Health Benefits of Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin, like all other B vitamins. This means it can dissolve in water and travel through the bloodstream. Vitamin B12 is the largest and most structurally complicated vitamin. Vitamin B12 is essential for preventing anemia and maintaining neurological health. It may help prevent dementia and heart disease.

Functions

Vitamin B12 carries and delivers methyl group to other molecules (including DNA and neurotransmitters). In this way, it has a significant role in cell division.

Vitamin B12 has activity as a coenzyme in many enzymatic reactions. It participates in the synthesis of porphyrins, which are an important component of hemoglobin.

Together with folic acid, it is involved in the synthesis of red and white blood cells. Without vitamin B12 folic acid cannot be absorbed and remains “trapped” in the intestinal wall (this is the reason why vitamin B12 deficiency causes the same symptoms as folate deficiency).

Vitamin B12 supports the iron activity in the body and is involved in the synthesis of choline. Vitamin B12 activates an enzyme called methionine synthase that has many essential functions, including helping your body use folate, which is needed for production of new DNA during cell division. If you don't consume enough vitamin B-12, usable folate can become low, slowing production of new red blood cells in your bone marrow. Eventually, this problem can lead to low levels of iron in your blood as old red cells wear out and die but aren't effectively replaced.

Vitamin B12 is necessary for reproduction and stability of DNA and RNA. It helps the metabolism of vitamin A and more particularly absorption of carotene. Vitamin B12, together with vitamin B6, facilitates the conversion of amino acids into hormones and neurotransmitters. It supports the myelin sheath around nerve structures, working together with folic acid.

Vitamin B12 helps release energy from the food we eat. But it’s also involved in normal nervous system function, supporting the immune system, maintaining healthy psychological function and fighting fatigue.

Vitamin B12 as Immunomodulator

Vitamin B12 plays a crucial role in the proper functioning of the immune system. Methionine synthase, which uses methylcobalamin as a cofactor, is essential for the synthesis of purines and pyrimidines in all cells, including fast-dividing immune cells. B12 deficiency leads to a low number of lymphocytes and impairs the activity of NK cells. Vitamin B12 deficiency is also postulated to alter oxidative metabolism. Vitamin B12 could minimize the effects of protein malnutrition in the hematological or immune system.

Vitamin B12 During and After COVID-19

Vitamin B is involved with the regulation of the immune system and antiviral activity. Vitamin B12 plays an important role in white blood cell production and can help balance immune responses to better fight viral infections.

It is required for collagen linkage. Collagen strengthens the Immune system as it involves cellular repair and stimulation of immune cells that leads to speed up the healing process of an injury and infections.

COVID-19 affects vitamin B12 metabolism, impairs intestinal microbial proliferation and contributes to symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency. There are signs and symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency that are similar to those of a coronavirus infection. Vitamin B12 combined with a healthy diet can be an important adjuvant in treating COVID-19 and in patients treated after COVID-19 infection.

Causes of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Vitamin B12 deficiency happens if you are not eating enough vitamin B12 or your body is not absorbing the vitamin B12 you consume properly. Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining, and it’s a common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency. It can cause vitamin B12 deficiency due to a lack of hydrochloric acid in your stomach, which is needed for vitamin B12 absorption.

People who have pernicious anemia, a rare medical condition, are not able to make intrinsic factor, a protein made by your stomach. You need intrinsic factor so that your body can absorb vitamin B12. People with pernicious anemia have a vitamin B12 deficiency.

Diseases that affect the digestive system, like Crohn’s disease and celiac disease, can prevent your body from fully absorbing vitamin B12.

People who have gastrointestinal surgery, such as a gastric bypass (weight loss surgery), can have difficulty absorbing vitamin B12. Alcohol use can damage your digestive system and cause vitamin B12 deficiency.

Deficiency Symptoms

Some people will have a vitamin B12 deficiency but no symptoms. Having low or deficient vitamin B12 levels can lead to a number of symptoms, some of which can be serious. It can result in irreversible and potentially severe damage, especially to the nervous system and brain. Even slightly lower-than-normal levels of vitamin B12 can trigger symptoms. However, these symptoms are nonspecific. Symptoms may include depression, confusion, memory problems, fatigue, headaches, mood changes and difficulty concentrating.

Once symptoms worsen, they can include neurological changes, such as numbness and tingling in the hands and feet. Some people may have difficulty maintaining balance.

Infants who lack vitamin B12 may show unusual movements, such as face tremors, reflex problems, feeding difficulties, irritation and eventual growth problems if left untreated

Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Vitamin B12 deficiency is relatively common. Approximately 1.5% to 15% of people have vitamin B12 deficiency. Low B12 concentrations in the body may be present in different pathophysiological situations, including pregnancy, old age, smoking, and comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, pancreatic insufficiency, autoimmune gastritis, gastrectomy or gastric bypass, diseases or resection of the ileum, bacterial overgrowth, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or uremia-related malnutrition.

Complications

Left untreated, a vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to anemia, fatigue, muscle weakness, intestinal problems, nerve damage and mood disturbances.

Long-term vitamin B12 deficiency may increase the risk of various health problems. One reason for this may be that the body needs vitamin B12 to process homocysteine. High levels of homocysteine and some health conditions, such as dementia and cardiovascular disease.

Low levels of vitamin B12 may affect brain health in the long term and increase the risk of cognitive decline.

Depending on the person’s age, it may lead to reduced school performance in children irritability, memory loss, depression and dementia. Getting an early diagnosis can help prevent long-term complications.

Preventing Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Most people can prevent vitamin B12 deficiency through dietary choices, but this is not always the case. People whose diet is largely or wholly plant-based should ensure their B12 intake is adequate.

Good sources of vitamin B12 include clams, beef liver, fish, such as salmon and tuna, nutritional yeast, dairy products and eggs. Plant-based sources of vitamin B12 include yeast extract, fortified plant milks, fortified breakfast cereals and soya foods fortified with B12.

Proton pump inhibitors. Taking Omeprazole , Lansoprazole or other stomach acid-reducing drugs might decrease your body's ability to absorb vitamin B12.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) supplements. Taking vitamin B12 with vitamin C might reduce the available amount of vitamin B12 in your body. To avoid this interaction, take vitamin C two or more hours after taking a vitamin B12 supplement.