Vegetarians: Naturally, the
whole picture shifts for vegetarian and vegan low-carbers, who are
limiting their diets even more. In addition to the nutrients in the previous blogs, watch
intake of vitamin B12, choline, niacin, vitamin A, and zinc.
For vitamin B12, I have listed several
of the blogs I have written for you to examine.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12, also called cobalamin, is
one of eight B vitamins. All B vitamins help the body convert food
(carbohydrates) into fuel (glucose), which is used to produce energy.
These B vitamins often referred to as B complex vitamins, also help
the body use fats and protein. B complex vitamins are needed for
healthy skin, hair, eyes, and liver. They also help the nervous
system function properly. All B vitamins are water soluble, meaning
that the body does not store them.
Vitamin B12 is an especially important
vitamin for maintaining healthy nerve cells, and it helps in the
production of DNA and RNA, the body's genetic material. Vitamin B12
works closely with vitamin B9, also called folate or folic acid, to
help make red blood cells and to help iron work better in the body.
Folate and B12 work together to produce S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe),
a compound involved in immune function and mood.
Vitamins B12, B6, and B9 work together
to control blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine. High levels
of homocysteine are associated with heart disease. However,
researchers are not sure whether homocysteine is a cause of heart
disease or just a marker that indicates someone may have heart
disease.
It is rare for young people to be
deficient in vitamin B12, but it is not uncommon for older people to
be mildly deficient. This may be because their diets are not as
healthy, or because they have less stomach acid, which the body needs
to absorb B12. Low levels of B12 can cause a range of symptoms
including – fatigue, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nervousness,
numbness, and tingling sensation in the fingers and toes.
Severe deficiency of B12 causes nerve
damage.
Others at risk for B12 deficiency
include:
- Vegans and vegetarians who do not eat dairy or eggs, since vitamin B12 is found only in animal products
- People with problems absorbing nutrients due to Crohn's disease, pancreatic disease, weight loss surgery, or medications
- People who are infected with Helicobacter pylori, an organism in the intestines that can cause an ulcer. H. Pylori damages stomach cells that make intrinsic factor, a substance the body needs to absorb B12
- People with an eating disorder
- People with HIV
- People with diabetes
- The elderly
Folic acid (vitamin B9), especially
when taken in high doses, can mask the symptoms of a vitamin B12
deficiency. The danger is that without symptoms, someone with a
vitamin B12 deficiency may not know it, and could run the risk of
developing nerve damage. You should talk to your doctor first if you
plan to take more than 800 mcg of folic acid, to make sure you do not
have a B12 deficiency.
Other good information can be found in
this blog of mine:
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