Vitamin
B12 is Essential for Your DNA
Vitamin B12 is commonly found
in milk, cheese, shellfish, meat and eggs and various other dairy
products. It is one of eight types of vitamin B and vitamin B12
is frequently mixed with other B vitamins in order to make a super
vitamin B formulation.
Vitamin B12 is bound to the protein in all the meats and dairy products
it is found in. Once a food with vitamin B12 is ingested, hydrochloric
acid in the stomach releases the vitamin B12 from the protein during
digestion. When vitamin B12 is released, it then joins with a substance
called intrinsic factor that is absorbed by the body’s blood.
Vitamin B12 is known to help maintain the health of the body’s
nerve and red blood cells, as well as being essential for making
DNA. Nutritional vitamin B12 deficiencies are rare since the body
is capable of storing several years’ worth. Carnivores are
not likely to develop vitamin B12 deficiency anemia since the body’s
liver can store vitamin B12 for at least a year. Still, strict vegetarians
or vegans may at risk of a deficiency.
Based on several scientific studies, vitamin B12 is thought to be
beneficial for those with the following ailments:
• Megaloblastic anemia—this anemia is caused by a vitamin
B12 deficiency and it is characterized by the presence of large,
dysfunctional red blood cells.
• Vitamin B12 deficiency—there have been studies suggesting
that those who suffer from vitamin B12 deficiency may later develop
neurologic and psychiatric symptoms like shaky movements, weakness
in the muscles, low blood pressure, dementia and mood swings. People
who don’t eat meat or dairy products are more likely to develop
vitamin B12 deficiency, as well as those who have special requirements
due to pregnancy, liver or kidney disease, and other conditions.
• Pernicious anemia—a blood abnormality which happens
when there isn’t enough intrinsic factor in the stomach. When
vitamin B12 is released into the body’s bloodstream, it usually
binds with intrinsic factor. Vitamin B12 needs intrinsic factor
in order to be fully absorbed by the body.
People who are allergic to cobalt or cobalamin are advised to avoid
vitamin B12. Possible side effects include itching, rashes and diarrhea,
although these are not common.
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