Vitamin D and Vitamin B12 play a crucial role in the well-being of the human body. Vitamin D is essential for the bones and teeth, the immune system, brain health, and for regulating inflammation. Meanwhile, vitamin B12 is needed to form red blood cells and DNA. It is also a key player in the function and development of brain and nerve cells.
A 2022 study has revealed that there is a “significant relationship” between vitamin D and vitamin B12 deficiencies. In some cases, vitamin D deficiency may also be present in vitamin B12 deficiency cases, the study found. But how prevalent it is?
According to Dr. Rakesh Gupta, senior consultant, Internal Medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, vitamin D and vitamin B12 are two entirely different nutrients that play distinct roles in the body.
“While a deficiency in either vitamin can lead to health issues, a lack of vitamin D does not directly cause a deficiency in vitamin B12. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin primarily responsible for promoting calcium absorption and bone health. It is obtained through sun exposure, certain foods, and dietary supplements. Vitamin B12, on the other hand, is a water-soluble vitamin crucial for red blood cell formation, neurological function, and DNA synthesis. It is naturally found in animal-based foods like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products,” Dr. Gupta told Financial Express.com.
While a lack of vitamin D does not directly cause vitamin B12 deficiency, certain underlying conditions or dietary patterns that contribute to vitamin D deficiency may also increase the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency, he highlighted.
For example, individuals following a strict vegan or vegetarian diet that excludes animal-based foods may be at risk for both vitamin D and vitamin B12 deficiencies, he informed.
“Similarly, conditions that affect nutrient absorption, such as Crohn’s disease or celiac disease, can lead to deficiencies in multiple vitamins and minerals, including vitamin D and vitamin B12. However, the mechanisms by which these deficiencies occur are separate and distinct, and addressing one deficiency does not necessarily resolve the other,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Tushar Tayal, Lead Consultant, Department of Internal Medicine, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram maintains that in a person deficient in vitamin D, due to probable alteration of gut flora and epithelium, there is a possibility of decreased absorption of vitamin b12 leading to its deficiency.
“But this correlation needs to be studied further,” Dr. Tayal told Financial Express.com.