Vitamin B12 overdosing is extremely rare. Find out more about the special features of the vitamin and what you should consider especially in preparations.
As a vital vitamin, vitamin B12 plays a central role in our energy metabolism. Man cannot make it themselves and therefore has to absorb vitamin through food. Since it occurs almost exclusively in animal food in relevant quantities, many people with vegans or vegetarian diet often use dietary supplements with vitamin B12 to prevent deficiency symptoms. Such supplements often contain high doses of the vitamin, which may lead to overdosing. This is quite rare, but it can happen. The question remains: is that dangerous? We explain this to you in this article.
What is vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12 is also referred to as cobalamine and is particularly crucial for our nervous system, the mucous membranes and the formation of red blood cells. It is one of the water -soluble vitamins and, as such, is the only one that our body can store for several years.
Vitamin B12 consists of various chemical compounds, the so -called cobalamines produced by bacteria. The important vitamin is almost exclusively in animal foods. Fermented products, such as raw sauerkraut, also contain traces of vitamin B12. According to Expert: However, the amount of B12 is so low in corresponding vegetable foods that it is far from sufficient to meet daily needs.
Therefore, you should have your vitamin B12 mirror checked regularly with a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle. You can usually cover your needs with additional preparations. To find out whether you should consume vitamin B12 preparations, you should have your B12 mirror checked and with one: R Document: In Take.
Vitamin B12 overdosing and nutritional supplements
The daily daily requirement of vitamin B12 can vary depending on age, lifestyle and individual needs. The DGE recommends consuming four micrograms a day from the age of 15. For pregnant women and breastfeeding, the need is higher.
The doses of vitamin B12 preparations sometimes fluctuate considerably. Some preparations contain a lot more vitamin B12 than was actually necessary to cover the daily requirement, says Öko-Test. However, this does not mean that vitamin B12 overdose must immediately occur. Because the body only absorbs a fraction of the vitamin.
In order to absorb vitamin B12, the body needs a molecule – the so -called “intrinsic factor”. This is formed in the gastric mucosa and connects to the cobalamines to absorb the vitamin via the small intestine. The amount of cobalamine that does not connect to the intrinsic factor is simply retired. B12 he takes up.
As a rule, high -dose preparations are particularly recommended for people with an acute need. These include, for example, breastfeeding or people with a heavy vitamin B12 deficiency. Some diseases, in particular digestive problems, as well as alcohol and drugs, can hinder the recording. Therefore, those affected usually need a higher dose of the vitamin. If you are unsure which dosage is the right one for you, you should obtain medical advice.
Vitamin B12 overdose: dangers and risks
Can you also consume too much vitamin B12? Opinions differ in this question.
The health portal NetDoktor writes that vitamin B12 overdose is practically impossible. The body would automatically stop the recording as soon as the vitamin B12 value in the blood was too high. Quantities that are not required would be excreted. Only in certain diseases such as leukemia, liver metastases or hepatitis can the body no longer dissolve excess vitamin B12. In these cases, vitamin B12 overdose could occur.
However, the consumer center quotes studies from 2017 and 2018, which indicate harmful effects of high-dose vitamin B12 preparations. According to the studies, doses of over 55 micrograms are suspected of increasing the risk of lung cancer, especially for smokers: inside. So far, these findings have not yet been sufficiently scientifically proven.
According to NetDoktor, vitamin B12 infusions or injections can lead to skin reactions (such as acne and rashes) and, in rare cases, to an allergic shock.
Revised by Jennifer Watzek
Read more on utopia.de:
- Vitamins – everything you should know about it
- This is how vegan goes: a guide for vegan beginners: inside
- Vitamin C overdose: In this case it can happen
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