67-year-old Uncle Wang suffered a traumatic brain injury 30 years ago and saved his life, but he also left sequelae of varying degrees of weakness in his limbs, but fortunately, he can still take care of himself. In 2016, Uncle Wang found that his limb weakness was aggravated, but he thought it was just the sequelae of traumatic brain injury, so he didn't pay attention to it.
Until September 2017, Uncle Wang's lower limbs gradually stiffened, unable to sit up and walk normally, and his long-term bed rest also made him more and more irritable.
Subsequently, Uncle Wang was transferred to a tertiary hospital in the city for treatment, and the doctor examined Uncle Wang's symptoms and judged that it was subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord caused by vitamin B12 deficiency, and then the doctor's inference was confirmed by relevant examinations.
After the diagnosis, the doctor treated Uncle Wang with a large amount of vitamin B12, and soon his symptoms gradually improved, and Uncle Wang could even move normally when he was discharged from the hospital.
1. What is vitamin B12?
As a type of vitamin, vitamin B12 is also very important for human health, especially when the human body is deficient in vitamin B12, it is easy to cause abnormal manifestations. But many people in life don't know about the efficacy of vitamin B12, so let's take a look at it today.
Vitamin B12 is the only vitamin that contains the metallic element cobalt, also known as cobalamin. Vitamin B12 is synthesized only by microorganisms, and is found in higher amounts in yeast and animal liver, but not in plants. Foods rich in vitamin B12 include raw clams, eggs, chicken, pork, beef, lamb, etc.
Vitamin B12 has two main roles in the body:
First, it is involved in folic acid metabolism. Folic acid helps to synthesize DNA and helps maintain normal hematopoietic function, and the lack of folic acid can affect the maturation of red blood cells and cause megaloblastic anemia.
The second is to nourish the nerve, participate in the synthesis of lipids in the nerve sheath, help maintain the integrity of the function of myelin nerve fibers, and once lacking, it can cause neurological symptoms.
A small amount of vitamin B12 deficiency in the body or atypical symptoms in the early stage of deficiency, mainly memory loss, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, depression or irritability, etc., can also cause sleep disorders. Severe deficiency may cause symptoms of anemia such as weakness, tiredness, or decreased mobility, and may also cause psychiatric symptoms such as limited coordination, numbness of the tongue or extremities, and pain.
There are 5 groups of people in daily life who are more likely to be deficient in vitamin B12:
1. People with poor digestive function
Vitamin B12 absorption requires the assistance of endogenous factor secretion by gastric mucosal cells. People with poor digestion are likely to be deficient in vitamin B12 if they are unable to fully absorb and utilize it.
2. The elderly
Gastrointestinal causes in the elderly can cause vitamin B12 malabsorption, coupled with a light taste, and the diet is mainly based on plant foods, which is more likely to be deficient in vitamin B12.
3. Pregnant women
Studies have found that pregnant women and infants with insufficient maternal vitamin B12 intake are more likely to develop vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 and folic acid are involved in the construction of the nervous system of infants and young children, which is equally important for mothers and infants.
4. Vegetarians
Vitamin B12 is found in animal foods but not in plant foods, making people who are long-term picky or vegetarian more likely to be deficient.
5. Patients with chronic diseases
Chronic gastric disease secondary to Helicobacter pylori infection, inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease, diabetes mellitus, long-term use of metformin, long-term oral proton pump inhibitors, etc., may cause vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms.
2. Vitamin B12 is useful in improving 6 diseases
A bottle of vitamin B12 only costs a few yuan, and the price can be said to be very affordable, but it has miraculous health benefits, especially in improving the following 6 health problems.
1. Reduce the risk of diabetes complications
Vitamin B12 promotes nervous system health and reduces diabetic neuropathy. As a nutrient, vitamin B12 can regulate metabolic processes, promote the smooth flow of qi and blood and restore the function of internal organs, which is beneficial to diabetic patients.
2. Reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease
Vitamin B12 promotes the maturation of red blood cells, reduces homocysteine levels in the blood, and can prevent arteriosclerosis, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
3. Prevent anemia
Vitamin B12 can help folic acid regulate red blood cell production, promote iron absorption, and also affect the synthesis of DNA and heme, so insufficient vitamin B12 in the body can easily lead to anemia.
4. Prevent nervous system diseases
Vitamin B12 is an important building block of neurotransmitters, and when it is insufficient, it will affect the synthesis of nerve myelin. For example, peripheral nervous system deviations can cause problems such as numbness in the hands and feet, and extremity abnormalities, while central nervous system deviations can cause headaches, cognitive impairment, and dementia.
5. Improve mouth ulcers
Vitamin B12 promotes DNA regeneration and promotes mucosal epithelial cell repair and synthesis. If vitamin B12 is deficient, the mucous membranes of the lips and tongue become malnourished, which can lead to oral diseases such as ulcers.
6. Improve sleep and cognition
Studies have found that people with mild insomnia can improve sleep quality by supplementing vitamin B12. Studies have also found that among the elderly of the same age, the cognitive ability of those with high vitamin B12 is often higher than that of those with insufficient vitamin B12.
3. Safely supplement vitamin B12 and pay attention to these 3 points
When vitamin B12 is insufficient, it will affect the body and cause a series of diseases, so it is necessary to supplement vitamin B12 in time. But if you want to safely supplement with vitamin B12, then it is important to pay attention to the following three points.
1. Pay attention to adverse reactions
Excessive supplementation of vitamin B12 often leads to asthma, edema, rash and other symptoms, such as excessive consumption of vitamin B12 in patients with malignant tumors, and even accelerates tumor growth and aggravates the condition. In addition, patients with gout taking vitamin B12 will accelerate the degradation of ribose, increase the concentration of uric acid and induce gout.
2. Pay attention to the way of supplementation
When vitamin B12 is insufficient, oral supplementation, such as methylcobalamin tablets, can also be supplemented quickly by intravenous or intramuscular injection, which is recommended under the guidance of a doctor.
3. Give preference to food supplements
In general, as long as the average person is not picky eaters and has a balanced diet, they will not be deficient in vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is mainly derived from animal diet, and can be supplemented by eating 4 more foods in daily life.
Fish: Rich in high-quality protein, mostly unsaturated fatty acids, can reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and is also rich in vitamin B12, especially suitable for long-term metformin sugar friends.
Eggs: Extremely nutritious, you can get the vitamin B12 you need by taking one egg a day.
Animal offal: Pork liver, chicken liver, chicken heart and other offal contain high vitamin B12, and you can eat some appropriately when you lack vitamin B12.
Milk: Rich in calcium and vitamin B12, which can help maintain the health of the nervous system, like sugar friends who lack vitamin B12 will have insomnia, drinking warm milk before bed can promote sleep.
Vitamin B12z plays an important role in maintaining nervous system health and participating in folate metabolism as an essential vitamin for the human body. As long as healthy people eat a balanced diet, they generally will not have the problem of vitamin B12 deficiency, and some people with vitamin B12 deficiency can first adjust their diet and consult a doctor to supplement if necessary.
Resources:
[1] "Take you to know about vitamin B12". Department of Pharmacy, Tianjin People's Hospital.2018-10-12
[2] "A few dollars for a bottle of vitamin B12 may be able to "settle" these 7 diseases, and early understanding is beneficial. Liaoning Elderly Daily.2024-05-20
[3] Certain Signals of Vitamin B12 Supplementation. 61 Pharmacovigilance.2023-08-07
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