What does vitamin b 12 do?

Answer 1

B12 works with folate in the body. Cells that turnover quickly need B12 and folate to produce the purines required for DNA synthesis. Thus B12 deficency hit cells like red blood cells first, that are being constantly produced to cause megablastic anaemia (where the cells are oversized). Specifically, when B12 is deficient, it is known as pernicious anaemia, whereas megablastosis can incooperate folate deficiency.

All the folate your body has is stored in a pool in a form called tetrafolate. All this folate is used to make many things such as purines and enzymes and such. Inevitibly some of it is made into Methylfolate which is useless. To recycle this Methylfolate, Vit B12 is used to convert it back to Tetrafolate. This process of conversion also converts a homocycstine to a methionine. Lack of B12 can mean that your folate pool s lacking. The anaemia is however usually masked by high intakes of folate (since it is added in everything now). This means it keeps filling the folate pool without recycling. The problem with this is that it masks B12 deficiency symptoms and the person with the deficiency only realises when their nerves are irreparably damaged. This is because B12 is also needed for the upkeep of nerves.

Answer 2

B12 is to boost your metabolism, help keep nerve cells healthy, helps keep red blood cells. Also aids with digestion and helps you get more energy. You can get in pills which you put under your tongue or a shot. The shot is good because B12 is hard to absorb into the blood stream, but needs to be subscribed by your doctor. If you are a women you might look for one that has folic acid especially if you are planning to get pregnant.