What is vitamin B12?

Vitamine B12, vaak cobalamine genoemd, is een essentieel onderdeel van het vitamine B-complex. Het zit in een aantal voedingsmiddelen en dranken die we dagelijks consumeren. Voldoende vitamine B12 is essentieel omdat een tekort kan leiden tot verschillende lichamelijke aandoeningen. Heb je je ooit afgevraagd of je vitamine B12-niveau binnen de aanbevolen waarden ligt? Lees verder voor meer informatie over vitamine B12 en het belang ervan voor het menselijk lichaam.

What is vitamin B12?

Vitamine B12 is de bekendste B Vitamine en is, net als de andere B-vitamines, oplosbaar in water. It is the only B vitamin of which your body has a reserve, located in the liver. This stock can remain in the body for approximately three years, and sometimes even longer. Vitamin B12 is found in certain animal products and is bound to protein in food. The acid in our stomach ensures that the protein of vitamin B12 is decoupled. Later in the small intestine, vitamin B12 binds to a new protein called Intrinsic Factor which is made in the stomach and allows for absorption into the body to occur (Nutrition Center).

What foods contain vitamin B12?

Vitamine B12 komt voornamelijk voor in dierlijke producten, zoals :

• Meat, fish, and poultry
• Melkproducten
• Eieren

Hoewel minder geconcentreerd kun je de vitamine ook vinden in niet-dierlijke producten, zoals:

• Algae and dried seaweed
• Ontbijtgranen (Vitamine D aan toegevoegd)
• Nutritional yeast

Why is vitamin B12 important?

Vitamine B12 heeft een aantal cruciale functies in het menselijk lichaam:

• Vorming van rode bloedcellen: Deze cellen zijn verantwoordelijk voor het transport van zuurstof in het bloed.
• Onderhoud van hersen- en zenuwcellen: Vitamine B12 ondersteunt de functionaliteit en gezondheid van deze cellen.
• DNA-productie: Als essentiële bouwsteen van onze genetische code is vitamine B12 betrokken bij de synthese van DNA.
• Celstofwisseling: Vitamine B12 speelt een sleutelrol in verschillende metabole processen op cellulair niveau.

What is a healthy vitamin B12 level?

The target values of vitamin B12 are 150 – 750 pmol/l, or 0.15 and 0.75 nmol/l

In most tests serum B12, also known as total B12 value, is examined. However, a good B12 value does not mean that a deficiency does not exist. For example, it may be that a person falls under the lower limit for vitamin B12, but has no symptoms. Another person may have a value within the healthy range, but still have symptoms of low vitamin B12 (Nederlands Huisartsen Genootschap, 2018). That is why it is important to view the result of a vitamin B12 test in conjunction with existing symptoms that may indicate a vitamin B12 deficiency.

Is too much or too little vitamin B12 harmful?

Een tekort aan vitamine B12 kan leiden tot een aantal gezondheidsproblemen; Deze omvatten anemie, neurologische aandoeningen en problemen met de DNA-synthese. Deze symptomen kunnen de vorm aannemen van vermoeidheid, zwakte, geheugenproblemen en andere neurologische klachten. Aan de andere kant is het zeldzaam dat overmatige inname van vitamine B12, vooral via supplementen, schadelijke effecten heeft, omdat het lichaam overtollige vitamine B12 normaal gesproken uitscheidt via de urine; Sommige onderzoeken suggereren echter dat extreem hoge vitamine B12-spiegels in het bloed kunnen correleren met een verhoogd risico op overlijden. Deze correlatie is echter nog onderwerp van onderzoek.

Het is altijd raadzaam om de inname van vitaminen en voedingssupplementen met een arts te bespreken om ervoor te zorgen dat men binnen gezondheidsbevorderende grenzen blijft (Flores-Guerrero et al., JAMA Network Open, 2020).

The causes of vitamin B12 deficiency

There are various causes for vitamin B12 deficiency. The main causes are as follows:

• Eating too few animal products (vegans, vegetarians)
• Problemen met de opname van vitamine B12 in het lichaam
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Long-term intake of antacid tablets
• Frequent use of laughing gas
• Ziekten, bijvoorbeeld een auto-immuunziekte

What symptoms are associated with a vitamin B12 deficiency?

The symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency differ per individual. Symptoms can be divided into three groups, namely neurological complaints, psychological complaints and other complaints (Thuisarts, 2018).

Neurological symptoms:

• Tingling
• Reduced sensation in the fingers or toes
• Struggling to find words: aphasia
• Difficulty walking, tripping, falling, or bumping into something: ataxia

Psychological symptoms:

• Depressed feelings and thoughts
• Verwarring
• Makkelijk geïrriteerd

Other complaints with vitamin B12 deficiency:

• Bleke huid (door extreme anemie)
• Feeling weak
• Vermoeidheid
• Low appetite, weight loss
• Burning tongue
• Misselijkheid
• Spierpijn
• Gastrointestinal problems

Are there any diseases related to vitamin B12 deficiency?

It is possible for an autoimmune disease to cause a deficiency of vitamin B12. In that case, the reason is impaired absorption because intrinsic protein is not sufficiently produced in the stomach. In the case of colorectal cancer, stomach cancer, atrophic gastritis, or pancreatic insufficiency there may also be a reduced absorption of nutrients from food, leading to a deficiency.

What can I do if my vitamin B12 level is abnormal?

To ensure adequate vitamin B12 intake it is important to eat a varied and healthy diet. Vegetarians are advised to consume egg or milk products daily, and vegans are recommended to choose products that are fortified with vitamin B12. In the event of a vitamin B12 deficiency, it is of course also possible to take vitamin B12 as a supplement.

How long does it take for vitamin B12 deficiency to be reversed?

Although this varies from person to person, it takes an average of eight to sixteen weeks before vitamin B12 deficiency is reversed. In severe deficiencies, this can take six months to a year.

Testing Vitamin B12

A simple blood test can indicate the level of vitamin B12 in your blood and can reveal whether any deficiencies exist. Het is nu mogelijk om thuis je vitamine B12-niveau te testen met behulp van Homed-IQ’s vitaminetekorttest, een test die ook essentiële vitamines meet foliumzuur en Vitamine D. Bij deze vitaminetest wordt thuis bloed afgenomen via een vingerprik, waarna een gecertificeerd laboratorium het monster analyseert en de resultaten bbepaalt.

How often should you test your vitamin B12 level?

There is no recommended frequency to test vitamin B12. If an initial test shows that there is a deficiency, you have the option to take action to increase the value. It is then advisable to perform another test after three months to see whether the value has increased.

If you experience symptoms related to a vitamin B12 deficiency and find that they do not disappear within three months after beginning vitamin B12 tablets, it is wise to contact your doctor. Has the deficiency and symptoms disappeared with the use of supplements? In that case, it is possible to take the supplement for another three months and then stop and see whether the symptoms return or not.

Is Homed-IQ’s vitamin B12 test reliable?

Yes, all vitamin B12 tests – like all our other home tests – are processed and analyzed in a certified laboratory. These labs are also used by general practitioners, hospitals and other medical specialists.

Is this vitamin B12 test an alternative to a blood test via the GP?

Ja. A doctor checks vitamin B12 levels using the same laboratory analysis offered by Homed-IQ. The only difference with a home test is that you can take the sample required for the test anonymously, from the comfort of your own home, and at a time of your choosing.

How does the Homed-IQ vitamin B12 test process work?

Homed-IQ’s test process is very simple. After pricking your finger using the supplied lancet, you collect a few drops of blood in a sample collection tube. Next, use the supplied shipping bag and the return envelope to send your sample to the lab for analysis. Your results will be ready within a few days.