Vitamin B12: Everything You Need to know about Cyanocobalamin

What is Vitamin B12?

It is a water-soluble vitamin like all other vitamins-B. This means it can dissolve in water and pass through the bloodstream. The body can store vitamin B-12 for up to 04 hours. Any excess or unwanted vitamin B-12 is excreted through urine. 

Vitamin B12 is also known as Cobalamin, Cyanocobalamin and Hydroxocobalamin.

Vitamin B-12 is that the largest and most structurally complicated vitamin. It occurs naturally in meat products, dietary supplement and industrially produced through bacterial fermentation process (Prescription medication).

Vitamin B12 is different from other vitamins in the fact that it can only be produced by bacteria. Animal products are a popular natural source of vitamins and a few vegetable options. There are many Vitamin B12 supplements available on the market to help people who are deficient but should only be consumed after consulting with their doctor.

Action on the body

Vitamin B12 plays a significant role in the activities of several enzymes. It is cruical for the synthesis of the genetic material of cells (DNA) for growth and development. The formation of red blood cells by the bone marrow is particularly dependent on this vitamin. It is also involved in the usage of folate and carbohydrates in the diet, and is very important for maintaining a healthy nervous system.

Dietary and other natural sources 

Liver is the best dietary source of vitamin B12. Almost all animal products, as well as seaweed, are also rich in the vitamin, but vegetables are not.

You can get vitamin B12 in animal foods, which have it naturally, or from items that are fortified with it.

Animal sources include dairy products, eggs, fish and meat. If you are looking for a food fortified with B12, check nutrition facts product label.

Normal Daily Requirements of Vitamin B12

The average recommended amounts, measured in micro-grams (mcg), vary by age:

• Infants up to age 6 months: 0.4 mcg
• Babies age 7-12 months: 0.5 mcg
• Children age 1-3 years: 0.9 mcg
• Kids age 4-8 years: 1.2 mcg
• Children age 9-13 years: 1.8 mcg
• Teens age 14-18: 2.4 mcg
• Adults: 2.4 mcg (2.6 mcg per day if pregnant and 2.8 mcg per day if breastfeeding)

When Supplements are helpful

A balanced diet usually provides more than adequate amounts of this vitamin, and deficiency is usually because of impaired absorption from the intestine instead of low dietary intake. However, for a vegetarian or vegan diet lacking in eggs or dairy products is likely to be deficient in vitamin B12, and supplements are usually required. The most common cause of deficiency is severe anemia, where vitamin absorption is not effective due to the inability of the stomach to release a special substance known as intrinsic factor which is often in contact with the vitamin and will therefore be absorbed into the intestines.

Symptoms of Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 deficiency usually develops over months or years the liver can last up to several years of supply.

Insufficient vitamin B-12 can also lead to anemia. The most common symptoms of anemia are fatigue, irregular heartbeat and shortness of breath. The brain and spinal cord may also be affected, memory loss, leading to numbness, tingling of the limbs and depression. People with anemia might also experience: 

 

• a sore month or tongue
• Weight loss
• Pale or yellowing Skin
• Diarrhoea
• Menstrual problems  

Other symptoms of vitamin B-12 deficiency include constipation, loss of appetite, and weight loss.

 

 

 

 

Who is at risk 

Vegetarian face a risk of vitamin B-12 deficiency, as their diet excludes animal-sourced food products. Pregnancy and lactation can worsen deficiency in vegetarian. Plant-sourced foods do not have enough cyanocobalamin to guarantee long-term health.

People with severe anemia may be deficient in vitamin B-12. Anemia is an autoimmune disease. Patients with this condition do not have enough protein (IF), a protein inside the stomach that allows the body to absorb vitamin B-12.

People with chronic alcoholism may lack vitamin B12, as their bodies are also unable to soak up/absorb nutrients efficiently.

Individuals treating diabetes with metformin (medicated drug) are advised to observed their levels of vitamin B-12. Metformin (medicated drug) might reduce the absorption of vitamin B-12.

Treatment includes vitamin B-12 injections. A vitamin B-12 injection must be administered to patient that have problems with nutrient absorption.

Drug Interaction

Possible interaction includes-

• Aminosalicylic acid. Taking this drug used to treat digestive problems might reduce your body's absorption of vitamin B-12.

• Colchicine. Taking this anti-inflammatory drug used to prevent and treat gout attacks might decrease your absorption of vitamin B-12.

• Metformin. Taking this diabetes drug might reduce your absorption of vitamin B-12.

• Proton pump inhibitors. Taking Omeprazole, Lansoprazole or other stomach acid-reducing drugs might decrease your absorption of vitamin B-12.

• Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) supplements. Taking vitamin B-12 with vitamin C might reduce the available amount of vitamin B-12 in your body. To avoid this interaction, take vitamin C two or more hours after taking a vitamin B-12 supplement.

 

Your doctor might recommend changing drugs or timing doses to offset any potential interactions.

Treatment and Dosage range

If you have got anemia or have trouble absorbing vitamin B12, you'll need injection of this vitamin initially. You may need to keep getting these injection, take high doses of a supplement by mouth, or by injection.

If you do not eat animal products, you have got options. You can switch your diet to included vitamin B12-fortified grains, a vitamin B12-supplement or B12 injections, or a high-dose oral vitamin B12 if you're deficient.

Older adults who have a vitamin B12 deficiency will likely need to take a daily B12 supplement or a multivitamin that contains B12.

Depends on the individual and severity of deficiency. Anemia (due to impaired absorption of vitamin B12) is treated in adults with injections of 0.25mg–1mg (250–1,000mcg) on alternate days for 1–2 weeks, then 0.25mg per week until blood counts are normal, then 1mg every monthly (cobalamin) or every 2–3 months (hydroxocobalamin). 

Dietary deficiency is typically treated with oral supplements of 50–150mcg or more daily or 50–105mcg (cyanocobalamin) and 35–50mcg twice daily in infants. Deficiency that results from a hereditary disease preventing use of the vitamin is treated with 250mcg every three weeks throughout life.

Symptoms and risks of excessive intake

Harmful effects from the high doses of vitamin B12 are rare. Allergic reactions may rarely, occur with preparations given by injection.

Summary

Vitamin B-12 (cobalamin) is a water-soluble vitamin that plays essential roles in red blood cell formation, cell metabolism, nerve function and also the production of DNA.

Food sources of vitamin B-12 include meat, fish, poultry and dairy products.Vitamin B-12 injections might be prescribed by doctor to treat vitamin B-12 deficiency.

Because human body is capable of storing several years of vitamin B-12, deficiency is rare. However, if you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, you may be susceptible to deficiency because plant foods don't contain vitamin B-12. Older adults and other people with gastrointestinal tract conditions that affect absorption of nutrients are also prone to vitamin B-12 deficiency.

Most people can prevent vitamin B12 deficiency by eating enough seafood, meat, dairy products, poultry and eggs.

If you don't eat animal products, otherwise you have a medical condition that limits how well your body absorbs nutrient, you'll take vitamin B12 during a multivitamin and foods fortified with vitamin B12 or other supplement.

If you choose to take vitamin B12 supplements consult with your doctor, so they can tell you how much you need, or make sure they won't affect any medicines you're taking.