Vitamin B12: Support your energy and prevent a B12 deficiency

Are you worried about a vitamin B12 deficiency? And do you want to know everything about this important vitamin? In this article, we will tell you everything about vitamin B12. What is it; where is it found and what are the symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency?
 

You are young and have a busy life. That's nice, but also exhausting because all those responsibilities demand a lot from you. That is why, in addition to your busy life, you also try to eat as healthily as possible. You are constantly looking for ways to support your energy and mental well-being. Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that you cannot afford to overlook. Vitamin B12 supports your energy levels because this vitamin helps release energy from your food.

A B12 deficiency can cause you to develop a form of anemia. You may notice this through symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, and sometimes heart palpitations. In addition, a reduced amount of vitamin B12 in your blood can affect your nervous system. You may experience this as tingling in your fingers and memory loss. Problems with your coordination and muscle weakness can also be related to a vitamin B12 deficiency.

A vitamin B12 deficiency is more common than generally believed. It is often wrongly thought that a B12 deficiency only occurs in people with pernicious anemia (vitamin B12 deficiency due to autoimmune gastritis) and strict vegetarians.

There are many more causes of deficiency. It is also often thought that a vitamin B12 deficiency always goes hand in hand with anemia, which is not the case, causing the diagnosis to be frequently missed.

Vitamin B12 is found almost exclusively in animal products. As a result, vegetarians or vegans are at a higher risk of a vitamin B12 deficiency.

Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin. We also call it cobalamin. Your body uses it for many different processes. For example, for the proper functioning of your nervous system and for releasing energy from your food.

The recommended daily amount of vitamin B12 for adults is 2.8 micrograms. But if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, your need for this vitamin is slightly higher. Namely 3.3 micrograms per day if you are pregnant and 3.8 micrograms per day when breastfeeding.

You can find vitamin B12 mainly in animal products such as meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products. Liver, sardines, mussels, and mackerel are particularly known for the large amounts of vitamin B12 they contain. But eating cheese, steak, and eggs can also help provide your body with vitamin B12. To get enough vitamins, it is important to eat healthily and varied.

Are you vegetarian or vegan? Then you should pay extra attention to your vitamin B12 intake, because plant-based foods are not natural sources of B12. At least, not a variant that is effective for humans, because you cannot absorb it.

Vitamin B12 has many different functions in your body. Before we delve further into a vitamin B12 deficiency in this article, it is useful to know exactly what vitamin B12 does in your body.

Vitamin B12:

• Supports your energy levels and helps release energy from your food;
• Contributes to the production of cells and tissues and helps with cell renewal;
• Is important for the production of red blood cells. These red blood cells, in turn, are important for the transport of oxygen in your body;
• Plays a role in the production and breakdown of homocysteine (it is important for your body that the level of this amino acid in your blood does not become too high);
• Contributes to the normal functioning of the immune system;
• Contributes to normal psychological function. It helps keep your concentration, memory, and learning performance healthy, and vitamin B12 is also beneficial for a good mental balance.
• Contributes to extra energy during fatigue;
• Contributes to the normal functioning of the nervous system.

In short: are you tired and in need of support for your energy during the day? Then vitamin B12 can help. Do you suspect that you are not absorbing enough vitamin B12 from your diet? Or do you eat vegetarian or vegan? Then you can supplement your diet with a supplement containing extra vitamin B12. Supplements can be a nice addition to your healthy diet.
 

Read all about Ovabalance vitamin B12 supplements >>

The absorption of vitamin B12 is a fairly complex process. Vitamin B12 is not simply absorbed through the intestinal wall. To be absorbed, vitamin B12 needs a substance to bind to. This substance is called 'intrinsic factor' and is produced in the stomach. Linked to the intrinsic factor, vitamin B12 is transported through the stomach and further through the intestinal tract. Once it reaches the last part of the small intestine, vitamin B12 is absorbed into your blood.

There are also people who cannot absorb vitamin B12 as well. For example, you absorb too little vitamin B12 if your stomach produces too little intrinsic factor. Or when absorption in the intestine is hindered for one reason or another. This can be the case if you have ever had intestinal surgery. Older people more often have difficulty absorbing vitamin B12 and therefore develop a deficiency. This is because the production of stomach acid can decrease with age.

A vitamin B12 deficiency can develop because you:

• Absorb insufficient vitamin;
• Because you consume too little vitamin B12 in your diet.

A vitamin B12 deficiency does not occur often if you eat animal products. If you are vegetarian or vegan? Then it is a different story. You must supplement your healthy diet with vitamin B12 to absorb enough of it. This can be done with supplements.

Are you experiencing symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency? For example, do you have pale skin or feel tired? Do you feel a bit lightheaded or do you not have much appetite? Then contact your GP. The GP can have your blood tested to see if there is a vitamin B12 deficiency.

Vitamin B12 dietary supplements are a nice way to supplement the vitamin B12 you get through your diet. Vitamin B12 can help keep your nervous system healthy, support the production of red blood cells, and help with fatigue.
 

It is important to choose high-quality supplements that are well absorbed by the body. The Ovabalance Vitamin B12 melt tablets, for example, contain a bioactive and well-absorbed form of vitamin B12. They are therefore a good addition to a vegetarian or vegan diet.
 

In the Ovabalance VitaminB12 supplement, B12 is in the form of methylcobalamin. This is a bioactive form of vitamin B12. This means that the vitamin does not need to be converted in the body before it becomes effective.

For pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding, sufficient intake of vitamin B12 through diet is important. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you have a higher need. That is why vitamin B12 is also in the Ultimate Multi Mama, which was specially developed for women: a multivitamin for women who want to become pregnant, pregnant women, or women who are breastfeeding.