Patient was educated on the importance of Vitamin B12 or Cobalamin as follows:
- Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient of human diet and a water-soluble vitamin, belonging to vitamin B-complex group.
- Vitamin B12 is available in a wide variety of food sources. A portion of vitamin consumed is used by the body for metabolic needs. A portion of the vitamin is stored in the liver and the rest is excreted in the urine. Since this vitamin is partly stored in the liver, it is used from the storage for some duration of time, before one presents with symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency.
- Vitamin B12 is required for normal maturation of red blood cells in the human body. Mature red blood cells in circulation help pick up oxygen from the lungs, transport oxygen, and deliver it to the various body tissues.
- Once oxygen is delivered to the tissues, these red blood cells also help pick up carbon dioxide from the tissues, transport, and deliver it to the lungs, to be eliminated. By helping with oxygen delivery and carbon dioxide elimination, mature red blood cells play an important role in the normal function of all vital organs.
- Deficiency of vitamin B12 can result in compromised and incomplete maturation of red blood cells. This can result in immature red cells in blood circulation that are poorly functional, in comparison to the mature red blood cells.
- Immature red blood cells are short-lived and do not survive for the length of time that normal mature red blood cells do. This can result in poor oxygen transport by red blood cells, reduced count of red blood cells, and anemia. Also, these immature red cells from vitamin B12 are big in size and so, this anemia is called megaloblastic anemia.
- Vitamin B12 is also needed for synthesis of DNA, which carries the genetic information in all the cells of human body. Normal synthesis of DNA is important for healthy growth and cell division. Deficiency of vitamin B12 can result in compromised genetic material synthesis, thus affecting the normal growth and cell division in all the body tissues.
- Vitamin B12 helps with normal growth and function of brain and nervous tissues. Deficiency of vitamin B12 can result in defective growth and function of brain and nervous tissues.
- Optimum levels of Vitamin B12 helps prevent fat deposition inside the blood vessels and plaque formation. Vitamin B12 deficiency can result in fat deposition and plaque formation in blood vessels. Plaque formation can result in narrowing and hardening of blood vessel. Narrowed and hardened blood vessels permit poor blood flow. Also, plaque formation in the blood vessels can increase risk for clot formation and deep vein thrombosis.
- Vitamin B12 helps with the body metabolism of dietary carbohydrates, fats, and protein and energy production. Compromised body metabolism with vitamin B12 deficiency can contribute to fatigue, listlessness, poor appetite, unusual weight gain, dry skin, hair loss, and depression.
