Vitamin B12 is the B family of vitamins, all of which aid in the conversion of carbohydrates into energy for cells throughout the body. Vitamin B12 is also called cobalamin, a name that is derived from the fact that this vitamin is complexed with the metal ion cobalt. A deficiency in vitamin B12 is associated with multiple symptoms and diseases, including heart and blood vessel disease.
Vitamin B12 and Homocysteine
High levels of the protein homocysteine in the blood are significantly associated with various types of heart disease. In fact, having elevated homocysteine in the blood translates to a 2.5 times greater risk of a stroke, and 1.7 times greater risk of coronary artery disease, as reported by the University of Maryland Medical Center. Vitamin B12, along with folate and vitamin B6, helps to reduce the amount of homocysteine circulating in the blood stream. However, it is not known if homocysteine actually promotes heart disease or is just a marker of elevated risk. Furthermore, although vitamin B12 supplementation does reduce homocysteine levels, it is not yet known if this reduction is associated with a decreased risk of developing heart disease. Further research is being conducted to address these questions.
High Cholesterol
Vitamin B12 may also promote heart health by lowering high blood cholesterol levels. When levels of cholesterol in the blood are elevated, cholesterol can attach to the walls of blood vessels. Over time, high cholesterol causes the blood vessel disease atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis can in turn cause high blood pressure; stiff and inflexible blood vessels; and a weakened heart. Taking supplements of both fish oil and vitamin B12 reduces cholesterol levels more than taking fish oil alone, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, whether this reduction leads to a lower risk of heart disease is currently being studied.
Angioplasty
If your blood vessels become too narrow, you may have a procedure called balloon angioplasty, which reopens the blood vessels with an inflated pouch to enable blood to flow freely. Taking supplements of vitamin B12, folate, and vitamin B6 may help prevent blood vessels from narrowing again in the future after this procedure, per the Mayo Clinic.
Dosing Recommendations
The Office of Dietary Supplements, which is a part of the National Institutes of Health, publishes the recommended dietary allowances for all vitamins, including vitamin B12. They recommend that people over the age of 14 years get 2.4 mcg of vitamin B12 per day. Women who are pregnant should get slightly more at 2.6 mcg per day, and women who are breastfeeding should get 2.8 mcg per day.
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