Vitamin B-12 and acidophilus are both nutrients you can get from your diet, although they are also available as dietary supplements. B-12 helps the body maintain its nervous system and plays a role in circulation, while acidophilus is a probiotic that helps maintain healthy flora in your digestive tract. Before using either type of supplement, talk to your doctor about the potential benefits or risks.
Vitamin B-12
There are eight B vitamins, and each plays a different role in the body's routine functions. Vitamin B-12 helps maintain blood and nerve cell health, and prevent megaloblastic anemia. Most people get enough vitamin B-12 from the foods they eat, such as dairy products, fish and meats. Some people, however, may have difficulty absorbing all of the vitamin B-12 they eat, including those with absorption problems resulting from digestive disorders or medications like antibiotics and prescription reflux treatments. If you have low levels of B-12, you may feel sluggish or have a depressed mood. Vitamin B-12 supplements or injections may be necessary to reverse these symptoms.
Acidophilus
Lactobacillus acidophilus, often referred to as either L. acidophilus or simply acidophilus, also plays a role in the body's routine functions, in particular, digestion. Acidophilus is a strain of beneficial bacteria that is present naturally in most people's digestive tracts. You can get acidophilus from foods such as yogurt and miso, though like B-12, acidophilus is also available as a dietary supplement. Acidophilus may play a role in the prevention of many types of diarrhea, including traveller's diarrhea and the type caused by antibiotic use which wipes out all of the flora in the digestive tract. It may also help prevent and fight bacterial infections elsewhere in the body, reports Medline Plus.
Taking the Two Together
Vitamin B-12 and acidophilus each affect different systems in your body. Taking the two supplements together, however, may have some advantages. Acidophilus may improve the nutrient absorption process for some people. It can reduce the amount of unfriendly bacteria that inhibit absorption, and according to the University of Maryland Medical Center may treat some of the symptoms of common digestive disorders. These include Crohn's Disease and colitis, both of which may decrease the rate at which vitamin B-12 is absorbed.
Guidelines
It's easy to get vitamin B-12 and acidophilus in one shot: many yogurts contain both nutrients. Look for products that contain live yogurt cultures, and check the label for both acidophilus and vitamin B-12 content. If you're not a yogurt fan, you can get vitamin B-12 and acidophilus supplements over-the-counter in the vitamin aisle. Both supplements are considered safe for general use, and have few reported side effects, but you should still talk to your doctor before taking any supplements.
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