Vitamin B-12 and iron both help your blood function. They also have other similarities in that they both are obtained by eating red meat, poultry, fish and shellfish; both primarily come from animal sources. Even though they do have some similarities, they are very different from each other.
Vitamin B-12
Vitamin B-12 is a water-soluble vitamin. Your body cannot store it and you must replenish this vitamin daily. Vitamin B-12 is one of the many vitamins that help form red blood cells, maintain your central nervous system and regulate metabolism. If you fail to replace this vitamin regularly, you could develop a vitamin B-12 deficiency. A vitamin B-12 deficiency is also referred to as pernicious anemia. Symptoms of a vitamin B-12 deficiency include loss of balance and tingling or numbness in your arms and legs.
Iron
Iron does not help form red blood cells, but it does help your red blood cells carry oxygen. Without iron, your blood would not be able to produce hemoglobin, which allows blood to carry oxygen to other parts of your body from your lungs. If your body begins to develop an iron deficiency, fatigue and weakness are the most common symptoms. These symptoms are common because when your muscles do not get enough oxygen, they tire easily.
Other Comparisons
Unlike vitamin B-12, your body can store iron. Iron is stored in your muscles, bone marrow, spleen and liver. Both can be obtained from animals and plants; however, both nutrients are most reliable from animal-based sources. Plant-based sources can vary in the quantity of nutrients and therefore are not reliable sources, as the plant could have only trace amounts, whereas meat is saturated with both nutrients. Both nutrients also aid in the function of metabolism in that vitamin B-12 helps breakdown foods into energy, while iron produces a chemical known as adenosine triphosphate, which is your body's energy source.
Considerations
The recommended daily dosage of vitamin B-12 is 2.4 mcg for everyone older than 14 years of age. The daily recommended dosage of iron is 8 mg for men and 18 mg for women. Women have a higher need of iron due to the loss of blood during menstruation. If you begin to develop signs of anemia for either nutrient, talk to your doctor. He may recommend a supplement if your diet lacks either or both of these nutrients.
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