(Seema Prasad/ Medical Daily) — Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin essential to brain and nervous system functions, which has a role to play in cell metabolism and red blood cell multiplication. The natural sources of the vitamin are non-vegetarian food and non-plant-based foods such as fish, milk, eggs and poultry, among others. For vegetarians, fortified breakfast cereals have high vitamin B12 concentration.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can manifest as depression, disorientation, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss and potential damage to the brain and nervous system. Sometimes when the deficiency occurs, supplements are recommended. However, people tend to take high dosages without a doctor’s supervision.
Even healthy adults have problems with absorption and food is the best source of vitamin B12. In fact, too much vitamin B12 concentration could result in health complications, as per a recent study.
The study published this January in the journal JAMA Network Open analyzed the vitamin’s effect on mortality rates. Previous studies had found that excessive vitamin B12 concentration impacted the elderly negatively, lowering their mortality rates. (…)