Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that helps the body maintain nerve cells and red blood cells, synthesize DNA, and produce energy. It is found in animal-derived foods like meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products and fortified foods, and is generally not present in plant-based foods. Deficiency in vitamin B12 can lead to anemia and neurological problems.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 deficiency causes numerous health problems similar to those caused by low iron levels. Thus, maintaining your vitamin B12 levels is essential for maintaining your mental and physical health . Maintaining good eating habits is also essential because eating habits affect how much vitamin B-12 you produce naturally . Regular exercise also promotes optimal levels of this vitamin when you're eating normally .
Health Benefits of Vitamin B12
Important for healthy brain functions, it is involved in the formation and regulation of DNA synthesis, it also plays an important role in fatty acids, and in the process of energy production in the body, helps the body absorb folic acid, and is involved in building red blood cells.
Food sources of Vitamin B12
- meat
- poultry
- fish
- eggs
- milk products
Symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency
Symptoms of vitamin B deficiency are:
- Pernicious anemia (Addison's anemia), which is one of the main symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, is characterized by large red blood cells and a low level of hemoglobin and vitamin B in the blood.
- An imbalance in the nervous system as a result of the decomposition of the myelin sheaths, which leads to numbness of the lips, difficulty balancing while walking, and cold extremities.
- High concentration of Methylmalonic Acid in feces and some amino acids in urine and blood.
- Impairment of sight without an apparent organic illness, and this condition is known as nutritional deficiencies