Vitamin B12 has many different names. Sometimes it is called "red vitamin". The decisive role is played not by the color of the ampoule liquid, but by the source. Just the largest amount of this substance is in the liver of the animal. Sometimes called it "growth vitamin" or "supervitamin." So what is his role? And why is vitamin B12 needed ?
Short description
Vitamin B12, the second name of which is cyanocobalamin, can accumulate in the human body. It is found in the kidneys, liver, lungs and spleen. Unlike other vitamins, cyanocobalamin is water soluble.
What is vitamin B12 for? Its main task is to contribute to the development of new blood cells. Its other functions are reduced to participation in the regulation of protein metabolism, the production of amino acids and nucleic acids.
In addition, vitamin B12 contains such a rare and valuable trace element for humans as cobalt. The remaining vitamins do not contain it. The body does not know how to independently produce B12. Therefore, it is very important to eat foods that contain it. This vitamin is found in animal foods.
The role of B12 is great for the growth of the child's body.
Beneficial features
Few people can correctly answer the question of why vitamin B12 is needed. What does he help from? Let's look for answers.
Cyanocobalamin helps to produce red blood cells in the bone marrow, so that the level of hemoglobin in the blood remains at the right level. B12 prevents cells from experiencing oxygen starvation. Also, this vitamin maintains normal pressure.
Recent studies have shown that a sufficient amount of vitamin B12 in cells promotes enhanced bone growth. This is the main reason that cyanocobalamin should be in the children's diet when the child is growing.
The synthesis of proteins and amino acids due to B12 helps build muscle.
Cyanocobalamin plays an important role in ensuring the vital activity of spinal cord cells. Therefore, it affects the muscles controlled by the nervous system. What conclusion follows from this? Without B12, muscles will not grow in the human body. Also, this substance regulates the energy exchange in the human body.
B12 increases the production of protein compounds, that is, it has an anabolic effect. The protein obtained in this way accumulates in the human body.
Its effect on the nervous system boils down to the fact that cyanocobalamin regulates our emotions and also develops cognitive abilities. What you need to know about vitamin B12? Surprisingly, he can get rid of insomnia, which arose as a result of the restructuring of sleep patterns.
If the amount of cyanocobalamin in the body is sufficient, then the person will not experience depressive states. He also does not face dementia, confusion, and his memory will be excellent.
B12 improves lipid metabolism, and also maintains cholesterol at the right level and prevents the development of liver steatosis.
Cyanocobalamin is indispensable for human immunity. If there is a deficiency in AIDS, then the disease develops more intensively.
The effect of cyanocobalamin
Consider why you need vitamin B12 in the body. It is known that it affects as follows:
- takes part in the synthesis of fats and proteins;
- reduces fatigue;
- increases stamina;
- improves brain activity;
- participates in hematopoiesis;
- boosts immunity;
- regulates nervous activity;
- restores mucous membranes.
Useful properties for hair
The main points for which vitamin B12 is needed have been considered. However, it is no less necessary for hair. It not only enhances the growth of strands, but also has a whole range of useful functions, such as:
- Serves as a material for the construction of new healthy curls. With insufficient intake, the hairs will be thin and weak, their growth will stop.
- Helps to increase their volume.
- Reduces the amount of hair that we lose daily by strengthening their roots.
- It has regenerative properties, thanks to which it well restores injured hair. The strands cease to be brittle, and the ends no longer split.
- Hair growth is enhanced and stabilized.
- It stimulates blood circulation, due to which nutrients get to the roots better. Due to this, the hair becomes thick, gain shine and beauty, heals.
With a lack of cyanocobalamin in the body, the scalp first suffers - the roots are weakened. Because of this, the hair is no longer held and falls out en masse. They do not grow or recover.
What role does vitamin play in bodybuilding
People who want to improve their results probably know why vitamin B12 is needed. If you are engaged in bodybuilding, then remember that cyanocobalamin makes fats participate in the metabolism. Thanks to this, during energy training, the energy supply of the body improves.
B12 regulates platelet function, due to which they are able to deliver oxygen and beneficial substances to the muscles faster.
This vitamin also helps the nervous system to stimulate muscle work, thereby improving coordination.
Symptoms of B12 Deficiency
In order to determine the deficiency of such a useful substance in the body, it is enough to do a blood test. If hemoglobin is reduced, then, most likely, this vitamin is not enough. A consequence of the low content of cyanocobalamin is B12-deficient anemia, in which red blood cells can not normally carry oxygen, as well as to slowly progressive disorders in the functioning of the nervous system.
You can find out about a lack of B12 in the body if there are the following symptoms:
- Disorders of the nervous system. A person becomes irritable, easily excitable, he has frequent depression, memory lapses, impaired vision, poor reflexes, hallucinations.
- Digestive disorders: lack of appetite, food is not digested, the liver is enlarged, frequent constipation.
- Constant lethargy, fatigue, dizziness, drowsiness, frequent headaches, tinnitus, difficulty breathing.
If the vitamin content in the body is at least slightly below normal, then irreversible processes can already occur in the brain and in the nervous system.
Vitamin Complexes
It is very important to periodically monitor the content of this useful substance in the body. If a deficiency is found, it is urgent to purchase a complex with it in any form at the pharmacy.
Known sources of vitamin B12:
- Ampoules of the drug “Cyanocobalamin”. They should be injected intramuscularly every day. You have enough packaging for a course of ten days.
- Vitamin complex in tablets, for example, Neurovitan or Neurobion. Take it one pill after a meal once or twice a day for 10 days.
Do not consume more vitamin than is required according to the instructions. It is best if you balance your diet and make sure that you have enough of this substance in your diet. You can also take an additional vitamin complex, but you should choose one. In the case of an excess of cyanocobalamin and the occurrence of hypervitaminosis, the following symptoms may appear:
- nervous agitation;
- heartache;
- rash;
- pulmonary edema;
- blockage of blood vessels;
- arrhythmia.
Products containing Vitamin B12
What products of cyanocobalamin contain? It must be remembered that this vitamin is mainly found in animal products. A very small amount of it is found in plant foods, such as:
- soybeans;
- spinach;
- hop;
- leaves of vegetables;
- salad greens;
- yeast;
- sea kale.
As a rule, a person consumes these products in small quantities. While to get the right rate of B12 would have to eat a lot of them.
Cyanocobalamin is not produced in the body, so it must be taken as food. Most of it in:
- liver, kidneys;
- yolks;
- skimmed milk powder;
- in many varieties of fish (such as sardine, salmon, herring);
- as well as oysters and crabs.
A little smaller it in:
- chicken and meat (such as beef or pork);
- seafood;
- hard cheeses;
- as well as in dairy products.
A little B12 is found in ordinary milk and in home-made soft cheese.
In the most dangerous situation are vegans who do not eat not only meat and eggs, but also dairy products.
Some people who prefer plant-based foods do not see anything dangerous in this. They argue that in the East, the diet of many poor people mainly consists of cereals and vegetables, but these people do not suffer from a lack of B12, they do not have the diseases that usually accompany its absence. The explanation for this phenomenon lies in the fact that small insects still live in the untreated grains, which serve as a source of cyanocobalamin.
Daily requirement
So, why do you need vitamin B12 - it’s understandable, but how much do you need to consume this substance in order for the body to work harmoniously? As it turned out, quite a bit - 0.000003 g per day and 0.001 g per year. However, if we are unable to provide this minuscule, then we will become seriously ill.
Women who are going to give birth, as well as those who are in the period of lactation, should use it 2-4 times more. People aged and those who follow a strict vegetarian diet, smoke or consume a significant amount of alcohol, must acquire B12 and take it additionally.
Conclusion
Now you know what Vitamin B12 is for and what it is eaten with. As practice shows, thanks to the amazing properties of such a small, but so active substance, a person is able to avoid depression, protect his body from digestive problems, and enrich himself with vital energy. The main thing is to observe the measure in the use of vitamin.