Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Signs and Symptoms
Does your body get enough vitamin B12? Your body requires this vitamin to stay healthy. Your body does not make vitamin B12. You can get it from animal-based foods or supplements regularly. Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin meaning it can dissolve in water and travel through the bloodstream. The liver can store vitamin B12 for up to five years, though you can become deficient if you lack vitamin B12 rich foods in your diet. The body can get rid of any excess or unwanted vitamin B12 in the urine. Vitamin B12 nutrient is essential for body processes, like DNA synthesis, energy production, and central nervous system function. Vitamin B12 deficiency is common among older adults. It may also occur in children and younger adults, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. People who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet might be prone to vitamin B12 deficiency because plant foods do not contain vitamin B-12. Your body’s cells need B12 to function well. Vitamin B12 deficiency can ...