Vitamin B12 is a vitamin needed for the body to work correctly, although he is able to produce it yourself. First of all, B12 is contained in animal products, so deficiency of this vitamin is especially common among vegans and vegetarians. Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to a number of physical and mental problems.
What is vitamin B12 and why is it needed?
Also known as cobalamin, vitamin B12 is required to perform several important functions in the body such as the nervous system. He is also involved in the production of red blood cells.
Why our body need vitamin B12
Together with folate and vitamin B6 vitamin B12 necessary for the formation of healthy red blood cells. This is especially important to prevent anemia and maintain a healthy nervous system.
Deficiency can lead to the formation of abnormally large red blood cells that cannot carry out their work as effectively as in the normal state. This can lead to a number of health problems, such as severe fatigue, lack of energy, mouth ulcers, muscle weakness, impaired vision and a painful tongue. It can also affect the mental health – studies have shown that lack of B12 causes problems with memory and perception, and in some cases even depression.
A recent study also showed that people with vitamin B12 deficiency had lower bone mineral density that may lead to increased risk of osteoporosis. In severe cases, vitamin B12 deficiency may result in complications such as temporary infertility, pregnancy complications, and heart problems.
It is particularly important that pregnant women have sufficient levels of vitamin B12, as it can help to reduce the risk of birth defects. It is therefore important to diagnose vitamin B12 deficiency as soon as possible to begin treatment. Despite the fact that many of the symptoms improve with treatment, some problems caused by the condition can be irreversible if not treated. The longer the condition is not treated, the higher the likelihood of permanent damage.
Where to find b vitamins
What can you eat to prevent vitamin B12 deficiency?
Vitamin B12 is found in foods of animal origin such as meat, milk, cheese and eggs. Obviously, this can be a problem for vegans and vegetarians, or those who simply do not consume enough of the aforementioned products, as they will not get the vitamins naturally through food.
While most nutritionists recommend taking a Supplement containing B12 to combat the deficit, there are some rich foods that also contain it, for example, nutritional yeast, Marmite and some cereal.In addition, several plant products, such as soy, rice, oat and nut milk also often enriched in vitamin B12, however, nutritionists advise to check the labels to make sure that the selected product actually contains this vitamin.
What supplements can I take?
In most cases, vitamin B12 deficiency can be prevented or treated with additional injections prescribed by a doctor, or you can take pills that are sold in most pharmacies.
What causes vitamin B12 deficiency?
In addition to diet, devoid of animal products, there are a number of other factors that can cause vitamin B12 deficiency. For example, some medications such as proton pump inhibitors(used to reduce the production of stomach acid), and anticonvulsants (taken to treat seizures) can affect how the body absorbs vitamin B12.
Thus, even if you get enough from your diet or taking supplements, the body can still experience a shortage.
What vitamin B12 deficiency differs from iron deficiency anemia?
If a person has less blood cells than there should be in norm, it is called a General medical term anemia, though it is important to note that there are different types of anemia and not all of them are associated with vitamin B12. For example, the most common form of anaemia caused by not enough iron in the body, especially for women.