A new study has found a strong link between low levels of vitamin B12 and chronic inflammation — a problem that can lead to many serious diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and brain disorders.
The research was published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. It gives us new insight into how vitamin B12 might help protect the body by lowering inflammation.
Vitamin B12 is an important nutrient that helps keep nerves and blood cells healthy. It also supports brain function and helps maintain energy. While scientists have suspected that B12 may help reduce inflammation, this study provides clearer evidence of how they are connected.
In the study, researchers looked at two markers of inflammation in the body: interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP). These are substances the body makes when it is under stress or fighting illness. High levels of IL-6 and CRP are often found in people with long-term health problems.
To learn more about the connection between B12 and inflammation, the researchers studied blood samples from participants in the PREDIMED trial — a large health study in Spain focused on the Mediterranean diet and heart health. They measured how much vitamin B12 was in each person’s blood and compared it with levels of IL-6 and CRP.
The results showed that people with higher levels of vitamin B12 had lower levels of the inflammation markers. This means that as B12 levels went up, inflammation went down.
This is a very important finding because chronic inflammation can damage blood vessels, raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes, and lead to conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and type 2 diabetes. If keeping vitamin B12 levels high can help reduce inflammation, it might be a simple way to lower the risk of these serious health problems.
The study did not focus only on people who were already low in B12, but the results still suggest that not having enough B12 might make inflammation worse. This could explain why people with B12 deficiency often feel tired, have memory issues, or develop nerve problems — all of which may be caused by inflammation.
To better understand the link between B12 and inflammation, the team also studied mice. They found some differences between animals and humans, which may help guide future research on preventing B12 deficiency, especially in older adults who are more at risk.
The researchers plan to study larger and more diverse groups to confirm the results. They also want to explore whether men and women are affected differently and whether B12 levels play a role in conditions such as obesity, infections, or irritable bowel syndrome.
In the future, this research could lead to updated health advice or new treatments based on how much vitamin B12 people get.
For now, this study is a good reminder to make sure you’re getting enough B12. Foods rich in B12 include meat, fish, eggs, and dairy. People who eat vegetarian or vegan diets — and older adults — may need supplements to avoid deficiency.
This study adds to the growing evidence that what we eat plays a big role in keeping our body healthy — not just in how we feel, but in how our body fights off disease over time.
If you care about nutrition, please read studies about 9 signs you have inflammation in your body. Could an anti-inflammatory diet help? and high-salt diet strongly changes your kidneys.
For more about diet, please read studies that fiber is your body’s natural guide to weight management and diet and nerve damage in diabetes: a novel insight.
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