Vitamin B12 is essential for proper nerve functioning and red blood cell production. A deficiency of vitamin B12 can cause anemia, weakness, loss of balance and numbness in the arms and legs, according to MayoClinic.com. Since B12 is not produced by the body, it must be obtained through food. Vegetarians and elderly persons may require a B12 supplement, in addition to dietary sources, according to "Facts About B12," a 2008 article by Linda B. Bobroff of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension.
Vitamin B-12 is an essential vitamin necessary for the formation and maintenance of nerves and cells in the body. For vegans, obtaining this vitamin may be a problem because vitamin B-12 is only found in animal-based products. ...
If you are looking to increase intake of vitamin B-12, it is present in nearly all animal products as well as fortified cereals. In fact, many foods contain more than the Recommended Daily Allowance, or RDA, in a single serving...
Plants do not contain significant amounts of vitamin B12, so vegetarians and especially vegans turn to alternative sources to obtain their vitamin B12. For your body to absorb B12 from food, the vitamin must combine with intrin...
Cobalamin is required in humans for the proper functioning of both blood cells and nervous tissue. Vitamin B-12 is synthesized only by microorganisms; it is not present in plants. Therefore it is generally not present in fruits...
B-12 is not naturally found in plant foods and strict vegetarians are at high risk for a B-12 deficiency, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. Some processed foods such as cereals and canned foods are fortified with ...
Some conditions, such as pernicious anemia, a condition that destroys the parietal cells in the stomach, interfere with the absorption of vitamin B12, resulting in a deficiency. Those with a B12 deficiency can increase their le...
The body uses folic acid more efficiently than folate, according to the National Women's Health Information Center, and it may prevent brain-related birth defects. The recommended daily intake ranges from 400 micrograms (mcg) i...
Vitamin B12 is central to energy metabolism all over your body, but it plays an especially important part in nerve cell function and blood formation. A deficiency in vitamin B12 can result in anemia. You must get vitamin B12 fr...
Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that is essential to growth, development and blood formation. People who follow a vegan diet--avoiding meats, dairy and eggs--need to find fortified food sources or consider taking a B12 s...
Animal protein is the primary source of B12 in the United States. While fermented foods, nutritional yeast and algae are thought to provide this vitamin for vegetarians and vegans in Third World countries, this does not seem to...
Vitamin B12 is found naturally in many foods from animal sources, where it binds to proteins inside the foods. After people eat foods that contain vitamin B12, their stomachs release it from the food and combine it with protei...
According to the Mayo Clinic, the recommended dietary allowance for adults is 2.4mcg vitamin B12 per day. There are many good sources of vitamin B12 in the diet, and supplement intake is an option for those who do not consume a...
Because vitamin B12 only appears naturally in animal products, strict vegetarians and vegans are at increased risk for deficiency. However, while meat and poultry are rich in vitamin B12, there are other sources of the nutrient.
It is found in highest concentrations in meats. Vitamin B12 supplementation is equal in the quality of the nutrient as getting the vitamin from natural sources, according to the Office of Dietary Supplementation. The problem wi...
Vitamin B12 is an essential water-soluble vitamin found in dairy, meats, fish and shell fish. B12 helps the body maintain healthy nerves and red blood cells and is required to process folic acid. Additionally, it's very common ...
According to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, iron is required for the metabolism of the majority of living organisms. Iron supports hundreds of enzymes and proteins in your body and it supports the stora...
Vitamin B12, the most complex of all the vitamins, plays a vital role in the production of new blood cells and in nervous system health. A dietary deficiency in vitamin B12 may lead to a condition known as anemia that is charac...
B-12 is important to proper metabolism. In particular, it supports the proper function of the central nervous system and the production of red blood cells, states Medline Plus. Animal products are the primary sources of vitamin...
Animal products such as meat, fish, eggs and milk are natural sources of vitamin B-12. Vitamin B-12 helps with red blood cell formation, promotes a healthy nervous system and helps your body utilize energy, according to the Nat...
Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is essential for red blood cell formation and for maintaining a healthy nervous system. All sources are animal products, but vegans can obtain B12 from fortified foods. Only small amounts a...
