Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Supplements

There are always lists of vitamins that you should take that your body requires to survive. Vitamin B12 has a purpose in your life and is a part of the vitamin B complex. This vitamin affects your metabolism. It also helps form red blood cells which are responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body. Finally, Vitamin B12 helps maintain the nervous system which is responsible for sending messages back and forth from the brain to the various body parts. This is the part of our body that lets us know when things are hot, cold, painful, itchy, etc.

Some vitamins are fat-soluble and others are water-soluble. Fat soluble vitamins are vitamins like vitamin E and vitamin K. Fat soluble vitamins can be stored in the body and in some cases created by the body. Deficiency in fat soluble vitamins is very rare.

Water-soluble vitamins like vitamin B12 can be stored in the body but in most cases it can not be used properly. It is important that you get vitamin B12 into your body daily. If you don't have vitamin B12 your body will not function properly. B12 vitamin supplements can help so deficiency is not a problem. However, vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin. While is can be stored, in some cases, it cannot be used properly.

Of course, eating foods that contain B12 is the best way to get vitamin B12 into your body. If you eat a healthy, balanced diet, you should not have to worry about not have to worry about have lower or higher than normal levels of vitamin B12 in the body. However, if you have special dietary needs or medical conditions, vitamin supplements may be needed. The types of foods that contain high levels of vitamin B12 are:

• eggs
• poultry
• beef
• pork
• shellfish
• diary products (milk)
  

Because vitamin B12 is one of the few vitamins that can be stored in the body, extreme deficiency is very rare. However, if you body cannot use vitamin B12 properly or absorb it from foods in the intestinal tract, you may need vitamin supplements to help your body.

Vegans are individuals who are at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency because of the fact that they do not eat the foods that are high in vitamin B12. Because B12 is found in meats, vegans should take vitamin supplements.

Vitamin B12 deficiencies cause conditions known as pernicious anemia. Symptoms include numbness and tingling in your arms and legs, weakness, low of balance, and other neurological symptoms. If you are worried about developing pernicious anemia, you should talk to your doctor about beginning to take vitamin B12 supplements today.