Vitamin B12 – فيتامين ب 12

Vitamin B12 is essential for our DNA and RBCs formation. It is not synthetized in our body so it needs to be supplemented in diet and here lies an issue as vitamin B12 present only in the animal food such as meat, egg, fish and poultry. There is no plant food that contains vitamin B12.

Vitamin B12 deficiency causes multiple serious manifestations under the name of pernicious anemia. It may start only with weakness, pale face, tiredness, loss of appetite with diarrhea or constipation and cardiac palpitation but if the deficiency lasts soon many nervous manifestations will appear such as numbness, muscle weakness and vision loss plus mental problems like depression and memory loss.

Some people are highly susceptible to vitamin B12 deficiency and frequent monitoring of blood levels of vitamin B12 is a must, like the people suffering from GIT diseases as people suffering from atrophic gastritis and Crohn’s disease which interfere with vitamin B12 absorption.

People with Immune system disorders such as Graves’ disease or Systemic Lupus and who takes certain medications that interfere with the absorption of B12, this includes some heartburn medicines certain diabetes medicines such as metformin.

The persons on vegan diet (meaning you don’t eat any animal products) are at risk for the development of vitamin B12 deficiency and also the pregnant female as their requirement from vitamin B12 increases during pregnancy.