Vitamin B12 Improve Memory

As we age, our ability to absorb B12 from food declines, and often so does our consumption of foods rich in this vitamin. A B12 deficiency can creep up without warning and cause a host of confusing symptoms that are likely to be misdiagnosed.

B12 is an essential vitamin with roles throughout the body. It is needed for the development and maintenance of a healthy nervous system, the production of DNA and formation of red blood cells. In severe cases, B12 deficiency results in  anemia, we can be detected through brood tests. Other symptoms of B12 deficiency that are less dramatic are muscle weakness, shakiness, low blood pressure, incontinence, unsteady gait, fatigue, depression, mood disorders, and cognitive orders like poor memory.

Vegetarians, and vegans must consume supplements to get adequate amounts of B12. Other people at risk of developing B12 deficiency are heavy drinkers as alcohol diminishes vitamin consumption, those who have had stomach operations for ulcers, or weight loss, and those who take various medications, like those taken for tuberculosis.

Researchers may differ on what is considered normal, but most will agree that  deficiency begins in adults when the B12 levels fall below 250 picograms per millimeter per blood serum. Like all B vitamins, B12 is water soluble, and the body stores extra in the liver, and other tissues. If a deficiency of B12 is low to begin with, symptoms can develop within a year, and even more quickly in infants.

Recommended dietary B12 amounts vary: 2.4 micrograms for those 14 and older, 2.6 for pregnant women and 2.8 for nursing women. B12 absorption is normally obtained by maintaining a healthy diet containing animal protein. It is present in significant amounts, mainly in animal foods, prominently in liver. Good food sources also include all red meats, fish, shellfish, and turkey. They are found eggs, chicken, and dairy products.