Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is an essential water-soluble vitamin that is
commonly found in a variety of foods such as fish, shellfish, meat, and dairy
products. Vitamin B12 is frequently used in combination with other B vitamins
in a vitamin B complex formulation. It helps maintain healthy nerve cells and
red blood cells and is also needed to make DNA, the genetic material in all
cells.
Two steps are required for the body to absorb vitamin B12
from food. First, hydrochloric acid in the stomach separates vitamin B12 from the
protein to which vitamin B12 is attached in food. After this, vitamin B12
combines with a protein made by the stomach called intrinsic factor and is
absorbed by the body. Some people have pernicious anemia, a condition where
they cannot make intrinsic factor. As a result, they have trouble absorbing
vitamin B12 from all foods and dietary supplements.
No comments:
Post a Comment