Vitamin B-12 is a water soluble vitamin that is usually found in a wide variety of food items such as shellfish, dairy products, and meat. Vitamin B-12 is sometimes called a complex vitamin because is is often used in combination with other vitamins. Vitamin B-12 is useful in maintaining and production of healthy RBC’s or red blood cells, as well as preventing anemia. Vitamin B-12 is also vital in a healthy nerve system, along with other genetic cell development. Vitamin B-12 can be found attached to the protein in many different food sources.
Vitamin B-12 is basically essential for overall good health. Vitamin B-12 has a reputation for increasing alertness, combating fatigue and is one of the vitamins that provides the body energy and fuel in order to work properly.
Vitamin B-12 has been known to increase the sperm count in men, as well as influence their activity levels.
Vitamin deficiency of vitamin B-12 is extremely rare, however older people are at risk because sometimes their bodies may be unable to absorb the vitamin B-12 due to a condition known as pernicious anemia. Restricted diets such as vegans may also be prone to vitamin B-12 deficiencies.
Common symptoms of vitamin B-12 may include:
Numbness or tingling in feet or other extremities.
Sore or red tongue
Nervousness or chronic depression
Irregular heart abnormalities such as palpitations
Problems with memory or clarity problems
Fatigue
Weak pulse
Pallor skin color
If you think that you may have any symptoms connected with vitamin B-12 deficiency you should contact your doctor for a thorough workup. You should always discuss any problems you may be having with your physician, before taking any vitamin supplements. Vitamin supplements have been known to have adverse reactions with prescription medications that you may already be taking.
Vitamin B-12 has shown a great deal of success in treatment and prevention of many different medical conditions such as:
Atherosclerosis, which is a condition that causes plague to form in the arteries.
Treatment for Alcohol Addiction
Crohn’s Disease, which is a debilitating bowel disease
Lupus, which is an autoimmune disorder
Neuromuscular disorders, which cause muscular degeneration
Many people who are either elderly or have chronic medical conditions that may deplete them of energy, may benefit from vitamin B-12 therapy such as a vitamin B-12 shot. If you are interested in vitamin B-12 therapy you should discuss this with your physician for proper evaluation of your symptoms and treatment options.
References for this article include: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_B12
www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-926-VITAMIN+B12.aspx
www.youngwomenshealth.org/b12.html
