A new study has found a strong link between low vitamin B12 levels and long-term inflammation. Inflammation in the body is tied to many serious health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and brain disorders.
This research gives hope that eating enough vitamin B12 could help prevent or manage these health issues.
The study was done by scientists in Spain and published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. They wanted to understand how vitamin B12 affects inflammation.
To do this, they looked at two important signs of inflammation: interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP). These are substances in the blood that rise when there is inflammation in the body.
Vitamin B12 is a nutrient that the body needs to stay healthy. It helps with brain function, nerve health, and making red blood cells. Some people don’t get enough vitamin B12, especially if they don’t eat animal products like meat, eggs, or dairy.
Vegetarians and vegans are more at risk. Other people may have trouble absorbing B12 due to age or certain health conditions. Low B12 can cause tiredness, numb hands or feet, memory problems, and even serious nerve damage.
Earlier studies suggested that B12 might help reduce inflammation. This new study gives clearer evidence to support that idea.
The researchers used information from a large health study in Spain called PREDIMED. This study focused on the Mediterranean diet and heart health. By looking at blood samples from people in the study, the scientists compared their vitamin B12 levels with levels of IL-6 and CRP.
They found that people with higher levels of vitamin B12 had lower levels of IL-6 and CRP. In other words, more B12 was linked to less inflammation in the body.
Although the study didn’t only look at people who were clearly low in B12, the findings raise some interesting questions. Could not having enough B12 explain why some people feel tired, weak, or have nerve pain? Could increasing B12 through food or supplements help reduce inflammation and lower the risk of disease?
To explore this further, the scientists also did tests on older mice. Just like in people, the mice with higher B12 levels had lower signs of inflammation. This suggests that keeping B12 levels up as we age may help protect us from diseases that come with getting older.
The researchers now want to study this more. They plan to look at how B12 works in different people, such as men and women, older adults, or those with infections or gut problems. They also want to see if people who are truly B12-deficient might benefit even more from B12 supplements.
In the future, this kind of research may lead to new ways to treat inflammation just by making sure people get enough vitamin B12. For now, it’s a reminder of how important this vitamin is, especially for older people or those with limited diets.
If you’re worried about inflammation or think you might be low in vitamin B12, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor. They can check your levels and recommend safe ways to get more B12. Eating foods like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy can also help support your health and protect your brain and body as you age.
If you care about health, please read studies that vitamin D can help reduce inflammation, and vitamin K could lower your heart disease risk by a third.
For more health information, please see recent studies about new way to halt excessive inflammation, and results showing foods that could cause inflammation.
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