(THE GIST OF PIB) Vitamin B12

(NOVEMBER-2025)

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 deficiency often first appears as skin changes like hyperpigmentation, dryness, or paleness, indicating poor oxygen and nutrient delivery to skin cells.

About Vitamin B12:

It is a water-soluble vitamin.
It is also called cobalamin.
It is a vitamin the body uses to make and support healthy nerve cells.
It's also used to make healthy red blood cells and the genetic material inside cells called DNA.
Human body cannot produce B12 on its own, so it must be obtained through foods high in vitamin B12 or supplements.
It is naturally found in animal foods such as fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and milk products.
It is not present in plant foods unless fortified.
The body stores vitamin B12 in the liver.
The body can store vitamin B12 for 2 to 5 years, and it can get rid of any excess or unwanted vitamin B12 in the urine.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency:

People who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet can sometimes have low levels of Vitamin B12. This is because plant foods don't have vitamin B-12.
Older adults and people who have had stomach surgery also are at risk because they may not absorb the vitamin as well.
People with digestive conditions such as celiac disease and Crohn's disease also are at risk of low vitamin B-12 levels.
People with very low vitamin B-12 levels can have symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weakness, stomach problems, nerve damage, vision problems, and mood changes.
They also may have low iron, called anemia, or low blood counts.