Vitamins are organic substances needed by your body to support the physical development and maintain body health. Unfortunately, your body cannot produce them on its own. Therefore, it is recommended that you consume foods and beverages containing vitamins. There are six kinds of vitamins needed in your body, which are Vitamin A, D, E, K, B and C.

Vitamin B consists of B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, and B12, which are water-soluble vitamins. Each Vitamin B has its role in your body, including Vitamin B12 which has a role in the red blood cell production, nerve regeneration, DNA and maintain nervous system function. An average adult should get Vitamin B12 intake (Cobalamin), approximately 2.4 mcg per day to prevent deficiency.

Cobalamin may be gained through our food intakes, such as meat, chicken, fish, dairy products and eggs. However, for vegetarian, Vitamin B12 can’t be gained through a vitamin supplement. Having enough Vitamin B12 intake may help to maintain brain cell and nervous system function as well as increase cell metabolism in your body. That may be caused by Cobalamin role in the synthesis of fatty acid and the production of energy to help the absorption process of folic acid in your body.

Vitamin B12 deficiency may occur to anybody, particularly people that are vegetarian and have a diabetic history. It may be harder for a vegetarian to consume vitamin B12 since vegetables do not contain any of it. A person with diabetes who consumes metformin may also vulnerable to suffering vitamin B12 deficiency. Metformin can reduce Vitamin B12 absorption in your body. Therefore, for those who have a higher risk of vitamin B12 deficiency should consume vitamin supplements.

As for symptoms, the ones which often occur are “pin and needle” sensation and numbness in some parts of hand and foot, difficulty in walking, having memory problems, loss of appetite, as well as fatigue. Vitamin B12 deficiency can increase the risk of permanent damage in nerve and brain if left untreated.

Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from stock.adobe.com

Source(s):

• Vitamin B12 deficiency can be sneaky, harmful (2018). https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/vitamin-b12-deficiency-can-be-sneaky-harmful-201301105780, August 28, 2018.
• Everything you need to know about vitamin B-12 (2017). https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/219822.php, August 28, 2018.