The mental health benefits of vitamin B12

( Natural News ) As it controls virtually all aspects of your life, the brain is one of the most vital organs of your body. It is also one of the most nutritionally demanding. Keeping the brain healthy requires a wide variety of minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins, one of the most notable of which is vitamin B12 . Cobalamin, known more popularly as vitamin B12, is one of the eight B-vitamins. These nutrients are known as a collective whole for helping the body to absorb energy, but individually, they perform distinct functions and benefit specific parts of the body. Cobalamin, for instance, helps keep your bones strong and your eyes healthy. But where vitamin B12 truly shines is in maintaining proper brain function. It is linked to processes related to memory and concentration. It is also an important requirement in the formation of serotonin and dopamine, neurotransmitters vital to the regulation of moods. In fact, low levels of cobalamin have been associated with depression. Furthermore, reduced levels of vitamin B12 are linked to symptoms of schizophrenia. These include social withdrawal, the inability to express emotions, and apathy. Some experts believe patients suffering from these symptoms need to monitor their vitamin B12 levels for the rest of their life. Another proof of cobalamin’s important role in brain function is how a lack of it can lead to symptoms akin to those suffered by people with Alzheimer’s disease. Once the deficiency is addressed and the patient is administered sufficient vitamin B12, the symptoms dissipate. Interestingly, there is evidence that supplementing with cobalamin and other B-vitamins can reduce the impact and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in general. One study from Oxford University found that the combination of cobalamin, pyridoxine (B6), and folic acid (B9) can improve brain function. This cocktail […]

Click here to view full article