Vitamin B12: Fuel for Nerves, Blood, and Energy

Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin essential for producing red blood cells, supporting brain and nerve health, and helping your body convert food into energy. It also plays a crucial role in maintaining the protective sheath around nerves, allowing signals to travel smoothly through your nervous system.

Your body can’t make its own vitamin B12, so you have to get it from food or supplements, mostly from animal-based sources like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy. Having enough B12 helps prevent fatigue, memory issues, mood changes, and nerve damage. It also plays a key role in keeping homocysteine levels in check, a compound linked to increased heart disease risk when elevated. Deficiency over time can lead to anemia, cognitive decline, and serious neurological problems if not addressed.

Low B12 levels can lead to anemia, fatigue, neurological symptoms, and increased cardiovascular risk. Deficiency is more common in individuals with certain dietary restrictions (like vegans), as well as in those with gastrointestinal disorders that affect B12 absorption. To ensure B12 levels are sufficient, NiaHealth has adopted an optimal range of 295 pmol/L.