Vitamin B12 Article & Resources

Vitamin B12 - The Nervous System,
Anaemia, Learn More

In food, vitamin B12 is bound to the protein molecules. During digestion, the hydrochloric acid in the stomach helps release it from protein. It then combines with a chemical called intrinsic factor (present in digestive juices) in order to get absorbed into the bloodstream. Being water-soluble, vitamin B12 cannot get stored in the body (mainly liver) in large amounts and so must be supplied regularly through diet.

Vitamin B12 deficiency can arise from deficient diet or from malabsorption due to lack of intrinsic factor, tapeworm infestation and infection with H. pylori bacteria. Since the main sources of vitamin B12 are animal products and dairy products, vegetarians and, more so, vegans are at a greater risk of developing vitamin B12 deficiency if they are not augmenting their diet with vitamin B12 supplements.

Vitamin B12 deficiency And Anemia

The most commonly form of anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency is pernicious anemia. The deficiency results from impaired ability of the stomach to produce the intrinsic factor. The treatment is with lifelong supplementation with vitamin B12 injections or high-dosage (up to 200 mcg/day) oral preparations. Megaloblastic anemia is another form of anemia that can be caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. In this type of anemia, the red blood cells are immature and larger than normal.

Vitamin B12 deficiency And Nervous System

Strong scientific evidence indicates that vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to neurological and psychiatric disorders such as ataxia (unsteady gait and trembling), muscle weakness, incontinence, low blood pressure, vision problems, spasticity, dementia, psychoses and mood disturbances. Research reports suggest that these symptoms can occur even when vitamin B12 levels are only slightly lower than normal, considerably above the levels normally associated with anemia.

Other disease symptoms that appear to be associated with vitamin B12 deficiency include Alzheimer’s disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, hyperhomocysteinemia-linked diseases like heart disease and stroke, depression, male infertility, psychiatric disorders, seborrheaic dermatitis, osteoporosis, memory loss, etc. However, further controlled clinical studies are required to establish this association.

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The main cause of vitamin B12 deficiency in strict vegetarians is the lack of this vitamin in their diet. Dietary deficiency can be overcome either with regular intake of vitamin B12-fortified foods or by administering vitamin B12 orally/intranasally/intramuscularly in the form of injectable vitamin B12. Others who are at the risk of developing vitamin B12 deficiency are the elderly people and pregnant women. An oral dose of 10–250 mcg/day is usually adequate, but patients with malabsorption problem may need 1000 mcg/day or more.

Foods high in vitamin B12 include liver, eggs, fish and other animal and dairy products. It might help the vegetarians to include fermented food in their diet because some bacteria are known to be capable of producing vitamin B12.

Some contraindications of vitamin B12 have been shown in people recovering from coronary stents and Leber’s disease (hereditary optic nerve atrophy). Some people may develop side effects to vitamin B12, especially to injectable vitamin B12, such as itching, rash, intense erythema and diarrhea.

Vitamin B12 is best absorbed in the presence of several other vitamins like A, C, E and the vitamin B-complex. It is therefore best taken as part of a balanced multivitamin and mineral supplement.

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