Vitamin b12 benefits

Vitamin b12 benefits (also called Cobalamin) are numerous, and permanent nerve damage can occur if vitamin b12 deficiency is not treated.

Note: vitamin b12 benefits, according to numerous studies, many vitamin supplements may not contain what the label says (to learn more about this topic - plus: the top 25 brands of vitamins
an independent qualified health authority selected go to  vitamin supplements  for better health).

Vitamin b12 deficiency symptoms can include fatigue, weakness, nausea, constipation, flatulence (gas), loss of appetite and weight. Neurological changes can also occur like numbness and tingling
in the hands and feet. Difficulty in maintaining balance, depression, confusion, and poor memory.

Note: always consult a physician as symptoms can also result from a variety of medical conditions other than vitamin b12 deficiency. Vitamin b12 benefits medical references 1,2,3,4,5,6 & 7

Vitamin b12 deficiency may also increase homocysteine, and there is evidence that elevated blood levels of homocysteine are a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Vitamin b12 benefits medical
references 13,14,15,16 & 17.

Vitamin b12 is naturally found in animal foods including fish, milk, milk products, eggs, meat, and poultry. And, Vegetarians who do not consume these types of foods are at high risk of developing a deficiency ( vitamin b12 benefits medical reference  8 ).

Note: individuals with stomach disorders may not be able to absorb enough vitamin b12 benefits
from food to maintain healthy body stores. And, the Institute of Medicine recommends vitamin b12 supplements for those over 50 years of age because of the high incidence of impaired absorption
of vitamin b12 in this population ( vitamin b12 benefits medical references  4,9, & 10 ).

Vitamin B12 binds with intrinsic factor before it is absorbed and used by your body. And, an absence of intrinsic factor prevents normal absorption of B12 and results in pernicious anemia. ( vitamin b12 benefits clinical ref  4,11 & 12 )

Abstracts for most of the vitamin b12 benefits references we used here can be found at:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ . In PubMed, select “Single Citation Matcher” from the PubMed Services, then enter the title name in the “Title words: box”, click search, then
click on the authors' names (in blue) to view the abstract.

1. Herbert V. Vitamin B12 in Present Knowledge in Nutrition. 17th ed. Washington, D.C.
    International Life Sciences Institute Press, 1996.

2. Herbert V and Das K. Vitamin B12 in Modern Nutrition in health and disease. 8th ed.
    Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1994.

3. Combs G. Vitamin B12 in The Vitamins. New York: Academic Press, Inc, 1992.

4. Institute of Medicine. Food and Nutrition Board. Dietary Reference Intakes: Thiamin, riboflavin,
    niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, pantothenic Acid, biotin, and choline. National Academy
    Press. Washington, DC, 1998. ( vitamin b12 benefits reference pages 306 to 356 )

5. Bernard MA, Nakonezny PA, Kashner TM. The effect of vitamin B12 deficiency on older
    veterans and its relationship to health. J Am Geriatr Soc 1998; 46:1199-206.

6. Healton EB, Savage DG, Brust JC, Garrett TF, Lindenbaum J. Neurological aspects of
    cobalamin deficiency. Medicine 1991; 70:229-244.

7. Bottiglieri T. Folate, vitamin B12, and neuropsychiatric disorders. Nutr Rev 1996; 54:382-90.

8. Markle HV. Cobalamin. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 1996;33:247-356.

9. Carmel R. Malabsorption of food cobalamin. Baillieres Clin Haematol 1995;8:639-55.

10. Carmel R. Megaloblastic anemias. Curr Opin Hematol 1994;1:107-12.

11. Gueant JL, Safi A, Aimone-Gastin I, Rabesona H, Bronowicki J P, Plenat F, Bigard MA,
      Heartle T. Autoantibodies in pernicious anemia type I patients recognize sequence 251-256
      in human intrinsic factor. Proc Assoc Am Physicians 1997; 109:462-9.

12. Kapadia CR. Vitamin B12 in health and disease: part I--inherited disorders of function,
      absorption, and transport. Gastroenterologist 1995; 3:329-44.

13. Refsum H, Ueland PM, Nygard O, Vollset SE. Homocysteine and cardiovascular disease.
      Annu Rev Med 1998; 49:31-62.

14. Selhub J, Jacques PF, Wilson PF, Rush D, Rosenberg IH. Vitamin status and intake as
      primary determinants of homocysteinemia in an elderly population. J Am Med Assoc 1993;
      270:2693-2698.

15. Flynn MA, Herbert V, Nolph GB, Krause G. Atherogenesis and the homocysteine-folate-
      cobalamin triad: do we need standardized analyses? J Am Coll Nutr. 1997 Jun;16(3):258-67

16. Fortin LJ, Genest J, Jr. Measurement of homocyst(e)ine in the prediction of arteriosclerosis.
      Clin Biochem 1995; 28:155-62.

17. Siri PW, Verhoef P, Kok FJ. Vitamins B6, B12, and folate: association with plasma total
      homocysteine and risk of coronary atherosclerosis. J Am Coll Nutr. 1998 Oct;17(5):435-41.