Vitamin B12 is for the body like rice is for cereals. Vitamin B12 is the water soluble vitamin which plays a vital role in the functioning of the brain and nervous system. It makes DNA and keeps red blood cells healthy.
Deficiency:
Deficiency of vitamin B12 can cause severe and irreversible damages especially to the brain and nervous system. At levels, lower than normal can cause fatigue, lethargy, depression, poor memory, breathlessness, headache and pale skin. Vitamin B12 deficiency may occur in between 40% to 80% of the vegetarian population who are not also consuming a vitamin B12 supplement.
Diseases:
The diseases which cause by the deficiency of the B12 are following
Heart Disease:
Vitamin B12 supplements do not reduce the risk of getting heart disease, but they reduce blood levels of homo-cysteine, a compound linked to an increased risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
Dementia:
The disease in which person loses its memory and also limits the ability to perform the daily tasks. Dementia patients have high level of homo-cysteine which can be lower by the use of Vitamin B12.
Foods containing B12:
Shagufta Faheem
Author