Why vitamin B12 most essential for the body?
One of the most essential nutrients for the body is vitamin B12. It is not only necessary for the formation of red blood cells and DNA, but also plays an important role in the development of brain and nerve cells. But the problem is, vitamin B12 is not produced naturally in the body. Must be collected from outside food. Therefore, deficiency of this vitamin in the body can lead to multiple health problems.
Vitamin B12 deficiency:
Vitamin B12 deficiency occurs when the body does not get enough vitamin B12 from food. If not treated on time, it can lead to physical, neurological and mental problems. Vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause anemia. Health organizations say that a deficiency of this vitamin results in the blood not producing enough red blood cells. People age 60 and older are more likely to be deficient in vitamin B12.
Symptoms:
A report published in the journal AMA states that vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to problems like depression, irritability, memory loss, psychosis. The UK's National Health Services says that vitamin B12 deficiency is most common with fatigue or extreme tiredness, shortness of breath, headaches and dizziness, pale skin, palpitations, gastrointestinal problems, difficulty concentrating.
Must be tested:
If you see these symptoms, doctors recommend blood tests. They said, 'Blood test can be done at any time. There is no need to be on an empty stomach for this. Normal blood levels of vitamin B12 are usually 190 to 250 picograms per milliliter. 200 to 300 pg/mL is considered borderline. If it is less than 200 pg/ml, it should be understood that there is a deficiency of vitamin B12 in the body.
Foods rich in B12:
Chicken, fish (tuna and haddock), seafood such as shellfish and crab, dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt, eggs are rich sources of vitamin B12.
Supplements:
If you don't get enough vitamin B12 from food, you can get it with supplements. For this, it is important to consult a doctor. It improves overall health. However, most people do not need to take supplements. Several studies have shown that vitamin B12 deficiency is more common in girls than in boys. It increases with age.