VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS; VITAMIN B12 BENEFITS REVIEW
Factors that may increase vitamin B12 deficiency
symptoms include alcohol consumption, vegan diets, use of
antacids or laxatives. B12 absorption decreases with age, so if
you're over sixty you could consider taking supplements.
Deficiency of vitamin B12 can result in fatigue and apathy,
back pain, weight loss, bone loss, problems with balance and
reflexes, abnormal gait, tingling fingers, tinnitus, eye
disorders, hallucinations and migraine headaches.
More severe symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency
symptoms include pernicious anemia, degrading of myelin
sheath which insulates nerve fibers leading to multiple
sclerosis, nervousness, neurological damage, degeneration of
the spinal cord, and higher levels of blood homocysteine, toxic
to the brain and linked to Alzheimer's disease, heart disease
and stroke.
Vitamin B12 Benefits
Vitamin B12 (known as the energy vitamin) is a complex
compound containing cobalt and is also referred to as
cyanocobamin or cobolamin. Up to five years worth of B12 can be
stored by the body, but vitamin B12 supplements are
recommended for older people, strict vegetarians and
vegans.
Vitamin B12 benefits include being essential for the
health and function of all cells, in particular bone marrow and
nervous system tissue, and is linked to the manufacture of the
neurotransmitter, acetylcholine.
Vitamin B12 benefits are important for red blood cell
formation, protein synthesis, and fat and carbohydrate
metabolism. B12 improves the functions of iron in the metabolic
cycle and assists folic acid in the synthesis of choline. It
also plays an important role in the production of the nucleic
acids, DNA and RNA.
Vitamin B12 and Weight Loss
Vitamin B12 and weight loss are linked because it
helps with the release of energy, stimulates the appetite,
slows down mental deterioration and improves mental acuity
though its connection to acetylcholine production.
The vitamin B12 and weight loss benefits help with
proper digestion and food absorption. It is thought that
vitamin B12 benefits also helps clear up infections, reduces
allergies and may even help protect against cancer. Vitamin
B12 supplements have been effectively used to treat
allergies and asthma.
Vitamin B12 Overdose and
Toxicity
Recommended dietary allowance (minimum daily dose to ward
off serious vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms) of vitamin B12
dosage is 3 mcg for men and women, although up to 1000 mcg
vitamin B12 dosage is commonly used in vitamin B12 supplements.
Vitamin B12 overdose may cause skin problems, but you
would only see this kind of vitamin B12 toxicity with
extremely high doses.
Foods Rich in Vitamin B12
Here are examples of where to find animal foods rich in
vitamin b12 and good plant foods high in vitamin
b12:
Animal foods rich in vitamin b12 : Organ meats
such as liver, heart and kidney, lean meats, fish and
shellfish, cheese, eggs, milk.
Foods high in vitamin b12 can only be obtained
from animal sources, so vegetarians and vegans should
ensure B12 is included in their daily vitamin supplements.
But there are a few of exceptions with good plant foods
rich in vitamin b12; some soy products, sea vegetables such
as kelp, wakame, kombu, dulse, and nori.
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