Vitamins and nutrients are essential to health and the proper function of your body. A vitamin deficiency can manifest as a variety of symptoms. Even low levels of certain vitamins can reduce your body's ability to function optimally. Vitamin B12 is critical to your health and plays many beneficial roles in bodily function. B12 is abundant in meat, poultry and fish, but is not present in plant foods, leading to an increased risk of deficiency in vegetarians and vegans.
Role and Function
B12 is one of eight B vitamins and is known as cobalamin due to the presence of cobalt. Cyanocobalamin is one form of B12 commonly found in protein foods. Your body converts cyanocobalamin to methylcobalamin, a more active form of B12. Once in the body, B12 is involved in the production of red blood cells, tissues, DNA and RNA. It is also necessary for the proper function of your nervous system.
Angina and Anemia Benefit
Adequate levels of B12 are beneficial to providing oxygen-rich blood to your body's tissues and organs. Conditions such as angina, are caused by lack of oxygen-rich blood. Angina is characterized by chest pain. B12 is also beneficial to the treatment and prevention of anemia, or low red blood cells. B12 deficiency also causes megaloblastic anemia, a condition where immature, irregular shaped, non-functioning red blood cells are released into the bloodstream. Sufficient B12 helps provide oxygen and nutrients to your body and prevent conditions related to low red blood cells and low oxygen.
Heart Disease Benefit
Vitamin B12 works together with B6 and B9 to help regulate homocysteine levels, an amino acid linked to heart disease. High levels of homocysteine can contribute to artery blockage by increasing clotting ability. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, studies indicate that individuals with elevated levels of homocysteine are at an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease.
Fatigue Benefit
Because B12 is involved in energy production, it can be beneficial to individuals suffering from fatigue. Specifically, it may be able to help if you have chronic fatigue syndrome, severe exhaustion that is not relieved by sleep or rest. According to the UMMC, a small study indicated that individuals with normal levels of B12, but suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome improved when given B12 injections, though more research is necessary.
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