Vitamin D12
All about vitamin B12
There are so many different vitamins that it can be difficult to keep track of them all and make sure we are getting the proper nutrition, but one vitamin that some people are asking about is vitamin D12. The problem with vitamin D12 is that it does not exist. The only D vitamins are vitamins D2 and D3, so vitamin D12 is nowhere to be found. However, the vitamin many of these people are probably trying to learn about is vitamin B12.
What vitamin B12 does
Vitamin B12 is responsible for keeping the brain and nervous system functioning normally. It also helps to form blood and helps with cell metabolism. The body needs enough vitamin B12 to make red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the entire body.
Vitamin B12 deficiency
When the body does not have enough of the B12 vitamin, then anemia occurs. Symptoms of a deficiency of this vitamin include extreme weakness or fatigue, lightheadedness, extremely pale skin, bleeding gums, unexplained weight loss, diarrhea, and constipation. In the advanced stages of deficiency, you may experience tingling in the fingers and toes, loss of balance, depression, and dementia. In order to diagnose this vitamin deficiency, the doctor will need to run a blood test to check and see how many red blood cells you have.
Treating a vitamin B12 deficiency
The best sources of the B12 vitamin are eggs, milk, cheese, and meat, so fill up on those food groups if you discover you are suffering from a deficiency of this vitamin. In addition to dietary changes, the doctor will usually also prescribe weekly or daily vitamin B12 shots. Usually you will start out getting one shot per day for a week, and then drop down to once a week for a month, and then once every other month.
If the vitamin B12 deficiency is bad, but not quite severe enough to warrant getting B12 shots, then the doctor may recommend a B12 supplement. Most people will get the same benefits from the supplement as they do from the shots, and they are much cheaper than getting the shots.
Risks for having a vitamin B12 deficiency
There are a few risks associated with not getting enough B12 in your diet. People who follow a vegan diet or who do not consume any animal products are at the highest risk for developing a vitamin B12 deficiency. They will need to add a supplement to their diet to avoid getting anemia. Also people who suffer from ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease sometimes have absorption problems in the small intestine that prevents this vitamin from being absorbed. Another risk factor for having a deficiency of B12 is if you have had surgery to remove part of your stomach or small intestine. Also people who have pernicious anemia are at a high risk for developing a vitamin B12 deficiency. Pernicious anemia occurs when the body begins to destroy the stomach cells that allow the body to absorb vitamin B12.