Vitamin B12 high and low 🆙

What is Vitamin B12

B12 is a vitamin also known by the name of cobalamin, since in its composition we find a cobalt atom.

It is a water-soluble vitamin, which therefore can easily dissolve in water. It is recommended to drink the cooking water of the vegetables in order to increase the intake of water-soluble vitamins and mineral salts.

For the well-being of our body a daily requirement of 2 or 3 mcg of B12, that we can take through food or vitamin B12 supplements.

Foods rich in vitamin B12 are the entrails, like liver and kidney, i crustaceans and fish, especially oysters and herring. They also have a good amount of B12 eggs and seaweed, especially the spirulina algae. Some soy or 100% vegetable based products, sold especially for those who have chosen a vegan diet, have a B12 supplement.

What is vitamin B12 used for

This vitamin is essential for the growth and maturation of Red blood cells. Vitamin B12 and folic acid, along with other vitamins, also act in the DNA and RNA synthesis.

Vitamin B12 is also involved in training of globules Bianchi, which are our defenders against external attacks by viruses and bacteria, thus contributing to the health of our immune system.

The nervous system also needs B12 for creation of the myelin sheath that envelops our nerves. This vitamin is also essential for the synthesis of neurotransmitters and has antalgic, as well as antidepressant and antiallergic properties.

Finally, she is involved in the homocysteine metabolism and thus serves to keep i in equilibrium circulating cholesterol levels, counteracting its deposit along the blood vessels.

Evaluate the values of vitamin B12

To find out how much vitamin B12 is present in our body we can use the blood analysis or hair test.

In laboratory analyzes we can evaluate the presence of B12 circulating, of B12 absorbed and B12 used. Some tests instead evaluate the amount of homocysteine and folic acid, which are directly related to vitamin B12.

A normal level is between 100 and 600 pmol / L and between 130 and 800 ng / L.

Low Vitamin B12

La vitamin B12 deficiency in the body it can be due to many causes: the main ones are the low intake in the diet and the difficulty of absorption.

Le diets that do not involve the consumption of animal derivatives, like vegan, seem more at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency. It is true that this is also possible with an omnivorous diet, mainly due to dysfunction, malabsorption or other factors.

In fact, the deficiency of a glycoprotein that the stomach should produce in order to absorb B12. In addition, this intrinsic factor decreases with age, triggering vitamin deficiencies.

I symptoms more common than vitamin B12 deficiency are:

> extreme tiredness, weakness and low energy;

> anemia, more or less strong;

> palpitations;

> nausea and vomit;

> difficult digestion;

> constipation and constipation;

> intestinal gas;

> Crohn's disease;

> lack of appetite;

> problems with the nervous system, such as dizziness and memory loss;

> mood disorders and anxiety.

Vitamin B12 high

Vitamin B12 can also be present in excess in our body, although this is a much rarer situation. In this case we will have milder problems, such as theacne, but also more serious, such as the malfunction of the Reindeer or some ailments al nervous system.

Generally, the symptoms of high vitamin B12 are tremors, mood swings, insomnia, swelling, states of anxiety and nervousness. Other possible manifestations are allergic reactions, changes in heart beat or difficulty in breathing. Even thegastrointestinal system it can show dysfunction, such as diarrhea and inflammation.

Sometimes laboratory tests can show high amounts of vitamin B12, but they do have one inactive chemical structure that is not processed by the body. This happens for example when algae are consumed.

To know better if the B12 present in the blood is active, therefore, we will also have to evaluate the way in which the body has used it, by reading the homocysteine analysis. In fact, if the values of vitamin B12 are high but those of folic acid are normal and homocysteine is in equilibrium, it is likely that vitamin B12 is in an inactive form.

Finally, high B12 levels are also common in the case of diabetesthebesità, kidney and liver problems.