Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) is a water-soluble vitamin. It can be obtained mostly from animal foods or supplements. It has duties related to red blood cells and DNA production. It supports brain and nerve cells to perform their functions.

It is a water-soluble vitamin. It can be obtained mostly from animal foods or supplements. It has duties related to red blood cells and DNA production. It supports brain and nerve cells to perform their functions.

It is transported in the body by combining with a protein called intrinsic factor. Therefore, in diseases such as pernicious anemia, B12 deficiency develops because there is no association with the intrinsic factor.

Where to get vitamin B12?

  • Liver,
  • Red meat,
  • Animal offal (brain etc.),
  • Fish (mackerel, etc.), shellfish (mussels, oysters, etc.),
  • Enriched bread, cereal,
  • Chicken meat,
  • Milk and dairy products, kefir,
  • Egg,

What are the functions of vitamin B12?

  • Production of erythrocyte cells,
  • DNA making,
  • Supporting the functioning of brain and nerve cells,
  • Carbohydrate, fat, protein metabolism,
  • Supporting growth,
  • Release of energy from food,
  • Aid in calcium absorption.

What is the need for vitamin B12?

  • 0 – 1 year old child: 0.5 mcg/day
  • 1-3 years old child: 0.9 mcg/day
  • Children 4-8 years: 1.2 mcg/day
  • 9-13 year old child: 1.8 mcg/day
  • Boy 14 years and older: 2.4 mcg/day
  • Girl 14 years and older: 2.4 mcg/day
  • Pregnancy period: 2.6 mcg/day
  • Lactation period: 2.8 mcg/day

What happens in vitamin B12 deficiency?

Since vitamin B12 can be obtained from many foods, its deficiency occurs very rarely. These:

  • Not enought feeding,
  • Vegetarian diet,
  • Absorption disorders (Celiac, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s Diseases etc.),
  • Congenital B12 malabsorption (Imerslund-Gräsbeck Disease)
  • Babies,
  • Pregnant and lactating women,
  • Those who have had digestive system operations,
  • Prolonged use of drugs such as proton pump inhibitors,
  • pernicious anemia,

The following diseases and symptoms can be seen in vitamin B12 deficiency:

  • Megaloblastic anemia (glossitis, weakness, palpitations, pale skin, weight loss, dementia, infertility),
  • Weakness, fatigue,
  • Nerve damage manifested by numbness and tingling in the hands and legs,
  • Loss of memory,
  • Clouding of consciousness,
  • Dementia,
  • Psychological problems (depression etc.)



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