As we get older, our bodies have different nutritional needs. Our bodies start needing more of some vitamins rather than less, like vitamin B12, which is needed for neurological function, the creation of blood cells, and healthy cells. It is very important to our health as we age, since it is crucial to nearly all of our body’s functions.
Vitamin B12 (also called cobalamin) is a water-soluble vitamin, which humans cannot synthesize. It must come from our diet, usually meat, eggs, and dairy. Because of this, it is important to people that follow a vegan or vegetarian diet to get their B12 from fortified foods or supplements.
One hundred years ago, scientists discovered that liver could cure pernicious anemia, a disease caused by a severe deficiency of vitamin B12. This is an example of how vital it is for our bodies to have enough B12. The reason for this is that it is crucial to making our blood cells and keeping them healthy. However, it is also essential to keeping your nervous system healthy and synthesizing DNA.
As we age, our bodies naturally produce less hydrochloric acid, meaning that our ability to absorb vitamin B12 decreases, increasing the risk of deficiency. Conditions, such as atrophic gastritis, that are more common among the elderly can also decrease B12 levels and increase the risk of deficiency. This is why it is so important to make sure you are getting enough vitamin B12, as a deficiency can cause many different health issues.
Some of the most common symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are similar to some of the most common effects of aging, like fatigue. These are some of the symptoms that you should look out for if you think you might have a deficiency: weakness, fatigue, and dementia. Other more serious neurological symptoms could also occur as a result of a B12 deficiency, including tingling and numbness in your hands and feet and ataxia, or loss of coordination.
Because of these reasons, it is very important for the elderly to keep track of how much vitamin B12 they are consuming. Your doctor can do a blood test to find out if you are deficient and recommend a treatment plan, which might include B12 supplements or injections. It is also very important to eat more foods that are high in vitamin B12, or for vegans and vegetarians, choose fortified foods. The recommended daily amount for people over the age of 50 is about 2.4 mcg.
Even though vitamin B12 is extremely important to older individuals, it is crucial to everyone. Getting enough of it, as well as other important nutrients, is key to living a healthy and happy life. It is important to eat well balanced meals and make sure you are getting all of the vitamins and minerals that your body needs, regardless of your age. After all, it only takes a little bit of a vitamin to give your body what it needs to thrive.