symptoms, including fatigue, headaches, depression, pale or yellow skin, mental impairment, and pain and inflammation in the mouth and tongue. Many of the symptoms caused by low B12 levels are not specific to B12 deficiency, which can cause the condition to go undetected.
What are the benefits and side effects of vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12 benefits include forming red blood cells, preventing dementia, and reducing birth defects. Vitamin B12 is found in foods like meat, eggs, dairy, and fish. Side effects of B12 are rare but can include headaches, anxiety, and nausea.
What are the warning signs of vitamin B12 deficiency?
Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiencya pale yellow tinge to your skin.a sore and red tongue (glossitis)mouth ulcers.pins and needles (paraesthesia)changes in the way that you walk and move around.disturbed vision.irritability.depression.More items...
What does low B12 feel like?
Weakness, tiredness, or lightheadedness. Heart palpitations and shortness of breath. Pale skin. A smooth tongue.
Which fruit is rich in vitamin B12?
Fruits– Though fruits don't contain Vitamin B12; there are some which contain a very small amount of these vitamins like- Banana, apple, and berries....Top 10 Vitamin B12 foods for Vegetarians:FoodsVitamin B12 (% of DV)Fruits5%Fortified cereals100%Yeast (quarter cup)290%5 more rows•Nov 23, 2020
How long does it take for B12 vitamins to start working?
It may take a few weeks before your vitamin B12 levels and symptoms (such as extreme tiredness or lack of energy) start to improve. If you have hydroxocobalamin injections to boost your vitamin B12 levels at the start of treatment, the cyanocobalamin tablets may start to work within a few days.
Does vitamin B12 give you energy?
Vitamin B12 along with B6 are best for energy. Almost every cell in the body uses B12. Besides helping form red blood cells, B12 converts fat and protein to energy. A B12 deficiency causes tiredness and anemia.
Overview
Vitamin B-12 (cobalamin) plays an essential role in red blood cell formation, cell metabolism, nerve function and the production of DNA, the molecules inside cells that carry genetic information.
Evidence
Research on the use of vitamin B-12 for specific activities and conditions shows:
Our take
Most people get enough vitamin B-12 from a balanced diet. However, older adults, vegetarians, vegans and people who have conditions that affect their ability to absorb vitamin B-12 from foods might benefit from the use of oral supplements.
Safety and side effects
When taken at appropriate doses, vitamin B-12 supplements are generally considered safe. While the recommended daily amount of vitamin B-12 for adults is 2.4 micrograms, higher doses have been found to be safe. Your body absorbs only as much as it needs, and any excess passes through your urine.
Interactions
Aminosalicylic acid (Paser). Taking this drug used to treat digestive problems might reduce your body's ability to absorb vitamin B-12.
Why is vitamin B12 important?
Once again, vitamin B12 shows its importance for overall health through its role in synthesizing and maintaining myelin ( 43 ). In other words; getting enough vitamin B12 is essential for keeping our myelin healthy, which in turn is critical for neurological health.
What is the role of B12 in the body?
2) Vitamin B12 Gives the Body Energy. Vitamin B12 plays an important role in cellular energy metabolism, and it helps to convert the food we eat into usable energy ( 8 ). Providing that we consume sufficient quantities of the vitamin, we should have adequate energy for daily life.
What are the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency?
However, for individuals not consuming enough vitamin B12, symptoms such as tiredness and fatigue are among the first signs of deficiency ( 10, 11 ). Increasing the intake of animal foods such as meat, fish, and shellfish (or supplementing with B12) can help to increase plasma levels of the vitamin. Key Point: An insufficient intake of vitamin B12 ...
What is the recommended daily intake of B12?
Last Updated on January 3, 2020 by Michael Joseph. Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin otherwise known as cobalamin, and it is essential for our health. The current reference daily intake (RDI) for vitamin B12 is 2.4 mcg, and it is found exclusively in animal foods ( 1 ). This important vitamin has a large number of functions, ...
Why is B12 important for anemia?
In other words, ensuring a sufficient intake of dietary vitamin B12 helps to support the healthy production of red blood cells. When the body does not have enough vitamin B12 to produce the required amount of red blood cells, anemia develops .
What is the B12?
9) Vitamin B12 Is Essential For a Healthy Nervous System. A substance called myelin is vitally important for the central nervous system. Myelin consists of proteins and fatty acids, and it acts as a sheath that surrounds and insulates nerves ( 40 ).
Can B12 cause SCD?
Research also suggests that suboptimal B12 levels can lead to subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord (SCD), which can develop following damage to myelin ( 44 ). Key Point: Getting sufficient vitamin B12 is important for the central nervous system.
What is the role of vitamin B12 in the body?
Helps Metabolize Proteins- One of the main features of vitamin B12 is that it plays an active role in protein metabolism, which trickles over into several areas of the body.
Why is B12 in energy drinks?
Along with the other B vitamins, B12 is known for it’s ability to keep you alert and feeling energized. That’s why some energy drinks include this in their ingredients.
Why do we need to eat fiber?
That’s why you’ll want to eat foods that are both high in fiber and that also contain the right mix of vitamins. Promotes Healthy Skin- Vitamin B12 provides great benefit to the skin, helping to soothe skin conditions and keep your skin looking its best. Getting the right mix of B vitamins can help conditions ranging from dryness ...
Why is vitamin B12 added to hair products?
Makes Hair Healthier- Vitamin B12 is often added to hair products because of its ability to add shine and a healthy look. But what’s even better is to start meeting your needs through the foods you eat. That way your hair will naturally grow out as if you had used a topical treatment containing vitamin B12.
Is B12 good for the brain?
Good for Brain Health- In addition to helping stave off and treat Alzheimer’s, vitamin B12 also provides health benefits for the brain, and helps prevent what is known as “ brain shrinkage ,” which can lead to conditions like dementia when you’re older.
Is vitamin B12 good for depression?
Luckily it’s somewhat rare to run a shortage on this vitamin, so in all likelihood you’re good. Reduces Depression- Many vitamins including vitamin D have been said to help with depression, and vitamin B12 is no different. This is such an important reason to make sure that all of your vitamins are at optimal levels.
Does B12 help with cholesterol?
Helps with Cholesterol- By helping to keep your cholesterol levels down, vitamin B12 may be able to reduce your need for cholesterol lowering drugs. If your doctor has told you that you’re low on this nutrient, they may have also given you a list of foods that contain extra amounts of B12 for you to start eating more of. If they didn’t, we’ve got you covered with our own list of vitamin B12-rich foods.
What is B12 used for?
Vitamin B12 functions as a cofactor for two enzymes, methionine synthase and L-methylmalonyl-CoA mutase [ 1-3, 5 ] . Methionine synthase catalyzes the conversion of homocysteine to the essential amino acid methionine [ 1, 2 ].
What is the most common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency?
Pernicious anemia is the most common cause of clinically evident vitamin B12 deficiency around the world [ 11, 43 ]. The incidence of pernicious anemia in the United States is an estimated 151 per 100,000, and this condition is more common in women and in people of European ancestry [ 43 ].
What is B12 parenteral?
Parenteral administration is typically used to treat vitamin B12 deficiency caused by pernicious anemia as well as other conditions (e.g., tropical sprue, pancreatic insufficiency) that result in vitamin B12 malabsorption and severe vitamin B12 deficiency [ 5 ].
How long does it take for a vitamin B12 deficiency to appear?
Because the body stores about 1 to 5 mg vitamin B12 (or about 1,000 to 2,000 times as much as the amount typically consumed in a day), the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency can take several years to appear [ 7, 33 ].
What is the most common form of vitamin B12?
The most common form of vitamin B12 in dietary supplements is cyanocobalamin [ 1, 3, 22, 23 ]. Other forms of vitamin B12 in supplements are adenosylcobalamin, methylcobalamin, and hydroxycobalamin [ 22 ]. No evidence indicates that absorption rates of vitamin B12 in supplements vary by form of the vitamin.
How much B12 is in a multivitamin?
Multivitamin/mineral supplements typically contain vitamin B12 at doses ranging from 5 to 25 mcg [ 22 ]. Vitamin B12 levels are higher, generally 50–500 mcg, in supplements containing vitamin B12 with other B-complex vitamins and even higher, typically 500–1,000 mcg, in supplements containing only vitamin B12.
Why is vitamin B12 not UL?
The FNB did not establish a UL for vitamin B12 because of its low potential for toxicity [ 1 ]. Even at large doses, vitamin B12 is generally considered to be safe because the body does not store excess amounts.
What is the B12 nutrient?
Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that helps the body create DNA, nourishes the brain and nervous system, and assists with the formation of healthy red blood cells. The nutrient occurs naturally in meat, fish, and dairy products, and can be created in a laboratory.
What does lack of B12 do to your body?
A lack of B12 can put you at higher risk for a specific type of anemia that makes you feel weak and tired.
What happens if you don't take B12 during pregnancy?
Pregnancy Health. If a woman has a vitamin B12 deficiency in the early stages of pregnancy, her child is at an increased risk of neural tube birth defects and low birthweight. Mothers with low B12 levels are also more likely to miscarry or give birth prematurely. Women with low levels of vitamin B12 are three times more likely to have a child ...
Does vitamin B12 help with macular degeneration?
Supplementing with vitamin B12 is believed to lower homocysteine in the bloodstream, which may help prevent age-related macular degeneration, an eye disease that can cause blindness in older adults. In one study of 5,000 women age 40 and up, those who took supplements of vitamins B12, B6, and folic acid had 34% fewer cases of macular degeneration after seven years than a placebo group. Their risk of severe degeneration was 41% lower.
Does vitamin B12 cause depression?
Vitamin B12 plays a role in serotonin production, so a deficien cy may be connected with clinical depression. In one study, disabled older women with a B12 deficiency were found to have double the risk of severe depression as those without a deficiency.
Is B12 good for vegetarians?
Vitamin B12 is also found in animal products, such as eggs, meat, fish, poultry, milk, and some nutritional yeast products. Vitamin B12 does not naturally occur in most plant foods, so fortified breakfast cereals are recommended for vegetarians. Pagination. 1. 2.
Does B12 affect memory?
Another study found that low B12 levels, even within the normal range, contribute to poor memory performance. More studies are needed before researchers can be certain of the impact of B12 supplementation on memory loss and dementia. There is no known risk of harm associated with vitamin B12.
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What is B12 used for?
It is often taken in combination with other B vitamins. Vitamin B12 is most commonly used for vitamin B12 deficiency, a condition in which vitamin B12 levels in the blood are too low, as well as cyanide poisoning and high levels of homocysteine in the blood (hyperhomocysteinemia).
Does B12 help with Lou Gehrig's disease?
Lou Gehrig's disease ( amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS). It is unclear if high dose vitamin B12 injections slow the decline of health in people with ALS. Eczema (atopic dermatitis). Early research shows that applying a vitamin B12 cream (Regividerm) to the affected area twice daily helps treat eczema.
Does B12 help with sleep?
Taking vitamin B12 by mouth does not seem to help people with sleep disorders. Memory and thinking skills (cognitive function). Taking vitamin B12, alone or with folic acid and vitamin B6, doesn't seem to improve memory, language, or the ability to organize and plan in elderly people. Fall prevention.
Does B12 lower homocysteine levels?
High levels of homocysteine in the blood (hyperhomocysteinemia). Taking vitamin B12 by mouth, along with folic acid and sometimes pyridoxine ( vitamin B6 ), can lower blood levels of homocysteine. Nerve pain caused by shingles ( postherpetic neuralgia ).
Does B12 cause lung cancer?
Some research suggests that higher levels of vitamin B12 in the blood might be linked with an increased risk for lung cancer. But not all research agrees. Pancreatic cancer. Vitamin B12, from supplements or foods, doesn't seem to lower the risk of pancreatic cancer. Psoriasis.
Does vitamin B12 help with nerve pain?
Diabetes. Early research suggests that vitamin B12 might improve blood sugar control in people with diabetes. Nerve pain in people with diabetes (diabetic neuropathy). Early research suggests vitamin B12 might help reduce pain in people with this condition.
Can B12 cause nerve pain?
Nerve damage in the hands and feet caused by cancer drug treatment. Early research shows that taking B vitamins that include vitamin B12 along with cancer drugs doesn't prevent nerve pain caused by cancer drugs. A lung disease that makes it harder to breathe ( chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD).
How much B 12 should you take a day?
The recommended daily amount of B-12 for adults is less than 2 micrograms. Your body doesn’t absorb as much as it needs, so any excess is passed through your urine. The headaches might be caused by high doses of vitamins B-12 and B vitamins.
How does low vitamin B12 make you feel?
Symptoms of B12 deficiency include fatigue, headaches, depression, pale or yellow skin, mental impairment, and pain in the mouth and tongue.
How long does it take for B12 to make you feel better?
It can take up to 12 months to fully recover from a deficiency of vitamins B12 and B. During the first few months of treatment, there is usually no improvement.
Can B12 hurt your liver?
B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B6 (pyridoxine), and B12 are some of the forms of vitamins B and B. There is no evidence that the other B vitamins cause harm to the body.
Which fruit is rich in Vitamin B12?
Some fruits contain small amounts of vitamins like Banana, apple, and berries, even though they don’t contain Vitamins B12 or any other vitamins.
What medications should not be taken with B12?
Anti-seizure medications, such as phenobarbital, phenytoin, and gentamicin, can decrease the absorption of vitamins B12 and B vitamins.
Does B12 help you lose weight?
B vitamins are essential for a healthy nervous system. B12 works by converting food into sugar and other fuels that keep the body running. B12 has been associated with weight loss due to its ability to boost metabolism.
