The drawing on the right shows the complex makeup of vitamin B12.  It is the largest vitamin known.  B12′s proponents say it is the Energy vitamin, even JFK was known to get B12 injections.  So follow along here and see what B12 can do for you.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms

Symptoms included fatigue, irritability, tiredness, lack of concentration, and depression: in the extreme a long term severe B12 deficiency can cause death.

The complete list of vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms is huge: for example there are many gastrointestinal effects but this article is mostly about vitamin B12 and energy.

Vitamin B12 Benefits

B12 is well known for boosting energy.  In fact, B12 works quickly and usually provides a rapid increase in energy.   Stories abound of the rich and famous getting injections from their favorite doctors.   These injections are expensive and unneeded for most people. Today there are excellent supplements available over the counter that can be dissolved under the tongue (sublingual) that can provide the supplementation and energy boost that you need.

Vitamin B12 has a solid reputation for boosting energy levels. It is responsible for building up red blood cells, it’s used in making DNA, and for releasing the energy contained in food.  Most people take in the B12 they need in animal protean, fish, eggs, and milk – the body also manufactures it.  But some have issues in achieving proper levels of B12 and a supplement can be a God-send.

Many give good reports to B12 including some chronic fatigue sufferers.   Teamed up with melatonin vitamin B12 may also benefit you If you have trouble sleeping – and B12 is a co-factor in melatonin production.

The Mayo Clinic says, “Inability to absorb vitamin B12 from the intestinal tract can be caused by a disease known as pernicious anemia.”  Pernicious anemia is most likely to develop over the age of 40. They go on to say that people on a vegetarian diet may also have B12 deficiency.

A B12 deficiency can affect both men and women and is more pronounced above the age of 40.  Deficiency can cause fatigue, apathy, weight loss, balance problems, bone loss, back pain, tingling extremities, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), eye problems, headaches, and general low energy.

So How Much B12 Should I Take?

The U.S RDA for B12 is 2.5mcg but many investigators say you must take at least 200 times that amount to gain the benefit, that’s 500mcg.  Happily that dosage and higher doses of vitamin B12 are available in the vitamin sections of most pharmacies.

No adverse effects from high doses of B12 have been seen and even doses of 2500mcg (as of this writing $5.00 for a bottle of 60 at Walmart) are apparently safe.  Check with your doctor and enjoy the many benefits of vitamin B12.

More Benefits Of Vitamin B12

• Health Tip: You Need Vitamin B-12 (nlm.nih.gov)
• 28 of the Most Nutritional Foods to Eat (thebestrawfooddiet.com)
• The A, B, C Of Vitamins (slideshare.net)
• I’m Not Lazy, I’m Not Fat – I’m ILL! (barbarany_9.blogspot.com)