Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin, which usually means that your body uses the needed amount of the vitamin and excretes the excess through urine. Vitamin B12 is an exception; you can store small amounts in your liver for years. Vitamin B12 is essential for important roles throughout your body. You can obtain adequate amounts from your diet, but, in some cases, you may need a vitamin B12 supplement or injection. Talk with your doctor before taking a vitamin B12 supplement, to ensure that it will not interact with any of your medications.
Classifications
Vitamins are generally classified into two categories: fat-soluble and water-soluble. Fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, E and K, are stored in your body fat. If you take a fat-soluble vitamin in supplement form, you must take it with food containing fat for it to be absorbed. Vitamin C and all of the B vitamins are water-soluble. Because your body does not store these vitamins, you must ingest them throughout the day. While B12 is classified as a water-soluble vitamin, it acts differently because it is the only one that is stored.
Functions of Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 has the largest and most complex structure of all vitamins. The different forms of vitamin B12, or cobalamin, contain the mineral cobalt, which is essential to the vitamin's function. Methylcobalamin and 5-deoxyadenosyl cobalamin are forms of vitamin B12 that are biologically active in humans. You need vitamin B12 for proper red blood cell formation, neurological function and synthesis of DNA, the genetic material found in all cells.
B12 Deficiency
Because vitamin B12 is water-soluble, it is easily absorbed. You need 2.4 mcg each day for normal biological functions. Vitamin B12 deficiency can make you feel fatigued and weak and can affect neurological function. Severe deficiency may lead to numbness and tingling in the limbs, poor balance or dementia, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. Having a gastrointestinal disorder, such as Crohn's disease or irritable bowel syndrome, can increase your risk of a vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 is absorbed in the small intestine, which is affected by these types of disorders. Senior citizens frequently have problems with low levels of vitamin B12, because the ability to absorb the vitamin diminishes with age.
Risks Associated with Toxicity
There is no established toxicity level for vitamin B12, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. When you ingest large doses of B12, your body absorbs and stores only a small amount. Any excess vitamin B12 is excreted naturally, resulting in a low risk of toxicity.
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