Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is considered one of the most complex in composition of vitamins in nature. This substance is also interesting in that it can not be synthesized by plants, humans or animals. So where does this vitamin come from? The answer is simple. It is synthesized by microorganisms. In addition to them, no one is capable of this.

A person receives vitamin B12 from various products of animal origin, in which there are such microorganisms. We list some of them:

• kidney;

• Liver;

• a heart;

• cottage cheese;

• meat;

• milk;

• cheese.

Role of Vitamin B12

In the human body, this vitamin is absorbed into the small intestine. But in order for vitamin B12 to be properly digested, there must be a so-called internal factor of Kastla. It is a protein that is produced in the stomach. It binds to vitamin B12, and then they are transported together into the blood through the walls of the intestine. Only after this, the resulting vitamin with protein will be carried in the bloodstream throughout the body. A huge amount of vitamin B12 is found in such organs as muscles, liver, kidneys, nerve cells, bone marrow.

It also happens that the body loses its ability to absorb vitamin B12 in the intestines. But as always, everything is thought out by nature. In this scenario, the vitamin will come from the internal liver stores. Such a stock is enough for about three to four years, and sometimes enough for five years. Therefore, patients have to take medication to somehow balance this defect. For example, you can take vitamin B12 in tablets. This will provide the body with the required amount of this substance.

Other functions of vitamin B12

This vitamin in the form of a catalyst participates in various reactions, which result in the formation of such substances as:

• Choline (otherwise known as vitamin B4);

• Methionine;

• Creatine;

• acetylcholine;

• adrenaline;

• Nitrogen bases of nucleic acids (for example, DNA or RNA);

• proteins;

• and other active substances needed by the body.

In addition, B12 is involved in the formation of folic acid (one of the forms of vitamin B9), and also contributes to its deposition in the body as a whole. As a result, DNA synthesis is facilitated, and, most importantly, the formation of erythrocytes.

Insufficiency of vitamin B12 in the body

The lack of vitamin B12 leads to the formation of the following substances:

• methylmalonic acid;

• propionic acid.

Than it is fraught? Due to the presence of these acids in the body, there is a violation of myelin formation. And myelin is one of the most important components involved in the structure of nerve cells. In such a situation, patients can prescribe vitamin B12 in ampoules.

Hypovitaminosis of vitamin B12 (or otherwise - the lack of this substance) is observed not so often. The vast majority of people who suffer from hypovitaminosis of this vitamin are vegetarians. What is the reason for this? With the fact that they do not eat food of animal origin.

But it also happens that a person consumes meat and other animal products, but he still has a deficiency of vitamin B12. In such cases, most of all, the patient does not have or does not develop a special enzyme in the body, mentioned above - the internal factor of Kastla.

Deficiency of this protein can be observed for the following reasons:

Atrophic gastritis;

• partial removal of the stomach;

• various operations to remove the stomach;

• neoplasms of the intestine;

• neoplasm of the stomach;

• removal from the body of a large area of the small intestine.

But if the patient has a lack of vitamin B12, but he did not tolerate any of the above operations, you should check for the presence of worms in the body, because they "love to eat" this vitamin.

If there are no worms, you should consult a doctor so that he can find the reason for the lack of this substance in the body.