What is Vitamin B12 for, why does it help?

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 it is called "vitamin growth" or "supplements". So what is its role? And what is vitamin B12 for?

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. Other of its 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 for human microelement, like cobalt. The rest of the vitamins do not contain it. The organism does not know how to produce B12 independently. Therefore it is very important to use the products that contain it. This vitamin is found in animal products.

Great role B12 for the growth of the child's body.

Beneficial features

Few people can correctly answer the question about what is needed for vitamin B12. What helps it? 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 desired level. B12 does not allow cells to experience oxygen starvation. Also, this vitamin maintains normal blood pressure.

Recent studies have shown that a sufficient amount of vitamin B12 in cells promotes increased bone growth. This is the main reason that cyanocobalamin should be in the baby's diet when the baby is growing.

Synthesis of proteins and amino acids due to B12 helps build muscle.

Not the least role cyanocobalamin plays in providing vital activity of cells of the spinal cord. Consequently, it affects the musculature, controlled by the nervous system. What is the conclusion from this? Without B12, the muscles in the human body will not grow. Also this substance regulates energy exchange in the human body.

B12 increases the production of protein compounds, that is, has an anabolic effect. Protein, obtained in this way, accumulates in the human body.

His influence 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 from the restructuring of sleep.

If the amount of cyanocobalamin in the body is sufficient, then the person will not experience depressive conditions. He also does not face dementia, confusion, and his memory will be excellent.

B12 improves lipid metabolism, and also maintains cholesterol at the desired level and does not allow the development of steatosis of the liver.

Cyanocobalamin is indispensable for human immunity. If there is a lack of it in AIDS, then the disease develops more intensively.

Effect of cyanocobalamin

Consider why you need vitamin B12 in the body. It is known that it affects the following:

• Takes part in the synthesis of fats and proteins;
• Reduces fatigue;
• Increases stamina;
• Improves brain activity;
• Participates in hematopoiesis;
• Increases immunity;
• Regulates nervous activity;
• Restores the mucous membranes.

Useful properties for hair

The main points for which vitamin B12 is needed were considered. However, he also needs hair. It not only enhances the growth of strands, but also has a whole range of useful functions, such as:

1. Serves as a material for building new healthy curls. If its intake is insufficient, the hairs will be thin and weak, their growth will stop.
2. Promotes an increase in their volume.
3. Reduces the amount of hair that we lose daily, by strengthening their roots.
4. It has regenerative properties, thanks to which it is good to restore injured hair. Strands cease to be brittle, and the tips no longer split.
5. Hair growth is enhanced and stabilized.
6. Stimulates blood circulation, so that the roots get better nutrients. Due to this, the hair becomes thick, acquires shine and beauty, heals.

When there is a shortage of cyanocobalamin in the body, first of all the scalp suffers - the roots are weakened. Because of this, the hair is no longer retained and falls out massively. They do not grow and do not recover.

What role does the vitamin play in bodybuilding?

People who want to improve their results, for sure, know what vitamin B12 is for. If you are engaged in bodybuilding, then remember that cyanocobalamin causes fats to participate in the exchange. Thanks to this, during power training, the body's energy supply improves.

B12 regulates the function of platelets, due to this they are able to deliver oxygen and useful substances to the muscles faster.

This vitamin also helps the nervous system to stimulate muscular work, which improves the coordination of movements.

Symptoms of B12 deficiency

In order to determine the deficit of such a useful substance in the body, it is enough to make a blood test. If the hemoglobin is lowered, then, most likely, this vitamin is not enough. The consequence of low cyanocobalamin content is B12-deficiency anemia, in which red blood cells can not transfer oxygen normally, and also slowly progressing disorders in the nervous system.

Learn about the lack of B12 in the body can be, if there are the following symptoms:

1. Nervous system disorders. The person becomes irritable, easily excitable, he has frequent depressions, memory failures, visual impairment, poor reflexes, hallucinations.
2. Digestive disorders: lack of appetite, food is not digested, the liver is enlarged, frequent constipation.
3. Constant lethargy, fast fatigue, dizziness, drowsiness, frequent headaches, tinnitus, difficulty in breathing.

If the vitamin content in the body is at least slightly below the norm, then irreversible processes in the brain and in the nervous system can already occur.

Vitamin Complexes

It is very important to periodically monitor the body's content of this useful substance. In case of detection of its deficiency it is necessary to urgently purchase a complex with it in a pharmacy in any form.

Known sources of vitamin B12:

• Ampoules of the drug "Cyanocobalamin". They should be pricked every day by intramuscular injection. Packages will be enough for a course of ten days.
• Vitamin complex in tablets, for example, "Neurovitan" or "Neurobion". Take it one pill after eating once or twice a day for 10 days.

Do not consume more vitamin than 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 it's worth choosing one. In the case of an overabundance of cyanocobalamin and the occurrence of hypervitaminosis, the following symptoms may appear:

• Nervous excitement;
• heartache;
• rash;
• pulmonary edema;
• Occlusion of blood vessels;
• arrhythmia.

Products containing vitamin b12

What products does cyanocobalamin contain? It should be remembered that this vitamin is mainly in products of animal origin. A very small amount is found in plant foods, such as:

• Soybeans;
• spinach;
• hop;
• Leaves of vegetables;
• Salad greens;
• yeast;
• Sea kale.

As a rule, people use these products in small quantities. In order to get the required B12 norm, you would have to eat a lot of them.

Cyanocobalamin in the body is not produced, so it must be taken in the form of food. Most of it in:

• Liver, kidney;
• Yolks;
• Skimmed milk powder;
• In many varieties of fish (such as sardines, salmon, herring);
• As well as in oysters and crabs.

Slightly less of it in:

• Chicken and meat (such as beef or pork);
• Seafood;
• Cheese of solid varieties;
• As well as in fermented milk products.

A little B12 is found in plain milk and in soft, homemade cheese.

In the most dangerous situation are strict vegetarians who do not eat not only meat and eggs, but also dairy products.

Some people who prefer food of plant origin 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 diseases that usually accompany their 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, what is needed for vitamin B12 - it is understandable, but how much does it take to use this substance in order for the body to work together? As it turned out, very little - 0.000003 g per day and 0.001 g per year. However, if we can not provide this miser, then seriously we become ill.

Women who are going to give birth, as well as those that are in the lactation period, should consume it 2-4 times more. People of age and those who adhere to strict vegan food, smoke or use a significant amount of alcohol, should purchase B12 and take it extra.

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 depressions, protect his body from digestive problems, and significantly enrich himself with vital energy. The main thing is to use a measure of vitamin intake.