Vitamin B12 has a large number of benefits but before we dive into What are benefits of Vitamin B12. Let’s first learn about this vitamin a bit more.
Vitamin B12, also called cobalamin, helps the body produce energy by converting carbohydrates into glucose. B vitamins are water-soluble, which means that the body doesn’t store them. As a result, they need to be replenished regularly by absorbing them from food.
The nervous system benefits from vitamin B12 as well. Together with vitamin B9 (folate), it improves iron metabolism and aids in the production of healthy red blood cells in the body. S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), a substance that supports immunological and mood functions, is created when folate and vitamin B12 are combined.
Vitamin B12 and protein in food are separated by hydrochloric acid in the stomach. The body then absorbs vitamin B12 and combines it with intrinsic factors, a protein produced in the stomach.
If a person can’t naturally make intrinsic factors, they have pernicious anemia. This means that they have difficulty absorbing vitamin B12 from dietary supplements and all foods.
Benefits of Vitamin B12
Brain Health
According to studies, vitamin B12 helps improve depression, mood, memory, and nervous system function. According to research, low folate and low vitamin B12 levels are present in both depressed individuals and the general population. According to additional research, a vitamin B12 deficiency affects memory.
Red Blood Cells Health and DNA Generation
The ability of vitamin B12 to produce red blood cells is one of its key advantages. Why is this crucial? Your body receives oxygen from red blood cells, which is then converted into the energy required to maintain healthy physiological functions.
Red blood cells increase when your body isn’t getting enough vitamin B12, which makes it more difficult for them to flow through your bloodstream. One sort of anemia may result from this in the end.
Additionally, vitamin B12 aids in the production of DNA, which serves as the basis for all of your cells.
Helps Boost Energy Levels
There isn’t much evidence to support the idea that supplementing with vitamin B12 will increase energy if your vitamin B12 level is normal. However, if you are now vitamin B12 deficient, it’s likely that you are experiencing exhaustion and weakness. If your system is deficient, making it a point to eat more vitamin B12-rich foods is a terrific method to increase your energy.
Reduced Risk of Macular Degeneration
The blood homocysteine level is thought to be reduced by vitamin B12 supplementation, which may help prevent age-related macular degeneration, an eye condition that can result in blindness in older persons. In one study, supplementing with vitamins B12, B6, and folic acid resulted in 34% fewer incidences of macular degeneration after seven years than a placebo group in 5,000 women aged 40 and higher. Their chance of experiencing severe deterioration was 41% lower.
Also, read Vitamin D Benefits And Its Sources>>>
Pregnancy Health
Early in a woman’s pregnancy, vitamin B12 insufficiency increases the risk of neural tube birth abnormalities and low birth weight in the unborn child. Low B12 levels in mothers also increase the risk of miscarriage and preterm delivery.
Birth abnormalities are three times more likely to occur in children of women with low vitamin B12 levels.
Depression Prevention and Treatment
Your mood might be enhanced by vitamin B12.
There is still much to learn about how vitamin B12 affects mood. The neurotransmitter serotonin, which controls mood, is synthesized and metabolized with the help of this vitamin.
Therefore, a vitamin B12 deficiency may result in less serotonin being produced, which could result in depression.
Studies back up the usage of vitamin B12 supplements to lessen the symptoms of depression in those who are vitamin B12 deficient.
According to one study, patients with depression and low vitamin B12 levels who received both antidepressants and vitamin B12 were more likely to experience reduced depressive symptoms than those who only received antidepressants.
Insufficient vitamin B12 was linked to a twofold increased risk of severe depression, according to another study.
High vitamin B12 levels have also been associated with improved treatment outcomes and a higher likelihood of recovering from severe depressive disorder (MDD)
Although the evidence does not yet support the idea that vitamin B12 supplements have the same impact on people with normal B12 levels, it is possible that they can benefit people with a deficiency’s mood and sadness.
Supports Healthy Hair, Skin and Nails
A sufficient amount of vitamin B12 is required to support healthy hair, skin, and nails because this vitamin is essential for cell development.
In actuality, low vitamin B12 levels can result in a number of dermatological symptoms, including angular stomatitis, vitiligo (the loss of skin color in areas), hyperpigmentation, and nail and hair abnormalities (inflamed and cracked mouth corners)(Source).
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.
Conclusion
You can only get enough water-soluble vitamin B12 through diet or supplementation.
It regulates a variety of body processes and may enhance your health in a number of ways, including by preventing serious birth defects, promoting bone health, elevating mood, and preserving the health of your skin and hair.
It’s essential to consume adequate vitamin B12 through your food. However, supplements are an easy method to improve your B12 intake if you have trouble getting enough or have a health issue that interferes with absorption.