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Vitamin
B 12
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| Vitamin B12, is important to good health. It helps maintain healthy nerve cells and red blood cells, and is also needed to make DNA, the genetic material in all cells (1-4). Vitamin B12 is bound to the protein in food. Hydrochloric acid in the stomach releases B12 from protein during digestion. Once released, B12 combines with a substance called intrinsic factor (IF) before it is absorbed into the bloodstream. |
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| Vitamin B12, also called Cobalamin or
Cyanocobalamin, is one of the B complex vitamins. |
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| How
Vitamin B12 helps |
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Helps in the formation
& regeneration of red blood cells |
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Helping prevent anemia |
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Needed for the
metabolism of carbohydrate |
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Aids in the absorption
of protein |
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Helps maintain a
healthy nervous system |
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Promotes normal growth
and development |
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Symptoms of deficiency
may include
Pernicious anemia, poor appetite,
growth failure in children, tiredness, memory loss, digestive disorders |
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Natural food
sources
Liver, beef, pork, eggs, herring,
mackerel, milk, cheese (especially blue cheese), tofu, seafood |
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| Important |
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The largest amounts of
vitamin B12 are found in animal products. Therefore, if you are
a vegetarian, taking a supplement may be a good idea. |
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Like most B vitamins,
B12 is not easily absorbed on it’s own, it needs to be
combined with calcium in the body to be properly absorbed. |
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The
relationship between vitamin B12, homocysteine, and heart disease
A deficiency of vitamin B12, folate, or vitamin B6 may increase your
blood level of homocysteine, an amino acid normally found in your blood.
There is evidence that an elevated blood level of homocysteine is an
independent risk factor for heart disease and stroke (29-38). The
evidence suggests that high levels of homocysteine may damage coronary
arteries (34) or make it easier for blood clotting cells called
platelets to clump together and form a clot. However, there is currently
no evidence available to suggest that lowering homocysteine level with
vitamins will actually reduce your risk of heart disease. Clinical
intervention trials are needed to determine whether supplementation with
vitamin B12, folic acid, or vitamin B6 can help protect you against
developing coronary heart disease.
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