Vitamin B12 For Healthy Living

Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that is commonly found in a variety of foods such as meats, fish, milk, eggs, and cereals. Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin and it is stored in the liver that assists the human body in many critical processes. This complex form of vitamin is considered unique among all because of the presence of the cobalt, a form of metal ion. The most common advantage of Vitamin B12 is its ability to speed up the metabolic activities and increase one’s energy level.

This vitamin ensures the smooth functioning of life processes and this is very important for maintaining healthy nervous system. The DNA production and red blood cells formation are regulated by proper intake of vitamin B12. The deficiency of this vitamin can disrupt the body’s natural formation of red blood cells, which will eventually lead to anemia. Vitamin B12 is needed for tissue and cell repairs and this helps in the synthesis process of DNA.

Vitamin B12 when taken with folic acid will significantly reduce the neural tube defects, a type of birth defects. Both of these vitamins lower the homocysteine levels in the body as the increased homocysteine levels play an important role in cardiovascular disease and birth defects. Vitamin B12 is very important for the production of myelin, a protein component that is present in the fat layers covering the nerves.

In addition, this vitamin is very helpful in proper digestion of foods and absorbs other essential nutrients for the human body. Vitamin B12 protects the body from pernicious anemia. As vitamin B12 is very important for several body functions, it is possible for the body to get deficient with this vitamin. This deficiency normally starts with the symptom of fatigue. Therefore, it is essential to include foods rich in vitamin B12 in the diet.

Further studies have revealed that vitamin B12 also help in the treatment of male infertility, asthma, migraine headaches, and depression. Vitamin B12 along with other vitamins reduces the occurrence of stroke and Alzheimer’s heart disease. Methylcobalamin is the coenzyme of vitamin B12 and it exists in the body-friendly form. Therefore, this coenzyme can be used in the natural form without any kind of ingestion. In this form, vitamin B12 can directly penetrate into the bloodstream and produce several benefits.

Another form of this vitamin B12 is hydroxocobalamin, which is believed to be the effective treatment for cyanide poisoning. Studies have shown that the absorption of vitamin B12 decreases with the increases in age. Therefore, this vitamin should be taken in the supplement form for a healthy living and this is very helpful for adults above fifty years.

The deficiency in vitamin B12 can be easily identified by fatigue, slow reflexes, memory problem, stammering, jerky limbs, weakness, anemia, and finally severe deficiency can result in brain damage. Also, vitamin folate and vitamin B12 are critical for the formation of DNA and RNA. Vitamin B12 is essential for proper functioning of certain enzymes that performs carbohydrate metabolism and controls fat.