What you need to know about vitamin B12

What is vitamin B12 and why is it important?

Found naturally in foods of animal origin including meat, fish, eggs and milk. Vitamin B12 Essential for the development and function of the central nervous system, red blood cell formation and DNA synthesis. Some breakfast cereals and nutritional yeast are supplemented with vitamin B12, providing an alternative source for vegans.

those Recommended food allowance The RDA of B12 for non-breastfeeding adults is 2.4 grams per day, which is roughly the amount in 85 grams of cooked ground beef. For pregnant people and those who are breastfeeding, this value increases to 2.6 grams per day and 2.8 grams per day, respectively.

What are the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency? What is the drawback and the latest research?

British Medical Journal has been reported Vitamin B12 deficiency is a common but serious condition that may not have a clear clinical presentation, leading to complex problems related to diagnosis and treatment.

approx 6% of adults under 60 There is a vitamin B12 deficiency. As people age and our metabolism changes, this figure increases to 20% in those over 60.

Symptoms Vitamin B12 is varied and can include cognitive impairment, mental health problems, indigestion, vision changes and palpitations.

Researchers are actively studying the role of vitamin B12 in the human body, as well as the consequences of low levels.

Low vitamin B12 is linked to inflammation

it A recent study¹Published in Journal of Food and Agricultural Sciences, illustrates a link between vitamin B12 and two molecules that promote inflammation interleukin (IL)-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP).

The researchers analyzed data from 136 participants Precursor The trial was originally designed to assess the effect of the Mediterranean diet on cardiovascular disease risk.

The higher the vitamin B12 in a person’s blood sample, the lower the concentration IL6 and CRPThe researchers found that inflammation is a key marker in clinical practice.

It will be interesting to understand whether vitamin B12 supplementation can play a role in disease management. said Rosa M. Lamuela-RavantzCo-corresponding author of the study and professor of nutrition, food science and gastronomy at the University of Barcelona.

While the team did not specifically study people with vitamin B12 deficiency, study co-first author, Dr. Marta Kovacheva He explained that this study identifies a new connection: this could help us better understand why some unexplained symptoms of human B12 deficiency, such as neurological disorders, occur.

While participants in the PREDIMED trial represent a small subset of the population, the authors emphasize that it will be important to explore sex-specific differences in future research.

Micronutrient deficiencies associated with increased antibiotic resistance

it A recent study² The University of British Columbia (UBC) reported a surprising link between micronutrient deficiencies, gut microbiota and antibiotic resistance. Deficiencies in critical micronutrients, including vitamin B12, can affect the gut microbiota of mice, leading to the expansion of opportunistic pathogens.

They also found that mice with micronutrient deficiencies had microbes with a higher prevalence of genes associated with antibiotic resistance. This is a significant finding, suggesting that nutrient deficiencies may make the gut environment more favorable for the development of antibiotic resistance. Dr. Paula LittlejohnA postdoctoral research associate in UBCs Division of Medical Genetics and Department of Paediatrics and lead author of the study said.

What are the new NICE guidelines on B12 deficiency?

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recently was published The first guideline for the diagnosis and management of vitamin B12 deficiency, aimed at improving awareness of the condition and diagnosis and ongoing care.

The new NICE guidelines specify serum concentrations of total and functional vitamin B12 that are diagnostic of deficiency, as well as serum concentrations that require follow-up.

Total B12 concentration should be less than 180 ng/L or a Less than 25 pmol/L (unless pregnant or breastfeeding) for diagnosis of active B12 deficiency. Inconclusive results requiring follow-up are total B12 concentrations between 180 and 350 ng/L, according to guidelines.

A blood test for vitamin B12 deficiency is recommended if a patient has one of the symptoms and One or more risk factors include age, autoimmune conditions, and previous digestive system surgery.

The release of these guidelines has raised questions among healthcare professionals and patients.

The new guidelines suggest that treatment should be considered [the patients] The test is inconclusive and vitamin B12 deficiency is suspected Dr. Rehan AnsariGP Partner at Cliff House Medical Practice, saidIf we start offering injectable B12 supplementation to everyone with a B12 below 300 who feels fatigued or has brain fog, we risk moving into the realms of wellness rather than health.

Vitamin B12, along with other micronutrients, is increasingly offered by wellness or beauty clinics as part of a wellness menu, offering benefits such as increased energy, easier weight loss, a healthy cardiovascular system, and hangover cures. However, A study³ Drs Kathryn Kolasa and Sahil Dayal found no evidence-based guidelines for such uses of intravenous vitamin therapy outside of traditional medical settings.

Anssri also points out that the guidelines omit that a patient’s symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency should be analyzed to rule out other underlying causes, such as perimenopause, chronic fatigue, and other nutrient deficiencies.

More awareness is needed

A patient responding to the guidelines emphasized that vitamin deficiency is not part of first-line screening by GPs and that supplementation is not yet widely recognized as a viable therapeutic option. More clarification needed, added Dr. Ian Bealsis Clinical Associate Professor at the University of East Anglia in the Optimal Diagnosis and Management of Vitamin B12 Deficiency.

Charities and organizations like Vitamin B12 Deficiency Charity Group and Club-12 Aims to raise awareness and promote further research into vitamin B12 deficiency and the uncertainties surrounding diagnosis and treatment.

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