Vitmanin B12 , The Energy Vitamin?

Vitamin B12, known as cobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin which is involved in the metabolism of each cell in the body; it enables the release of energy by helping the body absorb folic acid. Vitamin B12 aids in the synthesis of DNA as well as fatty acid and amino acid metabolism. It is particularly important in the normal functioning of the nervous system via its role in the synthesis of myelin, and in the maturation of developing red blood cells in the bone marrow. Since our bodies don’t produce vitamin B12, it needs to be regularly present in our diet or taken in the form of supplements.
Vitamin B12 is the most structurally complicated vitamin and is found in meat products and can be industrially produced through bacterial fermentation synthesis. Other sources include dairy products, eggs, fish, meat, and poultry. It’s advised to preserve a healthy diet and receive adequate amounts of nutrients before active treatment is needed.

Vitamin B12 deficiency
Vitamin B12 deficiency can result in potentially severe damage, especially to the brain and nervous system. Moreover, slightly lower than normal levels can cause depression, memory problems, fatigue, and confusion. Other symptoms include constipation, loss of appetite, and weight loss.
It’s more likely to develop vitamin B12 deficiency if you have:
• Atrophic gastritis, in which your stomach lining has thinned
• Pernicious anemia, which makes it hard for your body to absorb vitamin B12
• Conditions that affect your small intestine, such as Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, bacterial growth, or a parasite
• Immune system disorders, such as Graves’ disease or lupus

Vitamin B12 deficiency can also occur if you follow a vegan diet (which excludes all animal products, including meat, milk, cheese, or eggs) or if you are a vegetarian who doesn’t consume enough dairy products to satisfy your vitamin B12 requirements. In such cases, it’s possible to compensate by eating fortified foods or by taking supplements.

Dietary supplements

In dietary supplements, vitamin B12 is usually present as cyanocobalamin, a form that the body readily converts to the active forms methylcobalamin and 5-deoxyadenosylcobalamin. Dietary supplements can also contain methylcobalamin and other forms of vitamin B12.
Existing evidence does not suggest any differences among forms with respect to absorption or bioavailability. However, the body’s ability to absorb vitamin B12 from dietary supplements is largely limited by the capacity of intrinsic factors. For example, only about 10 mcg of a 500-mcg oral supplement is actually absorbed in healthy people.
In addition to oral dietary supplements, vitamin B12 is available in sublingual preparations as tablets or lozenges. These preparations are frequently marketed as having superior bioavailability, although evidence suggests no difference in efficacy between oral and sublingual forms.
References:
• Vitamin b12 deficiency: Causes, symptoms, and treatment. (2020, April 25). Retrieved March 07, 2021, from https://www.webmd.com/diet/vitamin-b12-deficiency-symptoms-causes
• Office of dietary supplements – vitamin b12. (n.d.). Retrieved March 07, 2021, from https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB12-HealthProfessional/