Vitamin B-12 is a large molecule that is complexed with the metal cobalt, which gives this vitamin its alternate name: cobalamin. Having normal levels of the vitamin B-12 is essential for optimal health. Levels that are too low may lead to potentially serious health effects, such as producing too few blood platelets.
Platelets
A platelet is a type of blood cell that aids in blood clotting. When you have a cut or an abrasion, your platelets become activated and clump together to form a blood clot. Platelets are produced by the bone marrow and then circulate in the blood stream until activated. These cells are smaller than both white blood cells, which are cells of the immune system, and red blood cells.
Thrombocytopenia
Thrombocytopenia is a potentially serious medical condition in which there are too few platelets circulating in the blood. This low level can be caused either by a low rate of platelet production in the bone marrow or increased destruction of platelets either in the blood stream or in the spleen or liver. A deficiency in vitamin B-12 is one cause of low platelet production in the bone marrow. Therefore, a vitamin B-12 deficiency may cause a delay in the normal rate of blood clotting, which can lead to abnormal bleeding. A person with thrombocytopenia may notice that bruises develop more easily than normal or that scabs take longer to form over a cut or abrasion.
Dose
The Institute of Medicine recommends that men and women over the age of 18 years get at least 2.5 mcg of vitamin B-12 each day. This amount will prevent a vitamin B-12 deficiency and therefore help keep platelet levels normal. Additionally, doses of this vitamin up to 1 mg per day have no toxic side effects, according to Oregon State University's Linus Pauling Institute.
Sources
For your body to make enough healthy platelets, make sure that you are eating enough vitamin B-12 food sources or taking supplements. Bacteria are the sole producers of vitamin B-12, which is incorporated into animal food products like chicken, beef, fish and shellfish. Milk also contains some vitamin B-12 as well. To keep platelet production normal, vegetarians can get enough of this vitamin by eating fortified foods such as breakfast cereal or take supplements.
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