If you want to enhance or preserve your health, supplementation can be a powerful tool. But where to begin? There are thousands of options at a wide range of price points. Some are combination or multivitamins, while others are stand-alone supplements or B12 injections at specific dosages.
You can also increase your intake of vitamin B12 through food sources. No matter which approach you select, there are plenty of reasons to incorporate vitamin B12 into your health and wellness routine.
Terry L. Franklin, MD, offers the following information to help you understand the benefits of B12. Through his practice in downtown Monterey, California, Dr. Franklin partners with men and women who strive to maximize their health and quality of life.
Vitamin B12, also called cobalamin, is a vitamin that the human body cannot manufacture. The only way to increase your levels is by consuming more food rich in vitamin B12 or by adding supplements.
Plant foods don’t contain B12 naturally, but some products like fortified nutritional yeast and certain cereals have B12 added. Infant formula is required to have B12 as part of the nutritional composition.
Animal products are a good source of vitamin B12. Beef liver has the highest levels by far, but options like clams, turkey, salmon, and tuna are also ways to get more B12 into your diet.
In general, Americans are not usually deficient in B12, but if you avoid animal products, you might want to consider supplementation.
Here are some of the ways vitamin B12 can enhance your health.
Vitamin B12 plays an essential role in your body’s manufacture of red blood cells. If you have a B12 deficiency, your red blood cells can become larger than normal and take on an oval shape, which slows their movement through your bone marrow and blood stream.
Over time, a deficiency in vitamin B12 can lead to anemia, which causes fatigue and can place undue strain on your heart. Not all health practitioners check vitamin levels as part of routine blood testing, so if you suspect you have a deficiency, ask for a screening.
Depression is a serious health issue and one that you should have a professional treat. Research suggests that people with low levels of B12 have higher risk levels for depression.
Adding vitamin B12 is believed to improve your body’s ability to handle stress and regulate mood, regardless of whether you have a B12 deficiency.
Your body does not store excess levels of vitamin B12. It takes what it needs and flushes the rest through your urine, so there’s no reason to fear reasonable levels of supplementation.
For people with a vitamin B12 deficiency, one of the best effects of supplementation is a boost in energy. If you’ve been feeling sluggish or experience bouts of fatigue, you may need to incorporate more B12 into your diet.
If you have ongoing fatigue, seek evaluation from a medical professional. There are many reasons you may feel drained or sapped of energy, and getting to the root cause is important. Dr. Franklin uses a variety of diagnostic tools to determine the cause of chronic fatigue.
One of the things that people who don’t get enough vitamin B12 notice is changes in their hair, skin, and nails. Keep an eye out for areas of hyperpigmentation (dark spots on your skin), areas where you’ve lost pigment in your skin (vitiligo), and discoloration in your fingernails or toenails.
Some people also develop canker sores on their lips, cheeks, mouth, or tongue. Changes in the thickness or growth rate of your hair can also be signs of a vitamin B12 deficiency.
Researchers have noted a decline in memory in adults with lower-than-average levels of vitamin B12. It might be that a vitamin B12 deficiency can cause brain damage over time through oxidative stress.
If you aren’t getting enough vitamin B12, you could have an elevated risk of Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. Some people develop memory loss without being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
Some research even suggests that people who have vitamin B12 levels that fall on the low range of normal can experience memory loss.
If you’re interested in learning more about your levels of vitamin B12 and other essential micronutrients, reach out to Dr. Franklin to schedule an assessment. Dr. Franklin will work closely with you to determine the best way to achieve optimal health and wellness.
Setting up an appointment is as easy as a quick call to 831-647-3190. If you’re ready to explore this option, set up an appointment with Dr. Franklin. Contact our office in Monterey, California, to find a time that fits your schedule.
