What is Vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12 also known as cobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin, and in the metabolism of both fatty acids and amino acids. On top of that, B12 is considered especially critical in the normal functioning of the nervous system and in the maturation of developing red blood cells in the bone marrow.
🥩🍳🍤Most people obtain enough Vitamin B12 through their diet of meat, eggs, fish and shellfish, but there are several factors that can cause a deficiency. Of note, there are NO plant sources of B12 and its necessary cofactor, Cobalt. As such, vegans typically use B12 fortified foods or supplements.
What Causes Poor B12 Absorption?
Separately, the absorption process of B12 is involves a multitude of steps—any of which can go haywire.
Poor absorption can be caused by:
•Gut dysfunction and dysbiosis
•Low stomach acid
•Pernicious anemia
•Proton pump
•Alcohol
What are Some Symptoms of a B12 Deficiency?
Symptoms of a B12 deficiency can take on several forms including:
🖐🏼Numbness or tingling in extremities
🤸🏻♀️Balance issues
🤕Anemia
👅a swollen, inflamed tongue
🧠Cognitive difficulties
💪🏽Muscle Weakness
😴Fatigue
What is a "Normal" B12 Range?
While the NORMAL range on a standard blood chemistry panel shows a low end of “acceptable” as above 250 pg/mL, experts who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of B12 deficiency suggest supplementation for anyone with B12 levels less than 450 pg/mL. Remember, NORMAL does not equal healthy.
Supplementing B12
If you do choose to supplement, you can either go with a standard B12 oral pill which is relatively cheap, but you might also consider methylcobalamin as a Japanese study indicates that it is better absorbed through bypassing several steps in the absorption process.