What does vitamin B12 do for me? Why do I need vitamin B12?
This is Dr. Jim for Be Healthy! Be Happy! and today I’m talking about vitamin B12!
Vitamin B12 works to preserve DNA, neurotransmitter, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular integrity. Over all, it benefits you by protecting against cardiovascular disorders, stomach inflammation, anemia and nervous system deterioration.
And get this! Vitamin B12 in combination with another vitamin called folic acid, prevents the devastation of a condition called spina bifida in children.
The recommended dietary allowance of vitamin B12 is 2.4micrograms per day for both adult males and females, which are revised upward for women who are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Foods rich in vitamin B12 include crab, beef, salmon, milk, eggs and chicken. Vitamin B12 can also be taken as a dietary supplement and most multivitamin and mineral formulations contain sufficient quantities of vitamin B12 to ensure adequate daily intake.
It is important also to note this: individuals who have undergone stomach or intestinal surgery including bariatric surgery and those unfortunate individuals with disorders such as Crohn’s disease, have impaired ability to absorb vitamin B12 and should have their vitamin B12 levels monitored regularly.
Vitamin B12 taken as a supplement is generally safe if the tolerable upper intake is limited to no more than 2mg daily in adults. Nutritional experts propose 30 micrograms daily as the optimal dosage.
So fill up on chicken and fish, don’t forget your hazelnuts and ensure adequate intake of B12 by consuming a quality multivitamin and mineral supplement daily – all of this for a healthy heart and nervous system as well as improving immune system performance.
This is Dr. Jim for Be Healthy! Be Happy! Thanks for listening and stay tuned for our next segment when I’ll tell why we need folic acid also known as vitamin B9 to stay healthy and happy!
Reference: The Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, 2015. Online [available at]: http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic Accessed May 25, 2015.