What Hinders The Absorption Of Vitamin B12?

Table of contents:

Video: What Hinders The Absorption Of Vitamin B12?

Video: What Hinders The Absorption Of Vitamin B12?
Video: Vitamin B12 absorption 2024, November
What Hinders The Absorption Of Vitamin B12?
What Hinders The Absorption Of Vitamin B12?
Anonim

Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is the most complex existing vitamin of great importance for the processes in the human body and is therefore already well studied in medicine.

Our body needs relatively low doses of vitamin B12 daily, but even a minimal deficiency of it can cause serious complaints such as anemia, depression, constant fatigue and others. In the long run, the heart and central nervous system are damaged.

This is due to the key role of cobalamin in the production of red blood cells, which transport oxygen to organs and tissues in the body. It is necessary to fully absorb this important vitamin.

There are a number of factors that are the cause of difficulty in absorbing B12. Some of them cannot be adjusted - this is age. There are also causes that are temporary, caused by natural conditions - pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Another reason is bad habits such as smoking, poor nutrition, abuse of alcohol and other substances, and some diseases. Gastrointestinal diseases such as acute and chronic gastritis, colitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, ulcers are predisposing conditions that lead to impaired absorption of the valuable vitamin and the appearance of deficiency.

which interferes with the absorption of B12 vitamins
which interferes with the absorption of B12 vitamins

The cause of disease states is the change that occurs in the acidity of the stomach. It reduces the possibility vitamin B12 to be well absorbed. Other conditions such as anemia, chemotherapy or radiation therapy involving various organs and systems in the body are an obstacle to the absorption of the water-soluble vitamin. The same effect is exerted by medications used for increased stomach acidity.

When proven lack of vitamin B12 testing for parasites is also recommended, which also delay its absorption.

The liver is the storehouse of vitamin B12 in the body and therefore anemia develops from 2 to 4 years after it is no longer properly absorbed in the intestines.

How to control this condition?

Mild forms of deficiency are eliminated through a diet, as well as dietary supplements taken orally. For severe forms, intramuscular injection of the vitamin is required.

The required daily doses vary with age. Children over 14 years of age and adults need 2.4 micrograms, while people over 50 years of age need much larger amounts, which are 6 to 15 micrograms. In high-risk cases, this dose can be up to 50 micrograms per day.

Recommended: