Liquid Vitamin B12
Aids in Red Blood Cell
Promotes Mental Health
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Vitamin B12's primary functions are in the formation of red blood cells
and the maintenence of a healthy nervous system. B12 is necessary for the
rapid synthesis of DNA during cell division. This is especially important
in tissues where cells are dividing rapidly, particularly the bone marrow
tissues responsible for red blood cell formation. If B12 deficiency occurs,
DNA production is disrupted and abnormal cells called megaloblasts occur. |
This results in anaemia. Symptoms include excessive tiredness, breathlessness,
listlessness, pallor, and poor resistance to infection. Other
symptoms can include a smooth, sore tongue and menstrual disorders. Anaemia
may also be due to folic acid deficiency, folic acid also being necessary
for DNA synthesis.
B12 is also important in maintaining the nervous system. Nerves are
surrounded by an insulating fatty sheath comprised of a complex protein
called myelin. B12 plays a vital role in the metabolism of fatty acids
essential for the maintainence of myelin. Prolonged B12 deficiency can
lead to nerve degeneration and irreversible neurological damage.
When deficiency occurs, it is more commonly linked to a failure to effectively
absorb B12 from the intestine rather than a dietary deficiency. Absorption
of B12 requires the secretion from the cells lining the stomach of a glycoprotein,
known as intrinsic factor. The B12-intrinsic factor complex is then absorbed
in the ileum (part of the small intestine) in the presence of calcium.
Certain people are unable to produce intrinsic factor and the subsequent
pernicious anaemia is treated with injections of B12.
Vitamin B12 can be stored in small amounts by the body. Total body store
is 2-5mg in adults. Around 80% of this is stored in the liver.
Vitamin B12 is excreted in the bile and is effectively reabsorbed. This
is known as enterohepatic circulation. The amount of B12 excreted in the
bile can vary from 1 to 10ug (micrograms) a day. People on diets low in
B12, including vegans and some vegetarians, may be obtaining more B12 from
reabsorption than from dietary sources. Reabsorption is the reason it can
take over 20 years for deficiency disease to develop in people changing
to diets absent in B12. In comparison, if B12 deficiency is due to a failure
in absorption it can take only 3 years for deficiency disease to occur. |