A new study has found that people with low levels of vitamin B12 may have more inflammation in their bodies. Inflammation is a common issue that happens when the body tries to fight off infection or injury. But if inflammation becomes long-term, or “chronic,” it can be harmful and lead to serious health problems like heart disease, diabetes, or memory loss.
The research was done by scientists in Spain and published in a science journal called the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. The team wanted to understand how vitamin B12 might be connected to inflammation.
To find out, they looked at two substances in the blood — interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP). These are markers that doctors often check to see how much inflammation a person has.
Vitamin B12 is a nutrient that the body needs to stay healthy. It helps keep the brain and nerves working properly and is important for making red blood cells. We usually get B12 from animal-based foods like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products. People who do not eat these foods, such as vegetarians or vegans, may not get enough.
Older adults and people with certain medical conditions may also have trouble absorbing B12, even if they eat the right foods. Not getting enough B12 can cause problems like tiredness, numb hands or feet, forgetfulness, or even nerve damage.
Earlier studies had suggested that vitamin B12 might help reduce inflammation, but the evidence wasn’t strong. This new study gives more support to the idea. The researchers looked at data from a large group of people who took part in another health study called PREDIMED.
That earlier study was designed to see if the Mediterranean diet could help prevent heart disease. The new study used the blood samples from PREDIMED to check B12 levels and levels of IL-6 and CRP.
What they found was clear: people with higher levels of vitamin B12 tended to have lower levels of inflammation markers. In other words, having more B12 in the body was linked to having less inflammation. While the study didn’t focus only on people who were clearly low in B12, the results suggest that even mild B12 shortages might affect inflammation.
To learn more, the scientists also did tests with aging mice. The results were similar. Mice with more vitamin B12 showed fewer signs of inflammation, suggesting that the vitamin may help reduce harmful changes in the body that come with age.
The researchers now want to explore more questions. They are curious about whether things like gender, infections, aging, or gut problems like irritable bowel syndrome might change how B12 works. They also want to find out whether people with very low B12 levels would benefit even more from taking B12 supplements.
This study does not prove that vitamin B12 alone can prevent serious diseases, but it does suggest that getting enough B12 might help keep inflammation down and protect your health. It’s a reminder that even small nutrients can play big roles in how we feel.
If you often feel tired, foggy, or have other health problems, it might be worth checking your B12 levels. A simple blood test can tell you if you’re low.
If you are, your doctor may suggest eating more foods with B12 or taking a supplement. It’s especially important for older adults or people on restricted diets to pay attention to this nutrient. Making sure you get enough B12 could be a small but important step toward better health.
If you care about nutrition, please read studies that whole grain foods could help increase longevity, and vitamin D supplements strongly reduce cancer death.
For more information about nutrition, please see recent studies about natural coconut sugar that could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness, and whey and soy protein may reduce inflammation in older people.
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