Vitamin B12 – Also known as cobalamin | Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms

Also known as cobalamin as it contains cobalt, Vitamin B12 is one of the member of Vitamin B Complex. Common sources of Vitamin B12 are meat, eggs and milk products.  Research are being done to find out whether Vitamin B12 is also found in plants and many scientist has proposed possible occurrence of it in fermented soya products, sea weeds and algae called spirulina. Tablet form of spirulina, an algae and nori, a seaweed are sold in market as dietary food supplement of vitamin b12. However it is reported that it is not actually vitamin b12 that is found in these plants but an analogue of it.

Further research has found out that such an analogue of b12 can compete and inhibit metabolism and increases the risk of b12 deficiency.Bacteria in the large intestine also produces b12 but the production site is so far down the colon that it is absorbed by the intestinal wall but in fact excreted out with the faeces. The significant source of b12 remains to be from animal products.Primary function of Vitamin B12 include formation of red blood cells and is also required for  a healthy nervous system. It is necessary during cell division for rapid DNA synthesis; especially in tissues where cell division occurs at a fast rate specifically bone marrow for the synthesis of red blood cells.

Deficiency of B12 leads to production of Defective DNA bearing cells called megaloblast. This condition is called anemia. Symptoms are excessive tiredness, breathlessness, restlessness, pallor, and low immunity, sore tongue and menstrual disorder.

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Vitamin B12 – Also known as cobalamin | Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms