Regularly taking vitamin B12 either through your diet or supplements prevents its deficiency, which is instrumental in reducing the symptoms of anemia
Vitamin B12 is among the most essential nutrients that play an important role in the production of red blood cells, optimal nerve function, and DNA synthesis. You can get this water-soluble vitamin only through your diet, mostly from meat, seafood, dairy, and fortified foods, or supplements. According to experts, supplementing with vitamin B12 helps prevent or treat deficiencies and is often recommended during pregnancy.
What does vitamin B12 do?
Experts say vitamin B12 has various primary functions in your body, which include:
- Development and function of the central nervous system
- Formation of red blood cells
- Synthesis of DNA and RNA
- Conversion of homocysteine , an amino acid in the blood, to methionine, an essential amino acid for the body
How much vitamin B12 does your body need in a day?
There is a Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) set for vitamin B12 intake, and the amounts vary depending on age:
- Birth to 6 months: 0.4 micrograms (mcg)
- 7 to 12 months old: 0.5 mcg
- 1 to 3 years old: 0.9 mcg
- 4 to 8 years old: 1.2 mcg
- 9 to 13 years old: 1.8 mcg
- 14 to 18 years old: 2.4 mcg
- 19 years and older: 2.4 mcg
What happens when you take vitamin B12 daily?
Lowers hemocystine levels
Vitamin B12 is extremely important in reducing the amount of homocysteine in your blood by breaking it down. Homocysteine is an amino acid that is produced in your body, and high levels indicate a vitamin deficiency.
If it is too high, it can increase the risk of certain health conditions like heart disease, age-related macular degeneration, Alzheimer's disease, and even cognitive conditions like dementia.
Supports in pregnancy
Doctors recommend multivitamins and mineral supplementation frequently during pregnancy. According to experts, multi-micronutrient supplementation helps improve maternal and child health outcomes. Vitamin B12 supplementation helps protect the fetus against neural tube defects, developmental delays, and anemia.
Pregnant women who follow a vegetarian diet should check with their doctors about ways to increase vitamin B12 supplementation.
Helps mitigate symptoms of anemia
Regularly taking vitamin B12 either through your diet or supplements prevents its deficiency, which is instrumental in reducing the symptoms of anemia or low iron levels.
Doctors advise those with pernicious anemia or vitamin B12 deficiency to receive supplementation until their vitamin B12 levels return to normal. Experts can give an intramuscular injection of vitamin B12, and once the levels return to normal, additional oral supplementation can be added for a maintenance regimen.
Signs and symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency
A few signs and symptoms you may notice if you have a deficiency of vitamin B12 include:
- Inadequate intake
- Poor absorption
- Lack of an intrinsic factor, like a glycoprotein
-
Gastric acid-reducing medications
Your body can store up to 5 milligrams of vitamin B12, and so there may be no symptoms of a deficiency for several months. But you need to be wary of anemia, glossitis of the tongue, pale skin, fatigue, heart palpitations, dementia, and infertility.
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