How does the body behave in a person who is deficient in vitamin B12? After the age of 50, these 6 groups of people should pay attention to supplementation
Many times, even though I have not done anything, I always feel very tired, and I can't do anything to get my spirits up. Even a good night's sleep can't relieve this very tired state.
What has actually happened? In fact, it is also possible that your body is deficient in vitamins.
1. Always feel tired, it may be a lack of vitamin B12
Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, as a member of the B group of vitamins, it is the only vitamin containing metal elements and has many important physiological functions for the human body.
Because vitamin B12 can affect the production of red blood cells, the production of energy and the delivery of oxygen, the body is prone to fatigue due to lack of vitamin B12.
In addition, lack of vitamin B12 will also bring other harms, which are mainly clinically characterized by megaloblastic anemia, glossitis, extensive symmetrical pigmentation of the skin, and neurological disorders .
Specifically, patients with megaloblastic anemia will have symptoms such as fatigue, anemic face, hepatosplenomegaly , or affect digestive function, such as glossitis, loss of appetite, diarrhea, indigestion, nausea and vomiting;
In terms of neurological damage, children may experience unresponsiveness and mental regression, and elderly people may experience headaches and memory loss . It can also cause changes in the skin, with symmetrical hyperpigmentation on the palms, crooked parts of the body, nails, soles of the feet, and the mouth .
2. What happens if you take a b12 tablet every day?
For the human body, getting enough vitamin B12 can mainly play the following roles:
maintain nervous system health;
It can promote the transfer of methyl groups, promote the maturation and development of red blood cells, and maintain normal human hematopoietic function, thereby preventing the occurrence of pernicious anemia;
·Vitamin B12 exists in the form of coenzyme, which can enhance the human body's utilization of folic acid and promote the metabolism of fat, carbohydrate and protein.
However, for normal people, should additional vitamin B12 be supplemented?
In fact, as long as you are not picky eaters, not partial eclipse, and have a balanced diet, you will not be deficient in vitamin B12.
Generally speaking,Animal foods such as meat, organ meats, fish, shellfish, and dairy products contain vitamin B12, but plant-based diets do not . The foods in the table below are rich in vitamin B12, so the amount absorbed in the diet can meet the body's need for vitamin B12, and no additional supplements are required.
Source: Medical Neurology Channel
3. However, these 6 types of people are easy to lack
Generally speaking, with the increase of age, the absorption of vitamin B12 in the elderly will decrease, so the elderly belong to the group who are prone to lack of vitamin B12.
Dietitian Gu Zhongyi suggested that elderly people over 50 years old can take vitamin B12 supplements under the guidance of a doctor to meet the recommended intake of 2.4 μg per day.
In addition to the elderly, these groups of people are also prone to vitamin B12 deficiency:
People with insufficient intake: such as long-term vegetarians;
Congenital vitamin B12 metabolic disorders: such as congenital lack of intrinsic factor, etc.;
· People with digestive system dysfunction: such as gastric, pancreatic, intestinal or liver diseases;
People with increased demand for vitamin B12: such as postpartum, pregnancy, taeniasis, etc.;
· Long-term use of certain drugs: For example, oral metformin can reduce serum vitamin B12 levels.
If you want to know if you are deficient in vitamin B12, you can do a blood test to check its levels. If the vitamin B12 in the serum is less than 73.8pmol/ml, it indicates a lack of vitamin B12.
If a vitamin B12 deficiency is diagnosed, early treatment is critical to avoid irreversible psychiatric symptoms.
At present, there are four main drugs for vitamin B12 deficiency, namely vitamin B12, hydroxocobalamin, methylcobalamin, and adenosylcobalamin. However, it should be noted that vitamin B12 is a prescription drug and should be supplemented under the guidance of a doctor . And sometimes the lack of vitamins may be caused by diseases in the body. At this time, the cause should be found out and symptomatic treatment.
Fourth, take vitamin B12 safely, pay attention to 2 points
When supplementing vitamin B12, you should pay attention to avoid excessive amounts, otherwise symptoms such as eczema, urticaria, asthma, facial swelling, drug eruption, etc. may occur, and palpitation, precordial pain, etc. may also occur, aggravating the condition of patients with angina pectoris.
In terms of intake, you can refer to the following figure for the reference intake of dietary vitamin B12 for Chinese residents:
In addition, under normal circumstances, it is not recommended for gout patients to supplement a large amount of vitamin B12, so as not to induce acute gout attacks.
In short, normally, as long as a balanced diet, a reasonable diet structure, and good eating habits are developed, additional vitamin 12 supplementation is not required. At the same time, be careful to avoid excessive supplementation.
References:
[1] "Vitamin, the element that sustains life, can't be without one, one less B12 leads to 5 major problems". Respiratory doctor Hu Yang. 2019-05-25
[2] "Is vitamin B12 and methylcobalamin the same medicine? This article makes it clear! 》. Center for Drug Evaluation. 2022-09-21
[3] "[117 Nutrition] Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency and niacin deficiency? From what foods? 》.Clinical Nutrition Network.2018-10-11
[4] "What are the manifestations of insufficiency and excess of various vitamins? 》. Center for Drug Evaluation. 2017-09-03
Reproduction is prohibited without the author's permission