Vitamin B12 is the largest and most complex of all the vitamins. Vitamin B12 is commonly found in milk, cheese, shellfish, meat and eggs and various other dairy products. 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. Vitamin B12 is a popular ingredient in anti-aging creams, since a lack of Vitamin B12 in the body contributes to the aging of skin. Vitamin B12 is available in injection form, as a stand-alone topical product and as an ingredient in many anti-aging creams.

Deficiency

Vitamin B12 deficiency is most commonly the result of inadequate absorption. Deficiency symptoms and disorders associated with low levels of Vitamin B12 are pernicious anemia weakness, personality changes, mood changes, and abnormal sensations like tingling in the arms and legs. Deficiency is more commonly linked to the inability to absorb the vitamin due to lack of intrinsic factor than to insufficient dietary intake. Since the body stores vitamin B12, symptoms of deficiency can take up to four to five years of poor dietary intake or lack of intrinsic factor production to appear. Additional symptoms related to deficiency are poor appetite, tiredness, nervousness, neuritis, degeneration of spinal cord, depression, and lack of balance.

Body

Body stores of vitamin B12 can be managed by a daily oral supplement of B12. Vitamin B12 needs an intrinsic factor in order to be fully absorbed by the body. It also helps strengthen the capillaries in the body. As any excess vitamin B12 is naturally excreted by the body, it is not thought to be a dangerous supplement to take, although of course you should mention taking it to your doctor. Vitamin B12 is very efficiently conserved by the body, with 65-75% re-absorption rates common.

Anemia

Anemia is the first sign that the body is not getting an adequate supply of Vitamin B12. Anemia can result from a variety of medical problems, including deficiencies of vitamin B12, vitamin B6, folate and iron. Anemia may also be due to folic acid deficiency, folic acid also being necessary for DNA synthesis.

Supplements

Vitamin B12 is available in a number of different forms, such as injections, topical creams and supplements to be taken orally. There are vitamin supplements, which do not contain animal products for those who prefer to have a vegetarian diet. The Food and Nutrition Board advises adults to limit their folic acid intake (through supplements and fortification) to 1 mg per day. Large intakes of vitamin B12 from food or supplements have caused no toxicity in healthy people. The principal form of vitamin B12 used in supplements is cyanocobalamin.

Healthy Diet and Lifestyle

A healthy diet and balanced lifestyle will add immeasurably to one's general feeling of well-being and enjoyment of life. It is something to strive for continuously.

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