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Vitamin
B12 | Cyanocobalamin |
What is the
importance of vitamin
B12 ?
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Vitamin
B12 is freely soluble in
water. It is resistant
to boiling in neutral
solutions, but is liable
to destruction in the
presence of alkalis and
acids. Other factors
that destroy this
vitamin are sunlight,
alcohol, estrogen - the
female hormone, and
sleeping pills.
Deficiency of vitamin
B12 is caused more
frequently by problems
of absorption than by
dietary inadequacy. The
presence of a sufficient
quantity of gastric
juice is essential to
facilitate its
absorption in the
intestine. Calcium and
protein-rich food
greatly help the
absorption of this
vitamin from the
intestines. The amount
of vitamin B12 which is
not immediately needed
by the body is stored in
the liver, which is
capable of storing
relatively large amounts
of this nutrient.
About 30 mcg of vitamin
B12 are excreted in the
normal urine daily. When
injected in a large dose
up to 100 mcg, up to 90
per cent of the quantity
is excreted. Since the
absorption of vitamin
B12 does not take place
in the colon, much of
the unabsorbed vitamin
B12 is excreted in the
stools. This vitamin is
also secreted in breast
milk for the use of
babies.
Like
vitamin B6, vitamin
B12 is essential for the
production and
regeneration of red
blood cells. It is also
needed for the proper
functioning of the
central nervous system.
It improves
concentration,
memory, and balance,
and relieves
irritability. Vitamin
B12 is necessary for
proper utilization of
fats, carbohydrates, and
proteins for body
building. It promotes
growth and increases
appetite in children.
This vitamin is also
involved in many vital
metabolic ,and enzymatic
processes, including the
metabolism of
folic acid. If the
immune cells made in the
bone marrow are to
mature into active
disease-fighters, a
sufficient quantity of
vitamin B12 and folic
acid are necessary.
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How do you know if
you need more vitamin
B12?
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A
deficiency of vitamin
B12 may cause pernicious
(destructive) anemia. It
may lead to a poor
appetite and retardation
of growth in children,
chronic fatigue, a
sore mouth, a feeling of
numbness or stiffness,
loss of mental energy,
and difficulty in
concentration.
Deficiency of vitamin
B12 affects every cell
in the body, but is most
severely felt in the
tissues where the cells
normally divide rapidly,
as in the blood forming
tissues of the bone
marrow and in the
gastro-intestinal tract.
The nervous system is
also affected and this
may lead to degeneration
of nerve fibers in the
spinal cord and
peripheral nerves.
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How much
vitamin B12 do you
need?
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It is
impossible for anyone to
tell you how much of any
particular vitamin you
need. We have read many
articles and reports on
this subject and no two
are alike. There are too
many variables involved.
Your age, your height
and weight, your health
and lifestyle, etc. The
best way for you to
decide which supplements
you need is to read
these pages and make
note of any health
problems you may be
having which could be
associated with a
vitamin deficiency. Then
start taking a small
dose. If your symptoms
don't go away after a
week or two, increase
your dosage. Continue
this until your symptoms
are relieved and stay
with that dosage.
Guideline is for a 150
pound adult:
- Men: 500 mcg.
Best if taken as
part of a
B Complex
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- Women: 500 mcg. Best
if taken as part of
a
B Complex.
Always consult your
doctor or midwife during
pregnancy and lactation.
Always start small
and work your way up, if
needed. Please be
careful when dealing
with fat soluble
vitamins as your body
retains these for
extended periods of
time. It is possible to
take to much of these
types of vitamins.
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How to get enough
vitamin B12?
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Eating
a variety of foods that
contain vitamin B12
is the best way to get
an adequate amount.
Healthy individuals who
eat a balanced diet
rarely need supplements.
Select foods that
contain excellent to
good sources of
vitamin B12 each
day. Such as the
following:
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Fatty fish
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White fish |
Beef |
Eggs |
Cheese |
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Chicken |
Milk |
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If
you eat an abundant
quantity of the
above foods, you
will not have to
worry about
supplementing your
diet with extra
Vitamin B12. If
you don't eat much
of the above foods,
you might consider
adding a supplement.
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We
get all our personal
use vitamins and supplements
from
Puritan's Pride .
We highly recommend you
do the same, for
all your vitamin and
supplement needs. Their
products are always
fresh and of the highest
quality. Their prices
can't be beat, not even
by Wal-Mart. Shipping is
very fast and
inexpensive. |
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