Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)
•Required for nerve function, synthesis of DNA and RNA, metabolism of energy,
enzyme reactions, and production of red blood cells.
•Used therapeutically for heart health (lowers homocysteine), male infertility, pre-
vention of neural tube defects, asthma, and cancer prevention.
•Defi ciency is common among the elderly and those with poor diets, pernicious ane-
mia, depression, Alzheimer’s, or malabsorption conditions (celiac disease).
•Defi ciency symptoms: anemia, appetite loss, constipation, numbness and tingling
in the extremities, and confusion. Pregnant women with defi ciency have increased
risk of giving birth to a child with neural tube defects.
•Drugs that deplete B12: acid-lowering drugs (omeprazole, lansoprazole, ranitidine),
oral contraceptives, antibiotics, cholestyramine, and metformin.
•Supplements are recommended for those over age 50, vegetarians, women planning
to become pregnant, those with poor diets, and those at risk of heart disease.
Tags: cancer prevention, celiac disease, cholestyramine, dna and rna, energy enzyme, lansoprazole, male infertility, nerve function, neural tube defects, omeprazole, oral contraceptives, poor diets, production of red blood cells, ranitidine, red blood cells, risk of heart disease, rna metabolism