Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that plays an important role in the creation and maintenance of cells, the replication of DNA, and also helps the body with several metabolizing processes, including the conversion of fats into usable energy. A B12 deficiency can cause serious problems such as fatigue, loss of appetite, megaloblastic anemia, weakness and weight loss as well as serious neurological changes.

Vitamins Folic Acid

Generally speaking, B-12 deficiency is fairly uncommon in most well nourished populations because the minimum amounts needed by the body are small and most people store a large reserve of the nutrient in their livers, which can be used when new Vitamin B12 is not regularly ingested. Nevertheless, there are a number of groups that have a heightened risk of Vitamin B12 deficiencies, and among them are strict vegetarians and vegans. The reason for this risk is that all natural Vitamin B12 comes from eating animal products: meats, fish, eggs and dairy products. There are no natural sources of Vitamin B12 that meet human dietary needs that do not come from animals; therefore if one does not eat any animal products there is a danger of deficiency.

Vitamins Folic Acid

This danger is further complicated by the fact that ingesting folic acid - Vitamin B9 - corrects the most obvious symptoms of a Vitamin B-12 deficiency, those stemming from megaloblastic anemia. Since folic acid comes naturally from leafy vegetables, vegans suffering from a Vitamin B12 deficiency may not see the symptoms until serious damage is cause. This is because while folic acid does correct the megaloblastic anemia and disguises the other symptoms, it does not correct the neurological damage cause by a lack of B12. The longer this condition goes continues the more serious the damage and a prolonged Vitamin B12 deficiency can result in permanent nerve damage.

More often than not, most other people suffering from conditions that put them at risk of a B12 deficiency are under the regular supervision of a physician that will usually be sure that the patient supplements their B-12 intake as needed. However, many strict vegetarians and vegans are not under the active supervision of a doctor and may not be suffering the more obvious symptoms of a lack of Vitamin B12 because they are getting a lot of folic acid in the diets. Therefore, strict vegetarians and vegans should take special precautions to ensure that they are getting enough B12 in their diets to avoid serious medical problems.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Folic Acid

Vitamins Folic Acid