Vitamin B12 is also known as cobalamin. It is responsible for maintaining brain and nervous system health and aids in the production of blood. It is also needed for metabolism and DNA health. It is naturally found in liver, meat, milk products, eggs, cereal, barley, some algae, and bacteria. Since it contains cobalt, it is a red color. Half of the body's B12 is stored in the liver, which can store years worth of B12. It is recommended for adults to take 2 to 3 µg per day.
Pernicious anemia destroy stomach cells which produce intrinsic factor, which is needed to absorb vitamin B12. This type of anemia may cause a deficiency in vitamin B12. Some forms of B12 are used to treat cyanide poisoning. It is also used to treat optic neuropathy. Since vitamin B9 and B12 share many of the same responsibilities, it is harder to detect a B12 deficiency, especially since B9 is added to flour in most countries to prevent birth defects. It is also hard to detect a B12 deficiency since these symptoms match many other causes such as aging and atherosclerosis. With a B12 deficiency, more homocysteine is kept in the body, which causes damage to arteries. This leads to heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes since clotting occurs to repair the arteries.
Health Nutrition Vitamin
A lack of B12 also results in the irreversible deterioration of the spinal cord and nervous system, which is why a slight deficiency can show the symptoms of memory loss, depression with suicidal tendencies, mania, psychosis, paraphrenia complex which can develop into a wide range of mental diseases ranging from paranoia to schizophrenia, myelosis funicularis, and fatigue. If the deficiency affects the brain in any way, most of the time the damage is irreversible. Since it is needed to produce neurotransmitters in the brain, a deficiency can lead to depression.
Also, some antacids reduce the body's ability to absorb B12, leading to a deficiency. Those who have stomach, pancreas, and small intestine absorption issues may also be deficient in B12. Most of it is reabsorbed when it is used in digestion. Liver does a very good job of treating anemia, however iron seems to be a better way to treat anemia. Vitamin B12 has also been known to prevent Alzheimer's disease and psoriasis, a skin rash. Alcohol and nicotine will affect the absorption of many vitamins including B12 and should not be used everyday. Many medicines have a risk of increasing B12 deficiency including antibiotics, cholesterol medication, anticonvulsants, and antacids for the stomach and other parts of the body. Also, potassium affects the absorption of B12, which can lead to a deficiency.