Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 aids in the production of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying component of red blood cells. Taking vitamin B12 supplements can help you prevent or treat a vitamin B12 deficiency that might wreak havoc on your circulatory and nervous systems.

Vitamin Supplements

Vitamin B12 is only one of the many different vitamins and supplements available to boost health and treat or prevent disease. In some cases, this nutrient is included in a multivitamin or other dietary supplement containing multiple nutrients. Some versions of vitamin B12 supplements are in time-release capsules. These dietary supplements release vitamin B12 slowly over a long period of time, making nutrient absorption more efficient. In addition to standard vitamin B12 nutritional supplements, gummy vitamins and liquid vitamins are also available for people who can't tolerate pills. Liquid vitamins might also be absorbed by the body more quickly than other forms of nutritional supplements.

Taking Vitamin B12

While it is possible to get enough vitamin B12 through diet, many people choose to take a dietary supplement to boost their levels and ensure an adequate blood serum level of the vitamin. People who have a mild insufficiency of vitamin B12 may experience fatigue, memory loss, and depression. Vegetarians may have trouble getting enough vitamin B12 because this nutrient is primarily found in meat. Vegetarians who are pregnant are especially vulnerable to a vitamin B12 deficiency and may cause permanent damage to the unborn child if a deficiency is present. Normal prenatal vitamins may not have enough of this nutrient to make up for a complete lack of it in the diet.