What is vitamin B12 good for?

Also known as cobalamin, Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin that helps keep your body’s blood and nerve cells healthy. B12 also helps to make DNA, which is the genetic material found in all of the cells in your body. Without B12, the brain, nerves, blood cells, and other parts of the body cannot function properly.

Our bodies can’t produce Vitamin B12 themselves, but it can be found in meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, yeast extract, and specially fortified foods. Nevertheless, many people struggle to reach the recommended daily intake (approx. 2.4mcg) through food consumption alone. As a result, an increasing number of people are finding that they are experiencing some effects of their low levels of this vitamin. 

Symptoms of a B12 deficiency include:

• A pale yellow tinge to your skin

• A sore and red tongue

• Pins and needles

• Mouth ulcers

• Irritability

• Changes in the way that you walk and move around

• Disturbed vision

• Depression 
   

In addition to these, you might also experience general symptoms of anemia, such as:

• Extreme fatigue

• Lack of energy

• Headaches

• Palpitations 

• Faintness

• Pale skin

• Weight and appetite loss
   

If you suspect that you may have a B12 deficiency, this can be confirmed with a simple blood test that your doctor will be able to provide. If you have been diagnosed with vitamin B12 deficiency, supplements can prove extremely beneficial.
 

What is vitamin B12 good for?

There is a wide range of scientifically proven health benefits of vitamin B12. These include, but aren’t limited to:

Helping your body produce red blood cells. This can help prevent you from developing anemia (low red blood cell count), as well as helping to ensure that the red blood cells that your body produces are healthy and functional. 

Create strong bones. B12 has been shown to be very important for bone health, by helping to keep mineral density high and bones strong. B12 deficiency has been linked to osteoporosis, so keeping your levels of this vitamin high can be crucial to keeping this disease at bay.

Counteract depression. Mood swings and depression are particularly common once men reach their 40s, and it can be difficult to prevent these without intervention. Vitamin B12 plays an essential role in synthesizing and metabolizing serotonin, which is one of the chemicals responsible for mood regulation. Supplements could help to steady your moods and counteract depression.

Increased energy. Feeling tired? This is a common sign of a vitamin B12 deficiency and all B vitamins play a part in your natural energy production. B12 supplements could help boost your energy levels and keep fatigue at bay.

Maintain your vision. Macular degeneration is a common and progressive vision problem among the older generation and occurs when the cells of the middle part of the retina, called the macula, start to degenerate with age. This causes irreversible vision loss. Studies have shown that maintaining adequate levels of vitamin B12 could help prevent macular degeneration, enabling you to maintain your vision for longer.

Increase fertility and prevent birth defects. Researchers have found that low levels of B12 can impact the fertility of both men and women. Also, pregnant women, or women who intend to become pregnant, are often recommended to have B12 supplements. This is because sufficient B12 is needed for the brain and spinal cord to develop properly. Studies have found that women with low B12 are more likely to produce children with birth defects than those with adequate levels.

If you would like more information about vitamin B12, call ReAlignMed at 773-665-4400 to schedule an appointment today.