Vitamin B-12, or cobalamin, is found in almost all multivitamins and seafood, meat, eggs and dairy products. While most people in the United States get sufficient amounts of this vitamin from the foods they eat, older adults, those with pernicious anemia and those with reduced levels of stomach acidity or intestinal disorders may have difficulty absorbing vitamin B-12 and do suffer from deficiency, notes the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin B-12 is needed for several body processes. Its importance is even more evident considering the effects of inadequate intake of this vitamin.
Healthy Red Blood Cells
Vitamin B-12 is needed for healthy red blood cell formation. Supplementing with high doses of vitamin B-12 may also help treat pernicious anemia, a serious type of anemia in older people that destroys one's own antibodies.
Healthy Nervous System
Vitamin B-12 also helps the nervous system function properly such that a deficiency may cause depression, dementia and poor memory. Taking vitamin B-12 and folic acid while pregnant may also help prevent neural tube defects in babies. People with Alzheimer's disease and dementia have low levels of vitamin B-12, notes the Linus Pauling Institute, but scientists do not exactly know how vitamin B-12 helps prevent or treat problems related to the nervous system.
Other Important Functions
Taken with vitamin B-6 and folic acid, vitamin B-12 may lower high levels of homocysteine, an amino acid associated with heart disease. Vitamin B-12 also helps make and repair functional DNA. A deficiency in this vitamin may lead to DNA damage, increasing the risk for cancer. Scientists are conducting research to determine if increasing the intake for these vitamins will reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease or cancer, notes the Linus Pauling Institute.
Effects of Deficiency
Vitamin B-12 acts at the DNA and cell level and many of its functions are not fully understood; however, it is essential for proper body functioning. People who are deficient in vitamin B-12 may experience weakness, constipation, loss of appetite, weight loss and balance problems. There may also have numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, soreness of the mouth or tongue. Consult your doctor if you suspect your symptoms are related to vitamin B-12 deficiency, especially if you do not eat meat, are over 60 or may have physiological problems absorbing vitamins.
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