Vitamin B12 is a primary water-soluble vitamin required for the proper functioning of the human body. Unlike other water-soluble vitamins, cobalamin can store in the human body.
But as the human body does not consume it, you have to intake it through your diet plan. The best way to fulfill your vitamin intake is by keeping a healthy diet plan.
Now, a person needs to be aware of a particular nutrient's health benefits and side effects. Only then will they maintain the intake and the risk of high or low doses.
The following article provides you with the health benefits and side effects of vitamin b12. It will help you be strict with the daily intake of vitamins and prevent any harmful conditions.
05 Health Benefits of Vitamin B12
Vitamin b12 is an essential nutrient for the human body, and it provides it with various benefits that help in the body's normal functioning and development.
Following are the health benefits of vitamin b12 for the human body:
Improve red blood cell production
Vitamin b12 helps the body produce red blood cells and maintain proper blood circulation. Vitamin b12 deficiency can reduce red blood cells and cause abnormal functions.
The red blood cell becomes oval and more prominent when there is a vitamin b12 deficiency. Due to their larger size, red blood cells cannot move, which can cause a diseased medical condition called anemia.
So, proper vitamin b12 intake helps you with red blood production and prevents anemia.
Boost hair growth
Vitamin b12 plays a significant role in improving hair growth and making them healthy. This vitamin enhances the blood circulation in the hair follicles, promoting growth.
Also, it maintains oil production and protects the nerve fibers. Overall, vitamin b12 is an essential hair nutrient that helps develop and sustain hairs.
Prevent the loss of neurons
Often vitamin b12 deficiency is linked with memory loss, particularly in older people. Researchers have found out that vitamin b12 plays a significant role in preventing the loss of neurons in the brain.
More overly, maintaining nerve and brain cells is one of the considerable functions of vitamin b12.
Improve Heart health
Vitamin b12 plays a sufficient role in maintaining homocysteine levels in the blood. Homocysteine is an amino acid that is required for normal body functioning.
If a person has a vitamin b12 deficiency, then their homocysteine levels can increase, leading to cardiovascular problems. Vitamin b12 improves heart health by keeping the homocysteine levels in control.
More overly, vitamin b12 food sources come under the roof of best hormone balancing superfoods which means they will balance the body mechanism and heart health.
Enhance mood and control depression
Researchers have found out that vitamin b12 improves mood and reduces the symptoms of depression.
Vitamin b12 plays a significant role in metabolizing and synthesizing serotonin hormone, a chemical substance targeted to regulate mood.
Vitamin b12 deficiency can cause depression and other disturbing symptoms. So, if you are dealing with depression, you must maintain your vitamin b12 intake.
Side Effects of Vitamin B12
Vitamin b12 does have side effects, but you have to understand that these side effects only occur when you consume high doses of the vitamin or become deficient in it. Vitamin b12 will never negatively affect you if you drink in the recommended daily allowance. Following are the side effects that may occur if you consume high doses of vitamin b12 or have a deficiency of it:
- Mild diarrhea
- Itching and skin rashes
- Headache, dizziness, and nausea
- Anemia due to reducing red blood cell production
- Reduced cognitive functions to nerve cell impairment
- Severe allergic reaction such as anaphylaxis which is swelling of face, throat, and tongue.
- Severe hair loss
- Sensation of swelling
These are both the mild and severe side effects of vitamin b12. Now, high doses only occur when you take the vitamin through supplementation or injections. Likewise, if you are not consuming enough vitamin b12, these symptoms can also occur.
If you observe any of these symptoms, you must consult a doctor as soon as possible. Symptoms can worsen if you do not get them treated at the right time. A doctor will recommend you the right intake amount of vitamin b12.
The Final Takeaway
Vitamin b12 is an essential nutrient for the human body. A person should be aware of the health benefits and side effects of vitamin b12 so that they can maintain the intake.
Moreover, they know when they are deficient in a vitamin or consume high doses by navigating the symptoms. Vitamin b12 contributes to a lot of significant functions in the human body.
Side effects of this vitamin only occur when you either consume too much or too little of it.