What are the benefits of taking vitamin B12?

B12 deficiency can cause a variety of symptoms, including fatigue, headaches, depression, pale or yellow skin, mental impairment, and pain and inflammation in the mouth and tongue. Many of the symptoms caused by low B12 levels are not specific to B12 deficiency, which can cause the condition to go undetected.

Vitamin B12 benefits include forming red blood cells, preventing dementia, and reducing birth defects. Vitamin B12 is found in foods like meat, eggs, dairy, and fish. Side effects of B12 are rare but can include headaches, anxiety, and nausea.

Vitamin B12 is one of the essential B vitamins that help support a healthy nervous system. B12 works by converting the food we eat into sugar and other types of fuel that keep the body running smoothly. B12 is often associated with weight loss because of its ability to boost metabolism and provide lasting energy.

While the recommended daily amount of vitamin B-12 for adults is 2.4 micrograms, higher doses have been found to be safe. Your body absorbs only as much as it needs, and any excess passes through your urine. High doses of vitamin B-12, such as those used to treat a deficiency, might cause: Headache.

As a general rule of thumb, take your B vitamins in the morning or with a meal. Vitamin B12, for example, should definitely be taken in the morning. This is because it is important for energy metabolism, which may interrupt your sleep if taken at night.

Some sources have suggested that vitamin B12 may play a role in hair health. However, several studies mentioned in a 2019 review found no evidence of a link between changes in B12 levels and hair loss or retention.

The recommended dose for treating vitamin B12 deficiency is 1000 mcg daily. The recommended dose for preventing vitamin B12 deficiency is 1500 mg or 2500 mcg (sublingual tablets) daily. The dose for treating hyperhomocysteinemia is 400 mg daily in combination with folic acid.

Other studies have shown that vitamin B12 has a half-life of around six days in the blood, which means that it would take six days before half of the administered amount is excreted from the body.

A dose of 1,000 mcg or more is considered a high dose of vitamin B12, which is about 400% of the daily requirement of 2.4 mcg.

Is 5000 mcg of B12 too much? A dosage of 5000 mcg of Vitamin B12 has been deemed a safe dosing amount. In fact, it is often recommended for those who have a health condition that affects their B12 absorption. Consultation with a qualified health professional is always recommended.

Even though the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for B12 is only 2.4 micrograms (mcg), some supplements provide 10,000 mcg per serving, or 416, 666 percent of the RDA. That amount of B12 daily for a long time can have potentially serious effects.

In one 8-week study in 100 older adults, supplementing with 500 mcg of vitamin B12 were found to normalize B12 levels in 90% of participants. Higher doses of up to 1,000 mcg (1 mg) may be necessary for some ( 10 ).

No interactions were found between lisinopril and Vitamin B12. However, this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.

B Vitamins are especially important for healthy sleep. If you are having difficulty initially getting to sleep, sleep disturbances, insomnia, or other sleep-related problems, you should have your Vitamin B12 levels tested. Low or borderline B12 levels point to a possible reason for your sleep issues.

It may take a few weeks before your vitamin B12 levels and symptoms (such as extreme tiredness or lack of energy) start to improve. If you have hydroxocobalamin injections to boost your vitamin B12 levels at the start of treatment, the cyanocobalamin tablets may start to work within a few days.

If you have vitamin B12 deficiency, vitamin B12 tablets may be as effective as injections. They are readily available, cheaper, and taken orally with ease. However, vitamin B12 injections are more readily absorbed in the body and do not have to be administered as often as oral tablets.