To keep your mind and body healthy, you need a variety of vitamins.
B12, also called Cobalamin, is a crucial one to keep track of. It is one of the 8 B vitamins.
Why is this vitamin group important? Let’s get to know about vitamin B-complex.
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Vitamin B-complex: Importance for Human Body
All B vitamins aid in the conversion of food (carbohydrates) to energy-producing fuel (glucose). These B vitamins, commonly known as B complex vitamins, aid the body’s utilization of fats and proteins.
Healthy skin, hair, eyes, and liver require B complex vitamins.
They also aid in the healthy functioning of the nervous system.
All B vitamins are water soluble, which means they are not stored in the body.
Vitamin B12 is particularly vital for the maintenance of healthy nerve cells and for the creation of DNA and RNA, the body’s genetic material.
Vitamin B12 collaborates with vitamin B9, commonly known as folate or folic acid, to aid in the formation of red blood cells and the proper functioning of iron in the body.
S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), a molecule implicated in immune function and mood, is produced when folate and B12 work together.
Vitamins B12, B6, and B9 act together to keep homocysteine levels in the blood under control. Homocysteine levels above a certain threshold are linked to heart disease.
So, you have a general idea now, why is B12 extremely important for you? Let’s get to know the benefits of vitamin B12 for your health.
Benefits of Vitamin B12 for Your Health
What is vitamin B12 good for?
There are major benefits of vitamin B12 for you. Here’s a list of some of them to make you understand why you can’t ignore this crucial vitamin.
Helps in the Formation of Red Blood Cells
Our red blood cells transport oxygen from our lungs to all of our body’s tissues. Carbon dioxide, a hazardous by-product of cell action, also gets transported from those tissues to the lungs, where it is exhaled.
Vitamin B12 is involved in the formation of red blood cells.If vitamin B12 levels are excessively low, red blood cell output is reduced, resulting in megaloblastic anemia.
Megaloblastic anemia is a kind of anemia characterized by a loss of red blood cells caused by a deficiency in vitamin B12. It causes symptoms including weariness, difficulty concentrating, clumsiness, and dry skin.
Prevents Dementia
One of the major benefits of vitamin B12 is that it can help slow down the aging process of the brain.
The term “brain atrophy” refers to a reduction in brain volume as well as the loss of neurons, which can result in diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, making it impossible to operate freely in society.
Research suggests that brain volume lost over five years was greater for people with lower B12 levels in the blood. That’s why scientists think that vitamin B12 works to prevent brain atrophy and dementia.
Improves Mood and Depressed Symptoms
There is a link between vitamin B12 insufficiency and neuropsychiatric symptoms.
Depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder ( OCD ), and mood swings are examples.
Dr. Kanza Afzal who is one of the top nutritionists in Pakistan says that vitamin B12 is essential for the formation of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood. That’s why researchers recommend vitamin B12 pills as part of depression therapy strategies.
Prevents Birth Defects
Experts at Hameed Latif Hospital say that pregnant women should take a higher vitamin B12 dose. This is because the vitamin may aid in the prevention of severe birth defects such as partial paralysis and a skull that is not fully developed.
Adequate vitamin B12 levels are critical for a healthy pregnancy.
Taking folic acid before and after conception, in addition to maintaining normal vitamin B12 levels, can reduce the risk of a baby developing neural tube defects.
Supports Healthy Hair, Skin & Nails
Maintaining adequate amounts of vitamin B12 can help with hair, skin, and nail growth.
Vitamin B12 provides an oxygen boost to these tissues. However, if your B12 levels are sufficient, taking a supplement is unlikely to improve your health in those areas.
If you have a vitamin B12 deficiency, it can cause vitiligo, which is characterized by discolored spots on the skin, delayed hair development, and skin discoloration.
In this scenario, incorporating vitamin B12 into your diet or taking a supplement may help.
Supports Bone Health and Osteoporosis
Vitamin B12 deficiency can harm your bones, so it’s important to keep your levels up.
One study in more than 2,500 adults indicated that people with a vitamin B12 deficiency also had lower than normal bone mineral density.
Reduced mineral density in the bones can cause them to become brittle and fragile over time, increasing the risk of osteoporosis.
Low vitamin B12 levels lead to poor bone health and osteoporosis, particularly in women.
Helps With the Male Infertility
Vitamin B12 supplements may improve sperm counts and sperm’s ability to swim. More research is needed in this regard.
Gives You an Energy Boost
Supplements containing vitamin B12 advertise as the go-to product for a burst of energy.
Though they don’t always provide energy, all B vitamins play a crucial function in your body’s energy generation.
If you’re lacking in vitamin B12, taking a supplement or boosting your consumption can certainly help you feel more energized.
Who is at the Risk of Vitamin B12 Deficiency?
There are two types of vitamin B12 deficiency. Either you don’t get enough of it in your diet or your body can’t adequately absorb it from the food you eat.
Those at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency include:
- Older adults
- People who suffer from gastrointestinal diseases like Crohn’s disease or celiac disease
- Those who have undergone gastrointestinal procedures such as bariatric surgery or bowel resection surgery
- Vegans that follow a strict vegan diet
- Those taking metformin to regulate blood sugar
- Those taking proton pump inhibitors to treat chronic heartburn
How to Resolve Vitamin B12 Deficiency?
Vitamin B12 is only found in animal products in nature.
The best food sources of B12 are meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, and fortified cereals.
Vitamin B12 deficiency is easy to avoid if you consume a healthy, diversified diet. However, if you believe you are at risk, consult your doctor.
Vitamin B12 insufficiency is most typically prevented or treated by intramuscular or oral injections.
To Summarize it All!
Did this article satisfy the question ‘what is vitamin B12 good for’? I hope so.
Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that you can obtain through dietary sources or supplementation.
It’s in charge of a variety of bodily functions and can help you stay healthy in a variety of ways, including preventing major birth defects, promoting bone health, improving mood, and maintaining healthy skin and hair.
If you want to know more about dietary supplements, ask a nutritionist/dietitian to satisfy your queries. Book an appointment online via Healthwire.pk or call at (042) 32500989.
