Vitamin B12

Since the B complex is probably the most important group of vitamins in nature, the elements here included are also some of the most frequently found in daily meals. Vitamin B12, for instance, is taken from dairy products, eggs and meat; yet, research has revealed that it is also present in high quantities in certain seaweeds like spirulina.

What is the role of vitamin B12 in the body? It suffices to say that this element containing cobalt is essential for the synthesis of blood cells and the proper functioning of the nervous system. Thus, a person who suffers from a vitamin B12 anemia is exposed to the degeneration of the nerve fiber.

Other functions of the vitamin B12 include cellular division and rapid DNA formation, which is also crucial for the development of the bone marrow. Hence, pregnant women have to pay attention to their diet and make sure to include vitamin B12-rich food in all their meals. Only small amounts of this vitamin can be stored by the human body and the liver is the organ responsible for the deposit formation.

People who are following a vegetarian or vegan diet are the ones more likely to develop vitamin B12 anemia; therefore, lots of soy products are enriched with this vital element for the proper functioning of the body system. Unfortunately, vitamin B12 deficiency is not identifiable from the early stages, as symptoms appear further in the more advanced stages of anemia.

The main sources of vitamin B12 are meat and eggs; in terms of green sources the only known ones are spirulina and fermented soy. Therefore, the diet can be supplemented with 1.5 grams of spirulina powder per day to ensure a proper vitamin intake. Studies have also proved that vitamin B12 is naturally occurring in the human body at the intestine level.

The friendly bacteria in the low part of the digestive tract are also known to produce vitamin B12, unfortunately, at this digestion level, the compound cannot be absorbed and processed within the system. Furthermore, large amounts of vitamin B12 are also excreted in stools, and they usually come from the bacterial source in the colon linings.

People who rely on dairy products as a primary source of vitamin B12 should know that fermented yogurt for instance has a low vitamin concentration since most of it is destroyed through the fermentation process. Even milk boiling can destroy vitamin B12, therefore, a balanced diet is the one usually recommended.