Vitamin B12 Supplements

Vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are essential for proper functioning of our body. Any type of vitamin deficiency can affect your health badly. Vitamin B12 is one of the important vitamins. It belongs to vitamin B complex family. It is required for healthy blood and healthy nervous system. Nutritional supplements are usually taken to overcome the deficiency of vitamins and minerals. Let us therefore take a look at the causes of vitamin B12 deficiency first.

Causes of Lack of Vitamin B12

Crohn's disease, blind loop syndrome, aging (which leads to decrease in the levels of hydrochloric acid in the stomach), use of certain medications, pernicious anemia leading to problems in absorption of the vitamin, gastrointestinal disorders like chronic gastritis or atrophic gastritis, inadequate intake of the vitamin through diet, chronic alcoholism, certain hereditary conditions such as homocystinuria and deficiency of transcobalamin, surgical resection of the small intestine, are some of the main causes of vitamin B12 deficiency. You should be aware of B12 deficiency symptoms. B12 supplementation helps overcome the deficiency.

Health Benefits of Vitamin B12 Tablets and Injections

• The supplements help enhance the function of the brain and the nervous system. This vitamin helps regenerate folate in the body.
• Regular intake of this vitamin helps prevent certain diseases and disorders like diabetes, insomnia, allergies, osteoporosis, asthma, etc.
• These supplements help strengthen your immune system. Pregnant women or women who are trying to get pregnant should check their B12 intake.
• The supplements help enhance the production and growth of red blood cells which in turn help improve functions of the cells (as cells receive sufficient oxygen).
• These supplements help prevent mental and emotional disorders. The supplements are necessary to prevent infections, certain liver and kidney diseases, breast cancer, etc.
• Benefits of vitamin B12 tablets/injections also include improved mental function, delaying of severe loss of memory in case Alzheimer's disease is detected in its early stages, improved stamina for athletes and sports persons, significant reduction in the number of asthma attacks, etc.
• Those who strictly follow a vegetarian diet may develop B12 deficiency. Vegetables and fruits do not contain sufficient amount of this vitamin. Importance of these supplements for vegans should therefore be noted down. Vegetarians can get certain amount of vitamin B12 from milk, hard cheese, B12 fortified cereals, fortified foods and beverages, yeast, yogurt and tablets or injections.

Side Effects of Vitamin B12 Supplements

Human as well as animal bodies cannot produce vitamin B12. It is obtained from the bacteria in soil. Meat (especially liver and shellfish), dairy products and eggs are considered as good vitamin B12 sources for human beings. The vitamin, when obtained from food sources does not cause any side effects but overdoes of the supplement can lead to side effects like headache, nausea, joint pain, stomach upset, loss of appetite, etc. You should consult your physician for B12 supplement dosage. Consumption of 2-3 micrograms of this vitamin per day is considered as safe for anyone over 15 years of age. Intake of 25-100 mcg of vitamin B12 per day can be required to maintain the levels of this vitamin in older people.

Other vitamins like vitamin B6 and vitamin E should also be consumed in proper proportion as these vitamins promote proper absorption and utilization of vitamin B12. Various brands claim their supplements as the 'best vitamin B12 supplements'. It is better to consult your physician for selection of reliable brand and dosage of the supplements. The physician can also guide you well about the intake of other vitamins required for proper absorption of vitamin B12.