vitamin b12Image Credit source: CHRISTOPH BURGSTEDT/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images

We all know how important vitamins are for our health and that each vitamin has a different function in our body. But still some vitamins are very important for us and their deficiency can cause many physical problems, which also includes vitamin B12.

This is a special vitamin, the deficiency of which increases the possibility of many physical problems. Do you know that if vitamin B12 deficiency is not treated, it can lead to physical, neurological and psychological problems? Very few people know that vitamin B12 is so important for our body. Let us know what vitamin B12 is and what problems can we face due to its deficiency.

vitamin b12

Vitamin B12 is an important nutrient that helps keep your body's nervous cells and blood cells healthy. Your body doesn't make vitamin B12 on its own, so you need to eat foods and drinks that contain vitamin B12 to get it.

To absorb vitamin B12 from the food we eat, our bodies need two things to happen. First, the hydrochloric acid in your stomach breaks down vitamin B12 from the food it was in. Then, the separated vitamin B12 binds with a protein made by the stomach, called intrinsic factor, and the body absorbs them together.

Why does vitamin B12 decrease in the body?

MD Consultant Dr Kamaljit Kainth says that if someone has any problem related to the stomach or small intestine, such as celiac disease or Crohn's disease, then the person's body is not able to absorb sufficient amount of vitamin B12 from food. Due to which there is a deficiency of vitamin B12 in the body. Apart from this, if a person consumes only a vegetarian diet, that is, does not consume food obtained from animals, then due to this also there is a risk of B12 deficiency.

People who have had gastrointestinal surgery such as gastric bypass may also have difficulty absorbing vitamin B12.

Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Many types of symptoms can appear when there is a deficiency of vitamin B12 in the body. These include constant fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, muscle weakness, weight loss and poor mental condition.

What happens due to deficiency of vitamin b12?

Dr. Ajay Agarwal, Department of Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Noida says that vitamin B12 is very important for the body. It helps in maintaining better brain function and protecting the body from many types of problems.

But if there is a deficiency of vitamin B12 in the body, then the risk of anemia i.e. lack of blood in the body also increases. Pregnant women also have a higher risk of anemia. It can also affect the health of their unborn child.

How does low vitamin B12 cause anemia?

Vitamin B12 works to produce red blood cells in the body. In such a situation, if red blood cells are not produced in someone's body due to lack of vitamin B12, then anemia starts occurring.

How much vitamin B12 should be taken daily?

Nutritionist Dr Paramjit Kaur According to experts, the amount of vitamin B12 varies according to the age of each person and other factors. According to experts, people aged 14 years and above need 2.4 micrograms of vitamin B12 a day. At the same time, 2.6 micrograms of vitamin B12 is needed during pregnancy and 2.3 micrograms of vitamin B12 is needed daily in breastfeeding women.

Which foods contain vitamin B12?

But the easiest way to overcome the deficiency of vitamin B12 is to change your diet. If you take such a diet which is rich in vitamin B12, then its deficiency can be overcome soon. Along with this, the problems caused by it will also go away. Vitamin B12 is found in abundance in meat, eggs, milk, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cheese, chickpeas, Brussels sprouts and brown rice.

Which is better for Vitamin B12 – injection or medicine?

If there is a deficiency of vitamin B12 in the body, doctors recommend taking medicines or injections along with foods rich in it. But which of the two is the best? Dr Jugal Kishore Doctors say that if the amount of vitamin B12 in the body is less than 30 pg/ml, then it is considered dangerous. In this situation, injections can be advised to fulfil the deficiency. But if the amount of vitamin B12 in the body is between 50 to 170, then experts recommend taking its medicines. But both injections and tablets should be taken as prescribed by the doctor.

A poor digestive system makes it difficult for the body to absorb vitamin B12, so make sure that your digestive system is fine. Vitamin B12 deficiency is a very common problem, but avoiding it is in our own hands because remember, your body is what you eat.