What Is B12?

Answer:
B12 is a vitamin, and it is a member of the

vitamin B complex. This vitamin also contains cobalt, which is why it is also known as cobalamin. Vitamin B12 is exclusively synthesized by bacteria, and it can mainly be found in meat, eggs, and dairy products.

A lot of research has been done in trying to find plant sources for vitamin B12. However, the present consensus is that any B12 that can be found in plant foods will be unavailable to humans and should not be considered to be a safe source of B12 for humans. Most vegan foods are supplemented with B12. Vitamin B12 is necessary for the synthesis of red blood cells, the maintenance of the nervous system, and for children’s growth and development. Anemia is the result of vitamin B12 deficiency. Deficiency can also lead to vitamin B12 neuropathy, which involves the degeneration of nerve fibers and irreversible neurological damage.

The primary function of vitamin B12 is in the formation of red blood cells and in maintaining a healthy nervous system. B12 must be present for the rapid synthesis of DNA during cell division to occur. This is especially important in the bone marrow tissues that are responsible for red blood cell function. If a B12 deficiency occurs, DNS production will be disrupted and abnormal cells called megaloblasts will occur. This results in anemia. Symptoms of this condition can include excessive exhaustion, breathlessness, listlessness, pallor, and poor resistance to infection. Other symptoms of this condition can include a smooth, sore tongue and menstrual disorders.

The body’s nerves are surrounded by an insulating fatty sheath which is made up of a complex protein called myelin. B12 plays a very important part in the metabolism of fatty acids which is essential for the maintenance of this myelin. Prolonged B12 deficiency can lead to nerve degeneration and irreversible neurological damage.

Most of the time when a deficiency occurs, it is usually due to a failure of the body to effectively absorb B12 from the intestine rather than a deficiency of diet. In order for absorption of B12 to occur, a glycoprotein, known as an intrinsic factor, must be secreted from the cells which line the stomach. This is then absorbed into the ileum (a part of the small intestine) when calcium is present. B12 deficiency can be treated with B12 injections.