by Through food, the body acquires most of the nutrients and vitamins it needs for optimal functioning; For this reason, health professionals emphasize the importance of following a healthy and balanced eating plan that contains foods from all groups, in the appropriate portions, for the age, weight, and nutritional conditions of each patient.
On some occasions, some people may present a deficiency of some vitamins; However, to ingest a supplement or capsules of any of these components, it is better to consult a health professional and take it only under medical prescription, since the lack of vitamins can generate certain symptoms, but the excessive intake of certain substances can also cause negative consequences for the organism.
One of the many essential vitamins for the proper functioning of the body is vitamin B12, this compound, according to the web portal of the United States Library of Health and Medicine. medlineplus it is water soluble; that is, it dissolves in water. The body uses this compound in the amounts it needs and the remaining nutrient is expelled from the body through urine. It is worth mentioning that the body can store this substance for years inside the liver.
This compound is crucial for the metabolism of proteins, because it helps the formation of red blood cells and the maintenance of the central nervous system.
“Vitamin B12 is found naturally in foods of animal origin, such as fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and milk products.. This compound is not present in plant foods. Fortified breakfast cereals are an available source of vitamin B12. For vegetarians, there is more availability of this vitamin to the body in these cereals. Some nutritional yeast products also contain vitamin B12″.
A vitamin deficiency occurs when the body is not getting enough of that nutrient or is not absorbing the amount it needs.
Vitamin B12 deficiency is more common in the following patients:
- They are or are over 50 years old.
- They are vegetarian or vegan.
- Have had stomach or intestinal surgery, such as weight-loss surgery.
- They have digestive conditions such as celiac disease or Crohn’s disease.
Low levels of vitamin B12 can generate in the patient:
- Anemia.
- Loss of balance.
- Numbness or tingling in the arms and legs.
- Weakness.
earth In its health and personal care section, it mentions that a lack of vitamin B12 in the body can also cause vision problems. A patient with a deficiency of this component can present obstructed and blurred vision for no apparent reason. To confirm that these symptoms are due to a lack of this compound, a health professional must be seen to find out if this is the true cause or if there is another behind said symptoms. It is worth mentioning that the lack of vitamin B12 can reach the optic nerve that reaches the eyes.
“According to specialists, the nerve signal that travels from the eye to the brain is disturbed due to this damage, which causes vision problems. In this context, a lack of vitamin B12 will cause optic neuropathy resulting in painless, bilateral, progressive vision loss, which is often associated with reduced color vision and central scotomas.”
Daily intake of vitamin B12:
Infants:
- 0 to 6 months: 0.4 micrograms per day (mcg/day).
- 7 to 12 months: 0.5 mcg/day.
Children:
- 1 to 3 years: 0.9 mcg/day.
- 4 to 8 years: 1.2 mcg/day.
- 9 to 13 years: 1.8 mcg/day.
adolescents and adults
- Men and women 14 years and older: 2.4 mcg/day.
- Pregnant women and adolescents: 2.6 mcg/day.
- Women and lactating adolescents: 2.8 mcg/day.
