Heres a list of its primary functions: Helps in the production of red blood cells Prevents anemia Reduces risk of complications during pregnancy Combats macular degeneration (eye disease) Maintains the health of neurons Decreases homocysteine which is linked to heart disease Improves mood and fights depression Encourages bone health Contributes to healthy hair, skin, and nails Boosts energy As you can see, vitamin B-12, also known as cobalamin, plays many roles in several aspects of overall health
You can get vitamin B12 from many dietary sources and animal products, such as: Meat Fish Eggs Dairy products Nutritional yeast Fortified foods Many People Are Deficient According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), about 12.5% of adults in the U.S
The authors attributed the changes in homocysteine levels primarily to vitamin B 12 (92)
How are Vitamin B12 injections administered
If youre prone to iron deficiency, eat plenty of meals containing foods high in iron and vitamin C and avoid coffee and tea (which decrease iron absorption) within an hour of such meals