Should people over 65 take B12?

If you are an older adult, you should be taking a supplement for B12 as well as trying to incorporate B12 into your diet. It is vital for good health and cognitive functioning. Studies continue to show all the ways it is beneficial for your overall health.

Is vitamin B12 good for seniors?

Benefits of Vitamin B12 for Seniors

It's no secret that getting your vitamins and nutrients is key to staying healthy. Vitamin B12 is particularly important because it plays a role in brain function, metabolism, nerve cells, and blood health. Vitamin B12 helps to metabolize an amino acid known as homocysteine.

Is it OK to take 1000 mcg of B12 a day for seniors?

Ideal Vitamin B12 Dosage for Seniors

The exception is if you have underlying health conditions that impact how well your body absorbs vitamin B12 or if you have a severe deficiency. In some cases, high doses of 500 to 1000 micrograms per day might be necessary to reverse B12 deficiency.

Why is B12 absorption a concern in older adults?

As people get older, their ability to absorb vitamin B12 decreases. This is because aging adults often develop problems with the acids and stomach enzymes needed to process the vitamin. Common risk factors for low vitamin B12 levels in older adults include: Low levels of stomach acid.

What is the best B12 supplement for seniors?

The Optimal Vitamin B12 Dosage for Adults

What are the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency in the elderly?

What medications should not be taken with B12?

How much B12 should seniors take?

With that in mind, let's go back to our initial question: how much vitamin B12 should a person over 65 take? Recent reports suggest that, along with a B12-rich diet, consuming 500 micrograms of B12 in the form of a supplement may help individuals over 65 maintain healthy vitamin B12 levels [2].

What does low B12 feel like?

Constipation, diarrhea, loss of appetite, or gas. Nerve problems like numbness or tingling, muscle weakness, and problems walking. Vision loss. Mental problems like depression, memory loss, or behavioral changes.

Where is it recommended that older adults get most of their vitamin B12 from?

Milk and milk products are good sources of vitamin B12. Many ready-to-eat breakfast cereals are fortified with vitamin B12. Fish and red meat are excellent sources of vitamin B12. Poultry and eggs also contain vitamin B12.

What happens if your B12 is too high?

In some people, high levels of B12 may cause gastrointestinal problems such as bloating and diarrhea. And if you have high blood pressure or poor cardiovascular health, having too much B12 may further complicate these issues. Pregnant and breastfeeding women may also need to be especially mindful of B12 levels.

Which form of vitamin B12 is best?

Methylcobalamin is the most bio-available type of Vitamin B12 which means the body absorbs it more easily. Naturally occurring, it is found in animal-based foods such as meat, fish, milk and eggs so Methylcobalamin B12 is readily available in many people's daily diets.

Is it worth taking vitamin B12?

There are very few reasons to take supplements, but getting enough of this vitamin may be one of the most important. Vitamin B12 may not be high on your nutritional radar, yet it is essential to some of the body's most important functions, like forming red blood cells and maintaining nerve function.

Do you need B12 everyday?

B12 is important for many enzymatic processes, such as helping turn the food you eat into usable energy. The recommended daily amount for B12 is 2.4 mcg for adults. Pregnant and lactating women need higher amounts [1]. There is no upper intake limit for vitamin B12 because there is no known toxicity [2].

Does vitamin B12 give you energy?

So does vitamin B12 give you energy? While B12 doesn't directly provide energy, it does give the body the tools it needs to convert food molecules into energy. Getting the recommended daily amount of B12 can therefore help ensure that the body is able to make the energy it needs to do everything you need it to do.

How do I know if Im getting enough B12?

Fatigue. If you're low or deficient in B12, you'll likely feel fatigued. Your body's cells need B12 to function properly. As such, having inadequate B12 levels can decrease normal red blood cell production, which can impair oxygen delivery ( 8 ).

What is the most common cause of B12 deficiency?

Diet. Some people can develop a vitamin B12 deficiency as a result of not getting enough vitamin B12 from their diet. A diet that includes meat, fish and dairy products usually provides enough vitamin B12, but people who do not regularly eat these foods can become deficient.

What depletes B12?

Lack of vitamin B12 in your diet: People who don't eat enough foods that naturally have vitamin B12 or don't eat foods fortified with vitamin B12 can develop vitamin B12 deficiency. Gastritis: Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining, and it's a common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency.

Can B12 cause neuropathy?

B12 deficiency may cause demyelination of nerves in the peripheral and central nervous system¹³ and has been associated with peripheral neuropathy, loss of sensation in peripheral nerves, and weakness in lower extremities in older adults^{1, 14–16}.

Does B12 supplement raise blood pressure?

The lowering effects of vitamin B12 together with folic acid on blood pressure have been reported in intervention study in adults. However, no study has reported the association of vitamin B12 by itself with systolic or diastolic blood pressure in children or in adults.

Can I take B12 with high blood pressure?

Vitamin B12 also lowers levels of homocysteine, an amino acid. People with high levels of homocysteine may be more likely to develop cardiovascular disease. As a result, some speculate that vitamin B12 supplements may be beneficial for people at risk for heart disease, such as those with high blood pressure.

Why do seniors need B12 shots?

Vitamin B12 deficiency is common among the elderly. Elderly people are particularly at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency because of the high prevalence of atrophic gastritis-associated food-cobalamin (vitamin B12) malabsorption, and the increasing prevalence of pernicious anaemia with advancing age.

Do blueberries have B12?

Blueberry is another fruit with high vitamin B12 rich fruit. Blueberry contains many antioxidants that keep our health and skin pure and healthy.

Are eggs rich in vitamin B12?

One hard-boiled egg has about 0.6 micrograms of B12. That's 25% of your daily value. But you'll need to eat the whole egg. Most of the B12 comes from the yolk.