How does b12 give energy

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Return to Parkview Dashboard Blog. Can vitamin B12 really give you an energy boost? Sources of B12 Vitamin B12 can be found in a wide variety of animal products, such as meat, fish, poultry, eggs, milk, yogurt, cheese and fortified foods such as breakfast cereal. Recommended intake The amount of vitamin B12 required varies based on your age and life cycle. Related Blog Posts. View all posts. Need assistance? Deficiencies are commonly due to alcoholism, impaired nutrient absorption or inadequate intake.

For instance, vegetarians and vegans may be at greater risk for low B12, since you can't get it from plants. And pregnant or breastfeeding women need higher amounts of B vitamins. Falling short on folate or B12 is linked to bigger health conditions, like anemia or depression, that often have low energy as a symptom. If you really feel like you're dragging or are in a constant funk, ask your doctor about a blood test to see if you're getting enough.

Deficiency can be remedied with dietary changes and supplements. B vitamins keep your motor running, but loading up won't give you an extra jolt. Get them from a variety of foods to ensure you hit all eight. Julia Westbrook January 14, Pin FB More. Research has not shown that any form of supplemental vitamin B12 is better than the others.

The amount of vitamin B12 in supplements varies widely. Some provide doses of vitamin B12 that are much higher than recommended amounts, such as mcg or 1, mcg, but your body absorbs only a small percentage of it. These doses are considered safe. Check the Supplement Facts label to see how much vitamin B12 a supplement contains. A prescription form of vitamin B12 can be given as a shot. This is usually used to treat vitamin B12 deficiency.

Most people in the United States get enough vitamin B12 from the foods they eat. But some people have trouble absorbing vitamin B12 from food. The body absorbs vitamin B12 from food in a two-step process. Second, the freed vitamin B12 then combines with a protein made by the stomach, called intrinsic factor , and the body absorbs them together. However, B12 in supplements does need to combine with intrinsic factor to be absorbed. As a result, they have trouble absorbing vitamin B12 from foods and dietary supplements.

Your doctor can test your vitamin B12 level to see if you have a deficiency. If you have a vitamin B12 deficiency, you may feel tired or weak. These are symptoms of megaloblastic anemia, which is a hallmark of vitamin B12 deficiency. You might also have pale skin, heart palpitations, loss of appetite, weight loss, and infertility.

Your hands and feet might become numb or tingly, a sign of nerve problems. Other symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency include problems with balance, depression , confusion, dementia , poor memory, and soreness of the mouth or tongue. In infants, signs of a vitamin B12 deficiency include failure to thrive , delays in reaching the typical developmental milestones, and megaloblastic anemia. Scientists are studying vitamin B12 to understand how it affects health. Here are several examples of what this research has shown.

Cancer Some research shows that people with high levels of vitamin B12 have a higher risk of cancer. More evidence is needed to understand whether vitamin B12 levels affect cancer risk.