The benefits of B12 and what to do if you're not getting enough

Ask most people what they know about the health benefits of B12 and the chances are you won’t get a single straight answer. While there is an awareness that getting enough B vitamins is essential for keeping physical health, mental wellbeing and energy levels in peak condition. 

With eight micronutrients belonging to the B vitamin family you may be confused as to what exactly each one does for the body. With the right food choices and the help of the best B12 supplements, you can reap the benefits of this vital nutrient. 

Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is one of the most common vitamin deficiencies. Since cobalamin is mostly found in animal-based foods, it is also one of the seven essential nutrients vegans often lack. When B12 is continuously missing from our diet, the consequences to our health can be dire. But it doesn’t have to come to that. 

Read on to discover the benefits of B12 and what to do if you’re not getting enough of it. 

What are the benefits of B12?

Nervous system and mental health 

Vitamin B12 plays a big role in the healthy functioning of our central nervous system; the brain and spinal cord. It ensures a smooth transmission of electrical signals across the body and protects the nerves by creating and regenerating their myelin sheaths – in simple terms, these are the sleeves of fatty tissue that insulate them. 

Cobalamin is also involved in the creation of neurotransmitters and hormones that control how our brain functions, as well as our mood. Because of this, B12 deficiency can cause many different neurological symptoms. 

“These may include pins and needles, muscle weakness, difficulty in thinking, memory problems, visual disturbance and difficulty in coordinating movements,” says Dr Vishal Shah, a GP and the chief medical officer at Thriva. Scientists from the Lancet journal have also suggested that long-term B12 deficiency may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia, particularly among elderly people. 

Some benefits of B12 may relate to mental health, with evidence suggesting there’s a relationship between B12 intake and mood disorders. For example, it’s been suggested in the journal Cureus that supplementation with this micronutrient can delay the onset of depression and improve the effects of antidepressants.  

Red blood cells

Vitamin B12 is involved in the formation of red blood cells, which are essential to supplying every organ in your body with oxygen. If you’re deficient in B12 for a prolonged period of time, or you have a condition that limits its absorption in the gut, you may develop megaloblastic anemia. Some of the most common symptoms of this condition include decreased appetite, gastrointestinal issues, fatigue, irritability and excessively pale skin.  

Formation of essential tissues

Cobalamin is involved in the formation of hundreds of types of cells and tissues in the human body, including DNA, proteins and lipids. Since vitamin B12 helps with preserving the integrity of DNA strands, many scientists have been suggesting its protective effect against certain cancers. 

Obesity and metabolic syndrome 

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is the medical term used to describe a cluster of health conditions, such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, obesity and hypertension. Metabolic syndrome is on the rise worldwide, putting a severe strain on health services and affecting the quality of life for those who suffer from it. 

Although there are medications available that target the individual components of MS, not a single therapeutic approach seems to be effective for all of them at once. However, multiple studies have shown that supplementation with B vitamins, specifically folic acid and vitamin B12, may have a considerable positive impact on the onset and progression of MS. 

Pain management

B12 could be effective at pain management, particularly if combined with pain medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Many animal studies, like one from the journal Pain Physician, have suggested that supplementation with cobalamin can inhibit certain enzymes and neural pathways that are involved in pain signaling. 

How can you tell if you’re deficient in B12?

According to Kim Plaza, a nutritional therapist at Bio-Kult, “between 2.5%-26% of the population are said to be impacted by B12 deficiency”.

“It can affect people of all ages, but tends to affect the elderly in particular,” adds Plaza. “Other groups of people that may be at a higher risk of deficiency include infants, children, adolescents and women of reproductive age. However, overall a deficiency is more likely to occur in populations where dietary intake is reduced.” 

For example, a report from the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition highlighted that vegans and vegetarians are at particular risk of not getting enough of this nutrient since cobalamin is found predominantly in animal-based foods. 

“If you’re deficient in B12 you will feel fatigued, have a poor appetite and may experience low mood and depression. Your nervous system will also suffer: you may feel numbness or tingling in your hands or feet,” says Dr Joshua Berkowitz, a medical doctor and the founder of IV Boost clinic. 

Nevertheless, the symptoms could get more pronounced and specific once you start developing anemia. “These signs could include feeling tired, breathlessness, headaches and palpitations,” says Shah. “A sore red tongue is present in 25% of cases. In some cases a patient may have a yellowish tint to their skin and eyes caused by the breakdown of abnormal blood cells,” he says. 

If you’re experiencing these symptoms, it’s vital to consult a medical professional. 

“It is important for these deficiencies to be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. Although many of the symptoms improve with treatment, some problems caused by the condition can be irreversible if left untreated,” says Dr Angela Rai, a GP from The London General Practice.

Where can you get B12?

Vitamin B12 foods to include in your diet will have to be mostly from animal origin, such as fish, meat, eggs and dairy products. 

“That’s because vitamin B12 is made by microorganisms and is therefore not found in plant foods, unless they have been in contact with soil or other foods containing cobalamin,” says Plaza. The food sources with the highest B12 content include lamb, beef or veal liver, clams, sardines, and beef meat. 

Many food items – such as breakfast cereals, sports drinks and plant-based dairy or meat alternatives – are fortified with this nutrient. Vitamin B12 is also available in multivitamin supplements, in supplements containing other B-complex vitamins, and in supplements containing only vitamin B12.