Its very nice to see few emails about the article & question which readers are sending regarding the old topics in the blog, Thanks for all the readers. In the present post i am writing about Vitamin B12.
After read this article you will get to know the following topics about vitamin B12
What is Vitamin B12?
What is the importance of Vitamin B12?
What is the minimum recommended intake?
What are the sources of Vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12 is a member of the vitamin B complex. It contains cobalt, and so is also known as cobalamin is unique. It differs from other vitamins, even from others of the B complex, in many ways. It has a chemical structure much more complex than that of any other vitamin. It's the only vitamin to contain an inorganic element (the mineral cobalt) as an integral part of its makeup. And only microorganisms and bacteria can make vitamin B12 -- plants and animals can't.
An abnormally low level of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is a factor in many disorders. The absorption of dietary vitamin B12 occurs in the small intestine and requires a secretion from the stomach known as intrinsic factor. If intrinsic factor is deficient, absorption of vitamin B12 is severely diminished. Vitamin B12 deficiency impairs the body’s ability to make blood, accelerates blood cell destruction, and damages the nervous system. The result is pernicious anemia (PA). In the classical definition, PA refers only to B12 deficiency anemia caused by a lack of intrinsic factor. True PA is probably an autoimmune disease. The immune system destroys cells in the stomach that secrete intrinsic factor. Many people with PA have both chronic inflammation of the stomach lining, called atrophic gastritis, and antibodies that fight their intrinsic factor-secreting cells.
The term pernicious anemia is sometimes used colloquially to refer to any anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 deficiency can be due to malabsorption of dietary B12 despite normal levels of intrinsic factor. For example, celiac disease and Crohn’s disease may cause B12 malabsorption, which can lead to anemia. Less common causes of B12 deficiency include gastrointestinal surgery, pancreatic disease, intestinal parasites, and certain drugs. Pregnancy, hyperthyroidism, and advanced stages of cancer may increase the body’s requirement for B12, sometimes leading to a deficiency state.
Low stomach acid, known as hypochlorhydria, interferes with the absorption of B12 from food but not from supplements. Aging is associated with a decrease in the normal secretion of stomach acid. As a result, some older people with normal levels of intrinsic factor and with no clear cause for malabsorption will become vitamin B12-deficient unless they take at least a few micrograms per day of vitamin B12 from supplements.
Caution: PA is a serious medical condition. When fatigue, often the first symptom of PA, is present, a qualified healthcare practitioner should be consulted. Symptoms of PA can be caused by other conditions, none of which would respond to vitamin B12 supplementation. Moreover, if true vitamin B12 deficiency exists, the cause—lack of intrinsic factor, general malabsorption conditions, lack of stomach acidity, or dietary deficiency—must also be properly diagnosed by examination and blood tests before the appropriate treatment can be determined.
So Its very important to take Vitamins B12 in the form of food and supplement so avoid all these problems.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of severe vitamin B12 deficiency (regardless of the cause) may include burning of the tongue, fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, intermittent constipation and diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, menstrual symptoms, psychological symptoms, and nervous system problems, such as numbness and tingling in the feet and hands. Most symptoms can occur before the deficiency is severe enough to cause anemia. Healthcare professionals have a series of laboratory tests that can determine B12 deficiency at earlier stages that are not accompanied by anemia.
Recommended Daily intake of Vitamin B12 is 6mcg, this is Water soluble; excess is excreted by the body. Vitamin B12 is Essential for normal growth and for production of red blood cells; helps maintain a healthy nervous system.
Sources of Vitamin B12 : (Animal foods only) Preferred: lean meats, chicken, fish, skim or low-fat dairy products. Use Sparingly: eggs, liver, fatty meats.
½ pint of milk (300ml ) contains 1.2 mcg.
A slice of vegetarian cheddar cheese (40g) contains 0.5 mcg.
A boiled egg contains 0.7 mcg.
One half chicken breast provides some 0.3mcg per serving
3oz of beef, 2.4 mcg
one slice of liver 47.9mcg
3oz of molluscs 84.1 mcg.
Fermentation in the manufacture of yoghurt destroys much of the B12 present. Boiling milk can also destroy much of the B12. I hope dear reader you learned few important acepects of vitamin B12 today, feel free to post your comments and suggestions in the comments section, and please share this article with your friends and loved once this my help them. You are comments and suggestions will help me to improve the article.
Thanks in advance,
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Venkat
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