Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin required by the body for a variety of important functions. It is known to help within the nervous system, in brain function and mood, it helps to prevent anaemia by supporting blood-cell formation and it helps with digestion and reducing tiredness.
It’s used to make new cells and DNA (the genetic material in all your cells), and to keep your nerves and red blood cells healthy.
It is an important vitamin to have within your diet as it is not something that our bodies naturally produce. It is a water-soluble vitamin, meaning we need to replenish it every single day, since it is not stored in our bodies like fat-soluble vitamins.
Therefore, we must ensure good levels of daily vitamin B12 through our diet or supplementation. Food sources that contain vitamin B12 include meat, fish, dairy, eggs and yeast extract. This is why vegans and vegetarians can be at more risk of vitamin B12 deficiency. You can also get a deficiency if your body is unable to absorb vitamin B12 properly, due to conditions such as coeliac disease or pernicious anaemia.
A deficiency in vitamin B12 is quite common and can lead to a variety of symptoms including tiredness, fatigue, nervous system disruption and cognitive problems. If you are vitamin B12 deficient, you may already be experiencing a lack of energy which will be detrimental to your weight loss journey. It’s important that B12 deficiency is diagnosed and treated early, as other conditions and potential complications can develop alongside it over time.
At The Slimming Clinic we think it is important to have your vitamin B12 level checked as you work to improve your health and wellbeing. If you feel you may be experiencing symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency or are a vegan or vegetarian, you should consider a vitamin B12 check.
If you are found to be lacking in vitamin B12, our team of clinicians will be able to explain the results to you and give you more information about lifestyle changes you can make to increase your vitamin B12 levels as well as explain to our vitamin B12 supplement that can give you a boost to improve your levels more quickly.