Vitamin B12 – A Commonly Overlooked Deficiency

Vitamin B12 is not a major concern for most, but for our brothers and sisters with vegetarian diets and for those with digestive issues, Vitamin B12 is one of the most commonly overlooked deficiencies and is the cause of a multitude of ailments. If this sounds like you or someone you know, you definitely want to check out our new blog to learn more about this and more! Remember, Health is Wealth!

Vitamin B12 is water soluble vitamin essential in red blood cell formation, cell metabolism, nerve function and the production of DNA. On other words, an essential vitamin without which we would not be able to function.

In food, vitamin B12 is found almost exclusively in meat, poultry, fish and dairy products, though it is often added to certain foods, like breakfast cereals for example. 

Naturally then, vitamin B12 deficiency is most often found amongst people who eat less meat and dairy products generally and amongst vegans and vegetarians particularly. Older adults and people with digestive tract conditions like celiac, Crohn’s and IBS that affect the absorption of nutrients are also more likely to experience vitamin B12 deficiency.

Left unchecked, a vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to a variety of symptoms such as anemia, fatigue, muscle weakness, intestinal problems, nerve damage and mood disturbances. Needless to say, vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin for everyone to supplement with, especially those that are at higher risk of deficiency or suffer from any of the above symptoms.

The recommended daily amount of vitamin B12 for adults is 2.4 mcg, however, there is no defined upper limit of how much we should take. The human body typically only absorbs 1.3% of a 1000 mcg vitamin B12 dose, or 13 mcg and even less is absorbed in people with digestive tract conditions. For these reasons, even doses up to 1000x the daily recommended amount, or 2,400 mcg, are considered safe.

Farmacy For Life’s BCD blend contains 1000 mcg of vitamin B12 and is therefore both safe and ideal for people with vitamin B12 deficiency on a daily basis and beneficial on an occasional basis by those with even acceptable levels of vitamin B12.

Stay tuned for our upcoming blog discussing some of the most common symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency. Peace and blessings!