What Does the Vitamin B12 Do?
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Introduction
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Vitamin B12 is a substance that is commonly found in most protein and dairy products. Natural sources include foods such as pork, chicken, beef, fish, cheese and milk. According to the Mayo Clinic, vitamin B12 deficiency is quite uncommon. This is because the body will store up to two years' worth of the vitamin at any given time. This action in and of itself shows how important this vitamin truly is.
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DNA
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One of the most important things that Vitamin B12 does is help in the process of making DNA. The cells in your body are constantly replicating. Some are making bone marrow; others may be making new hair follicles as your hair grows. These cells use DNA synthesis in order for the cell to divide and multiply. B12 is one of the most important vitamins that helps in facilitating this process.
Red Blood Cells
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Vitamin B12 is also important for the production of red blood cells. Your red blood cells are responsible for providing oxygen to all the other cells in your body. Red blood cells are largely produced in the bone marrow of your body. Vitamin B12 plays an important role in the replication and creation of your red blood cells in the bone marrow. Without vitamin B12, megaloblasts (abnormally large blood cells) can form in the blood instead of regular-sized red blood cells. This can develop into megaloblastic anemia.
Nerve Cells
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Vitamin B12 is also an important player in the functioning of your nervous system. On the end of each of the nerves in your body are protective coats of protein called "myelin." Without myelin, your nerves would be open to being damaged, which could eventually lead to nerve disorders. Vitamin B12 is responsible for metabolizing the fatty acids needed to maintain the myelin on the nerve cells.
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References
- Photo Credit oregonstate.edu
