Helps With Red Blood Cell Formation and Anemia Prevention :

Vitamin B12 plays a vital role in helping your body produce red blood cells.Low vitamin B12 levels cause a reduction in red blood cell formation and prevent them from developing properly .Healthy red blood cells are small and round, whereas they become larger and typically oval in cases of vitamin B12 deficiency.Due to this larger and irregular shape, the red blood cells are unable to move from the bone marrow into the bloodstream at an appropriate rate, causing megaloblastic anemia.When you’re anemic, your body doesn’t have enough red blood cells to transport oxygen to your vital organs. This can cause symptoms like fatigue and weakness.

May Prevent Major Birth Defects :

Adequate vitamin B12 levels are crucial to a healthy pregnancy.Studies show that a fetus’s brain and nervous system require sufficient B12 levels from the mother to develop properly.Vitamin B12 deficiency in the beginning stages of pregnancy may increase the risk of birth defects, such as neural tube defects. Furthermore, maternal vitamin B12 deficiency may contribute to premature birth or miscarriage.One study found that women with vitamin B12 levels lower than 250 mg/dL were three times more likely to give birth to a child with birth defects, compared to those with adequate levels.For women with a vitamin B12 deficiency and levels below 150 mg/dL the risk was five times higher, compared to women with levels above 400 mg/dL .

May Support Bone Health and Prevent Osteoporosis :

Maintaining adequate vitamin B12 levels may support your bone health.One study in more than 2,500 adults showed that people with a vitamin B12 deficiency also had lower than normal bone mineral density.Bones with decreased mineral density can become delicate and fragile over time, leading to an increased risk of osteoporosis.

May Reduce Your Risk of Macular Degeneration :

Macular degeneration is an eye disease that mainly affects your central vision.Maintaining adequate levels of vitamin B12 may help prevent the risk of age-related macular degeneration.Researchers believe that supplementing with vitamin B12 may lower homocysteine, a type of amino acid that is found in your bloodstream.The group receiving these supplements for seven years had fewer cases of macular degeneration, compared to the placebo group. The risk of developing any form of the condition was 34% lower, while it was 41% lower for more severe types.

May Improve Mood and Symptoms of Depression :

Vitamin B12 may improve your mood.The effect of vitamin B12 on mood is not yet fully understood. However, this vitamin plays a vital role in synthesizing and metabolizing serotonin, a chemical responsible for regulating mood.Therefore, vitamin B12 deficiency may lead to decreased serotonin production, which may cause a depressed mood.Studies support the use of vitamin B12 supplements for improving symptoms of depression in people deficient in this vitamin.One study in people with depression and low vitamin B12 levels found that those who received both antidepressants and vitamin B12 were more likely to show improved depressive symptoms, compared to those treated with antidepressants alone

May Benefit Your Brain by Preventing the Loss of Neurons :

Vitamin B12 deficiency has been associated with memory loss, especially in older adults.The vitamin may play a role in preventing brain atrophy, which is the loss of neurons in the brain and often associated with memory loss or dementia.One study in people with early-stage dementia showed that a combination of vitamin B12 and omega-3 fatty acid supplements slowed mental decline.Another study found that even vitamin B12 levels on the low side of normal can contribute to poor memory performance. As a result, supplementing with this vitamin may improve memory, even in the absence of a clinically diagnosed deficiency.

May Give You an Energy Boost :

Vitamin B12 supplements have long been touted as the go-to product for a surge of energy.All B vitamins play an important role in your body’s energy production, though they don’t necessarily provide energy themselves.Currently, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that vitamin B12 supplements can boost energy in those with sufficient levels of this vitamin.On the other hand, if you’re significantly deficient in vitamin B12, taking a supplement or increasing your intake will likely improve your energy level.

May Improve Heart Health by Decreasing Homocysteine :

High blood levels of the common amino acid homocysteine have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease.If you’re significantly deficient in vitamin B12, your homocysteine levels become elevated.However, there is currently no scientific evidence to confirm that vitamin B12 supplements are effective in this regard.Vitamin B12 can decrease blood homocysteine, a type of amino acid that is associated with an increased risk of heart disease. However, research does not currently support the claim that vitamin B12 reduces this risk.