Vitamin B12 is an important nutrient that your body requires to help optimize brain, nerve, and blood health.
1 in every 6 adults over the age of 60 is deficient in Vit D.
Many younger adults are deficient as well especially those who do follow a vegan lifestyle and do not substitute B12 into their diet.
Nine Benefits of Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 has many functions. Here are some of its most important functions:
- Improves Fatigue
- Optimizes memory function
- Optimize sleep
- Helps make red blood cells
- Involved in DNA synthesis
- Helps with protein production
- Help with production of brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) to prevent depression
- Improves nerve function and communication
- Lowers homocysteine levels – Elevated levels of the amino acid homocysteine are associated with increased risk of dementia, heart disease, and stroke. Vitamin B12 lowers homocysteine.
Due to vitamin B12’s importance to the human body, various problems can occur when a person has insufficient stores. Symptoms include anemia, memory issues, and depression according to a Harvard University. A vitamin B12 deficiency can result in the following conditions:
- Anemia
- Abnormal platelet count (low platelets or elevated number of platelets)
- Burning tongue (burning mouth syndrome)
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Hallucinations and confusion
- Insomnia
- Loss of balance
- Loss of smell
- Memory loss – Vitamin B12 deficiency is more common in those with dementia
- Numbness and tingling in legs and arms, referred to as “peripheral neuropathy” by doctors. Neuropathy is common in those with diabetes but may also affect those with prediabetes or no diabetes.
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Vitiligo – A skin condition where sections of the skin lack color (hypopigmentation)