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Vitamin B12: The Advantages

vitamin b12

Meat, fish, and dairy products are foods that contain vitamin B12. Therefore, vegetarians are at risk of having this vitamin deficiency, besides the elderlies and the vegans. 2.4 mcg is the recommended amount you consume this vitamin each days so that you will get the maximum advantages.

Cardiovascular Disease

In the USA, most deaths are caused by cardiovasculer. And diabetes, obessity, and high blood pressure are the risk factors that cause this disease, besides the elevated homocysteine (amino acid in blood). And vitamin B12 prevents the elevation. However, some stuies are still needed to prove the co=relation between this vitamin, homocysteine, and cardiovascular.

Cancer

Having vitamin B12 deficiency will trap folate, and make trap useless for synthesis. If this occurs, a biochemical reaction called methylation will be lower in its capacity, by which you will have higher risk of damage in your DNA. And DNA damage are can lead to cancer. Some institutes in the state have done a study of placebo control to prove the advantage of this vitamin in lowering the risk of DNA damage.

Neural Tube Defects

Proper amount of vitamin B12 will avoid fatal birth defects caused by anencephaly, in which it is as the neutral tube does not close within embryonic development. These defects also ocurs sometimes in the first weeks of conception as women don’t realize they are pregnant.

Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia

Low level of vitamin B12 will also cause Alzheimer, though that there are no clear reasons about this matter. However, altered homocysteine levels is considered as the cause.

Depression

If you feel depression a lot, vitamin B12can help you. This keeps your metabolism of neutransmitters backed up. Further studies  needed to prove the links of this vitamin and depression, yet it can be said that the older adults suffer depression because they don’t consume enough B12 in their diet.

Considerations

Good news is that there is no side effects in consuming B12 in high dose, whether from foods or from supplements. And it is advised that a good diet includes enough B12 with no supplemets, especially for those who are over 50, women in pregnant, and vegetarians. Last useful tip: foods contain high natural vitamin B12 are mussels and steamed clams.