Facts About Vitamin B12

What is vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12, also known as cyanocobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin that is part of the B vitamin family. B vitamins help support adrenal function, help calm and maintain a healthy nervous system, and are necessary for key metabolicprocesses. Vitamin B12 is important to DNA synthesis and maintaining healthy nerve cells.

Vitamina B12 este importanta pentru sinteza ADN si ARN , mentinerea integritatii neuronale.

Why is vitamin B12 necessary?

Knowing the facts about the B12 vitamin is vital: this essential micronutrient affects the development and maintenance of red blood cells, nerve cells, and normal myelination (covering) of nerve cells. It also aids in the production of DNA and RNA, and the production of neurotransmitters.

What are the signs of a Vitamin B12 deficiency?

Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency include fatigue, muscle weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness, numbness, heart palpitations, bleeding gums and mouth sores, nausea, poor appetite and diarrhea. Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms may present themselves slowly and may not be recognized for some time. A deficiency of B12 can produce pernicious anemia, which can lead to memory loss, confusion and even dementia.

Since we obtain vitamin B12 only from animal foods in our diet, vitamin B12 deficiencies tend to develop among strict vegetarians, especially vegan children, who eat no animal products. However, the elderly, and those who are unable to absorb vitamin B12 from the intestinal tract are also at risk, as well as those femei insarcinate persoane cu ,hemoragii intestinale sau malabsorbtie.

How much, and what kind, does an adult need?

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the average daily U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is:

Adolescenti peste 14 ani, 2.4 mcg;

for adulti and adolescente insarcinate, 2.6 mcg

and for adult and adolescent lactating females, 2.8mcg.

Adultii peste 50 ani ar trebui sa consume alimente fortificate cu vitamina B12-, sau sa ia suplimente cu vitamina B12 - 25-100 mcg / zi has been used to maintain vitamin B12 levels in older people.

Dr. Weil recommends taking 50 mcg as part of a B-Complex that contains a full spectrum of B vitamins, including biotin, thiamin, the B12 vitamin, riboflavin and niacin.

How much does a child need?

Recomandarile NIH :

sugari 0-6 luni , 0.4 mcg

sugari 7-12 luni , 0.5 mcg

copii 1-3 ani, 0.9 mcg

copii 4-8 ani, 1.2mcg

copii 9-13 ani, 1.8 mcg.

How do you get enough vitamin B12 from foods?

Animal-derived foods are the best food sources of vitamin B12, including dairy products, eggs, meat, fish, poultry, andshellfish.

Are there any risks associated with too much vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 is considered safe and non-toxic, but other B-vitamins can cause problems in large doses.

Are there any other special considerations?

Taking sublingual tablet or oral spray form of vitamin B12, both of which are absorbed by the blood vessels in the mouth, is often better for seniors who may have trouble absorbing the vitamin from the stomach.

Alegerea formelor de administrare orala sau sublinguala (tablete , spray ) , cu absorbtie imediata , este preferata lapacientii varstnici , care pot avea dificultati de absorbtie datorita gastritei atrofice.

Vitamin B12 absorption and/or depletion may occur in those who use alcohol excessively, who take antibiotics, use stomach-acid controlling drugs, including H-2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors, or who take Metformin to treat type 2 diabetes. Nicotine can also lower serum levels of B12.

Scaderea absorbtiei de vitamina B12 si /sau epuizarea resurselor poate avea loc la alcoolici, in cursul tratamentelor antibiotice, la pacientii care iau blocanti H2 si inhibitor ai pompei protonice, ori la diabeticii in tratament cu Metformin.De asemenea nicotina poate scadea nivelele serice de vitamina B12 .

In addition, potassium supplements can reduce absorption of vitamin B12, and there is some evidence that vitamin C in supplements can interfere with obtaining the vitamin B12 found in foods.

Suplimentele de potasiu , cele continand vitamina C, pot de asemenea reduce absorbtia vitaminei B12

Updated by: Andrew Weil, M.D., and Brian Becker, M.D., on Oct. 29th, 2012