Vitamin B12 plays a crucial role in keeping the blood and nerve cells healthy. The nutrient is important in converting food into energy and contributes to the creation of DNA which is the genetic material in all your cells.
In case of vitamin B12 deficiency, supplements are often prescribed by doctors to improve the levels. In United States, most people don’t need to take a B12 vitamin supplement.
Certain people (such as those over 50) may be at risk for a B12 deficiency. However, if you eat a balanced diet that includes animal foods, such as beef, chicken, fish, eggs, and milk, or fortified breads or cereals, you’re probably getting enough.
In India, Vitamin B12 is one of the most widely prevalent nutritional deficiencies. Studies suggest the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency is 47 percent in the north Indian population. Additionally, people with diabetes have higher vitamin B12 levels than the general population though still have a high prevalence of deficiency.
According to a report by Yale Medicine, as many as 24 percent of men and 29 percent of women reported taking a supplement (either a multivitamin that contains B12, a B-complex vitamin, or a standalone B12 supplement), as per the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
Who are at risk of developing Vitamin B12 deficiency?
The following group of people are at higher risk of developing vitamin B12 deficiency:
- People who are age 50 or older are more likely to get vitamin B12 deficiency.
- People who are vegan or strictly follow a vegetarian diet may also develop vitamin B12 deficiency as the primary source of this vitamin is animal products.
- Pregnant women are also at risk of developing vitamin B12 deficiency. However, it can return to normal level after the delivery of the child.
- People who have undergone surgical procedures like bariatric surgery may also develop vitamin B12 deficiency as procedures like gastric bypass for weight loss can reduce the amount of stomach acid necessary for B12 absorption.
- Certain medical conditions that can restrict vitamin B12 absorption include pernicious anemia (a rare autoimmune disease that keeps the body from making a protein necessary to absorb B12), digestive illnesses, such as celiac and Crohn’s diseases, and immune disorders such as lupus, among others.
- People with alcohol use disorder are also at the risk of developing vitamin B12 deficiency as alcohol use can harm the digestive system and make it difficult to absorb vitamin B12.
How to track vitamin B12 levels in the human body?
People who are at risk of developing vitamin B12 deficiency should take a blood test and the complete blood count (CBC) will provide details about whether the vitamin B12 levels are low.
According to Yale Medicine, the results of the B12 test may be one of the following:
- Normal: B12 levels above 300 pg/mL
- Borderline: B12 levels between 200 and 300 pg/mL. Additional testing may help provide a diagnosis.
- Deficient: B12 levels below 200 pg/mL. However, a low B12 level won’t determine the cause of the deficiency, so further testing may be needed.
What type of vitamin B12 supplements should you take?
In most cases, B12 supplement may not cause harm. However, it is important to follow the dietary guidance. The recommended daily amount (RDA) varies, depending on age and other factors.
While the recommended dose for an adult is 2.4 mcg (micrograms), B12 vitamin tablets are also available in doses of 5 to 25 mcg, and even 500 mcg to 1,000 mcg or more.
The latter is usually considered safe but the body will absorb only a small percentage of that amount.