Many patients feel that their vitamin B12 levels have fallen because of viral infection. This is not true. What they fail to realise is that they were deficient in Vitamin B12 from before and usually nobody tests themselves exclusively for their vitamin levels. So, when an infection sets in, these low levels dip lower. Post-viral, the deficiency symptoms become more overt. The only good part is that Vitamin B12 is water-soluble. So, the body will take what it needs — that is if you need it at all — and pass the excess through the urine without causing major damage. On the contrary Vitamin D causes toxicity because it is fat soluble and remains in your system.

WHY YOUR BODY NEEDS VITAMIN B12 ??

Vitamin B 12 (Cobalamin) plays a significant role in forming red blood cells, maintaining cell metabolism, ensuring smooth nerve functioning and taking care of our DNA, the basic unit of life. Left untreated, vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to anaemia, fatigue, muscle weakness, intestinal problems, shortness of breath, hair loss, headaches and backaches, nerve damage, mood disturbances, depression (because it affects serotonin) brain fog, atrophy and dementia. Vitamin B12 deficiency can also increase your homocysteine (amino acid) levels, which thicken and clot the blood. Sometimes the manifestation of deficiencies can be extreme with patients presenting themselves with conditions like having trouble walking, irritability and weight loss. In short, a deficiency can affect every organ system.

HOW TO GET VITAMIN B12 FROM YOUR DIET?

Most people get enough vitamin B12 from a balanced diet. You can get it easily from poultry, meat, fish and dairy products. But plant foods do not contain Vitamin B-12, so what you need are fortified foods like cereals.

WHO NEEDS IT AND BY HOW MUCH ?

The recommended daily amount of vitamin B12 for adults is 2.4 micrograms. Of course, as we age, especially after 60, our stomachs tend to produce less acid which makes it harder for us to extract Vitamin B12 from food

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