A new study has found that vitamin B12 may help lower inflammation in the body, which is linked to many serious health problems.
Inflammation plays a role in heart disease, diabetes, and conditions that affect the brain, like Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers now believe that keeping your vitamin B12 levels healthy might be one way to reduce this risk.
The study was done by scientists in Spain and was published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. They looked at how vitamin B12 levels affect two common signs of inflammation: interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP). These markers are often checked by doctors to measure inflammation in the body.
Vitamin B12 is a vitamin that your body needs to work properly. It helps make red blood cells, supports nerve health, and plays a role in making DNA.
People who don’t get enough vitamin B12 can develop serious health problems, including nerve damage. Those most at risk are people who don’t eat animal products, like vegetarians and vegans, or people whose bodies have trouble absorbing the vitamin.
In this study, the researchers used information from a large health study in Spain called PREDIMED, which looks at the effects of the Mediterranean diet on heart disease.
They tested blood samples from the participants and found something interesting: people who had higher levels of vitamin B12 also had lower levels of IL-6 and CRP. In simple terms, more B12 seemed to mean less inflammation.
This discovery supports the idea that vitamin B12 may help reduce harmful inflammation. The scientists, Rosa M. Lamuela-Raventós and Inés Domínguez López, believe this could be useful for preventing or managing diseases related to inflammation.
To see if the same thing happens in animals, they also studied older mice. Just like in humans, the mice with higher vitamin B12 levels had less inflammation. This finding is important because older people often have lower vitamin B12 levels and higher levels of inflammation.
The researchers now want to do more studies. They hope to include people of different ages and genders and look at how B12 works in people with certain health problems. They’re also interested in finding out if taking vitamin B12 supplements can help with diseases that involve inflammation, like infections, obesity, or irritable bowel syndrome.
This study shows that something as simple as making sure we get enough vitamin B12—through food or supplements—might help us stay healthier and even live longer. It’s another example of how the food we eat can play a big role in how we feel and how our bodies fight disease.
If you care about nutrition, please read studies about A guide to diet choices for healthy kidneys and findings of Scientists find why limiting calories in diet could boost healthy aging and muscles.
For more about nutrition, please read studies about This nutrient in diet can prevent inflammation in older people and findings of Diet high in protein, zinc and niacin may protect heart health during weight loss.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
