You can find B12 in fortified foods (soy or soy milk), fish, poultry, eggs, and milk and should aim for around 2.6 mcg (micrograms) per day, but using supplements to achieve this intake will help.
a short course of oral B12 (e.g. cyanocobalamin 1000microg/day) should be given. Early repeat B12 assay (e.g. 3-4 weeks) is recommended to ensure response. Parenteral therapy with hydroxocobalamin (1000microg/1mL), given by intramuscular injection, once weekly for 3 weeks is commonly used.
In terms of maternal health, clinical vitamin B12 deficiency may be a cause of infertility or recurrent spontaneous abortion. Starting pregnancy with an inadequate vitamin B12 status may increase risk of birth defects such as NTD, and may contribute to preterm delivery, although this needs further evaluation.
Use of a vitamin B12 supplement in pregnancy is not expected to cause any problems that require additional monitoring of the baby. Women diagnosed with a vitamin B12 deficiency in early pregnancy may receive more detailed anomaly scans to check for neural tube defects in the baby.
Taking folic acid at high doses can hide a vitamin B12 deficiency. So these vitamins are often taken together. Talk to your doctor before taking more than 800 mcg of folic acid.
How to raise your B12 levels fast. The most common way to treat B12 deficiencies is by adjusting your diet. If this is unsuccessful, vitamin supplements may be recommended. If you're looking to boost the amount of vitamin B12 in your diet, you should eat more animal products, like meat, seafood, dairy and eggs.
The length of time it takes to recover from a vitamin B12 deficiency depends on the extent of the deficiency, the dose being used, and whether or not you have problems with absorption. Some people can notice changes within the first week after starting supplementation and lab values may change within 4-8 weeks.
There are certain foods that also need a cut-down in case of vitamin B12 deficiency. “Some foods and drinks can interfere with vitamin B complex intake like alcohol, caffeine and processed foods, etc should be avoided completely,” Shah added.
Bananas are a cheap, healthy, and nutrient-dense fruit that can easily become a part of every individual's diet. It is one of the best fruits rich in vitamin B12.
If you eat meat, fish or dairy foods, you should be able to get enough vitamin B12 from your diet. But as vitamin B12 is not found naturally in foods such as fruit, vegetables and grains, vegans may not get enough of it.
You can change your diet to include vitamin B12-fortified grains, a supplement or B12 shots, or a high-dose oral vitamin B12 if you are deficient. Older adults who have a vitamin B12 deficiency will likely have to take a daily B12 supplement or a multivitamin that contains B12.
Boosting B12 While Pregnant
Most people get that through fortified foods and animal products like beef, liver, and clams, which are the best sources of the vitamin according to Shaw, as well as fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and other dairy products.
Clams. Other body benefits: Not only do clams have the highest concentration of vitamin B12 of any food, they're also filled with potassium.
B12 injections work quickly; they are the most effective way for your body to absorb Vitamin B12. Within 48 to 72 hours, your body will begin to make new red blood cells. For mild deficiencies, you may need two to three injections over several weeks to notice peak impact.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause symptoms that affect your brain and nervous system (neurological symptoms), including: numbness. muscle weakness. psychological problems, which can range from mild depression or anxiety, to confusion and dementia.
Boosting your B
If you are a strict vegetarian or vegan, it's important to eat breads, cereals, or other grains that have been fortified with vitamin B12 or take a daily supplement. A standard multivitamin delivers 6 micrograms, more than enough to cover the average body's daily need.
Conditions affecting the stomach
Some stomach conditions or stomach operations can prevent the absorption of enough vitamin B12. For example, a gastrectomy, a surgical procedure where part of your stomach is removed, increases your risk of developing a vitamin B12 deficiency.
Stage 1 is decreased levels of vitamin B12 in the blood. Stage 2 is low concentration of vitamin B12 in the cell and metabolic abnormalities. Stage 3 is increased levels of homocysteine and MMA and decreased DNA synthesis resulting in neuropsychiatric symptoms. Stage 4 is macrocytic anemia.
Folic acid will correct the anaemia of vitamin B12 deficiency and so delay diagnosis but will not prevent progression to neurological damage. For this reason trials of folic acid supplements may involve simultaneous administration of vitamin B12.
If you follow a plant-based diet, then vegetables like spinach, beetroot, butternut squash, mushroom and potato contain good amounts of vitamin B12. However, it is less likely to receive the whole amount of nutrients just from vegetable sources.
' “A recurring theme in medical literature is that B12 deficiency is a fairly rare cause of miscarriage or stillbirth.