What Is Vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12 is not just one vitamin. They come in several different forms and are collectively called vitamin B or cobalamins because they all contain the mineral cobalt. Normally we get enough vitamin B12 from the food we eat.
Some people have trouble absorbing vitamin B12. It can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency.
Table of Contents
Vitamin B12 Is Essential For Health
Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that is essential for DNA synthesis and cellular energy production. (source π)
Vitamin B12 is a particularly important vitamin for women of childbearing age and older people.
Adequate vitamin B12 status over the whole of the lifecycle is needed for optimal health. (source π)
You can find more benefits of consuming vitamin B12 in Vitamin B12: 6 Research-Backed Benefits .
Two Forms Of Vitamin B12, Abundant In Animal Foods
Two forms of vitamin B12 are active in human metabolism, methylcobalamin, and 5-deoxyadenosylcobalamin. (source π)
Vitamin B12 is concentrated in animal tissues. Vitamin B12 is therefore found only in foods of animal origin.
Foods that are high in vitamin B12 are liver, beef and lamb, chicken, eggs, and dairy foods. (source π)
If you are interested in a list of foods where you can find this nutrient. Go to our nutrition tool and check out vitamin B12.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency Is Common
Vitamin B12 deficiency is common, mainly because of the limited dietary intake of animal foods. Vegetarians and vegans are at great risk of vitamin B12 deficiency. (source π)
Vitamin B12 deficiency has symptoms like anemia, fatigue, weakness, constipation, loss of appetite, and weight loss.
Other symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency could be difficulty maintaining balance, depression, confusion, dementia, poor memory, and soreness of the mouth or tongue. (source π)