8 Health Benefits of Vitamin B12

1. 8 Health Benefits of Vitamin B12

2. Introduction Are you struggling with fatigue, low energy levels, mood changes and a lack of focus? This can be a sign that you’re dealing with a vitamin B12 deficiency. If that’s the case, you’re not alone. About 40 percent of people have low levels of vitamin B12, which is an issue that needs to be addressed because this is an essential vitamin for the production of red blood cells and DNA, not to mention all the vitamin B12 benefits it provides.

3. For most adults, the recommended daily intake (RDI) is 2.4 mcg, though it’s higher for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Vitamin B12 may benefit your body in impressive ways, such as by boosting your energy, improving your memory and helping prevent heart disease. Here are 8 health benefits of vitamin B12, all based on science.

4. Red Blood Cell Formation and Anemia Prevention Low vitamin B12 levels cause a reduction in red blood cell formation and prevent them from developing properly. Healthy red blood cells are small and round, whereas they become larger and typically oval in cases of vitamin B12 deficiency. Due to this larger and irregular shape, the red blood cells are unable to move from the bone marrow into the bloodstream at an appropriate rate, causing megaloblastic anemia

5. Support Bone Health and Prevent Osteoporosis Maintaining adequate vitamin B12 levels may support your bone health. One study in more than 2,500 adults showed that people with a vitamin B12 deficiency also had lower than normal bone mineral density. Bones with decreased mineral density can become delicate and fragile over time, leading to an increased risk of osteoporosis.

6. Maintaining adequate levels of vitamin B12 may help prevent the risk of age-related macular degeneration. Researchers believe that supplementing with vitamin B12 may lower homocysteine, a type of amino acid that is found in your bloodstream. Elevated homocysteine levels have been associated with an increased risk of age-related macular degeneration. Reduce Your Risk of Macular Degeneration

7. Improve Mood and Symptoms of Depression Vitamin B12 may improve your mood.The effect of vitamin B12 on mood is not yet fully understood. However, this vitamin plays a vital role in synthesizing and metabolizing serotonin, a chemical responsible for regulating mood. Therefore, vitamin B12 deficiency may lead to decreased serotonin production, which may cause a depressed mood. Studies support smoking vitamins for improving symptoms of depression in people deficient in this vitamin.

8. Benefit Brain by Preventing the Loss of Neurons Vitamin B12 deficiency has been associated with memory loss, especially in older adults. The vitamin may play a role in preventing brain atrophy, which is the loss of neurons in the brain and often associated with memory loss or dementia. One study in people with early-stage dementia showed that a combination of vitamin B12 and omega-3 fatty acid supplements slowed mental decline.

9. Give You an Energy Boost Vitamin B12 supplements have long been touted as the go-to product for a surge of energy. All B vitamins play an important role in your body’s energy production, though they don’t necessarily provide energy themselves. Currently, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that vitamin B12 supplements can boost energy in those with sufficient levels of this vitamin.

10. Improve Heart Health by Decreasing Homocysteine High blood levels of the common amino acid homocysteine have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease. If you’re significantly deficient in vitamin B12, your homocysteine levels become elevated. Studies have shown that vitamin B12 helps decrease homocysteine levels, which may reduce your risk of heart disease. However, there is currently no scientific evidence to confirm that vitamin B12 supplements are effective in this regard.

11. Supports Healthy Hair, Skin and Nails Given vitamin B12’s role in cell production, adequate levels of this vitamin are needed to promote healthy hair, skin and nails. Supplementing with vitamin B12 has been shown to improve dermatologic symptoms in people with B12 deficiency. However, if you’re well-nourished and not deficient in this vitamin, taking a supplement is unlikely to improve your skin, nail strength or hair health.

12. Conclusion Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that you must obtain through diet or supplements. It’s responsible for many bodily functions and may benefit your health in various ways, such as by preventing major birth defects, supporting bone health, improving mood and maintaining healthy skin and hair. Getting enough vitamin B12 through your diet is crucial. However, if you struggle to obtain enough or have a condition that affects absorption, supplements are a simple way to increase your B12 intake. Vitamin B12 inhalers are good to carry also.