Inflammation is the body’s natural way of protecting itself from injury and infection. When you cut your finger or catch a cold, your immune system creates inflammation to help you heal.
This short-term inflammation is a normal and healthy response. However, when inflammation continues for months or even years, it becomes chronic inflammation. This long-lasting inflammation can quietly damage the body and has been linked to many serious health problems, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and other brain disorders.
A new study has found that low levels of vitamin B12 may be closely linked to higher levels of chronic inflammation. The findings suggest that getting enough vitamin B12 could become an important part of protecting long-term health and may one day help doctors prevent or manage diseases linked to inflammation.
The research was carried out by scientists in Spain and published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. The researchers wanted to understand whether vitamin B12 levels were connected to inflammation in the body.
Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin that helps the body work properly. It is needed to make healthy red blood cells, keep nerves working normally, and support brain function.
Without enough vitamin B12, people may develop tiredness, weakness, tingling or numbness in the hands and feet, poor memory, difficulty concentrating, and, in severe cases, permanent nerve damage.
Unlike many other vitamins, vitamin B12 is found mainly in animal foods such as meat, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, and other dairy products. People who eat little or no animal food, including many vegetarians and vegans, may not get enough unless they eat fortified foods or take supplements.
Older adults are also at greater risk because the body often becomes less able to absorb vitamin B12 with age. Certain digestive disorders and some medicines can also reduce absorption.
Although earlier studies hinted that vitamin B12 might reduce inflammation, the evidence was not clear. This new research provides stronger support for that idea.
The scientists used information from PREDIMED, a large health study in Spain that was originally designed to investigate whether the Mediterranean diet could help prevent heart disease.
The researchers examined blood samples from participants and compared their vitamin B12 levels with two well-known markers of inflammation called interleukin-6, or IL-6, and C-reactive protein, also known as CRP.
Doctors often measure these substances because higher levels usually indicate more inflammation somewhere in the body.
The results showed a clear pattern. People with higher vitamin B12 levels generally had lower levels of IL-6 and CRP. In other words, better vitamin B12 status was linked to less inflammation.
The researchers did not study only people with diagnosed vitamin B12 deficiency, making the findings even more interesting. They suggest that even people whose vitamin B12 levels are not severely low may benefit from maintaining healthy levels.
This raises important questions about whether low vitamin B12 could contribute to common problems such as ongoing tiredness, nerve discomfort, or poor overall health through increased inflammation.
To strengthen their findings, the scientists also studied older mice. The animal experiments produced similar results. Mice with higher vitamin B12 levels showed fewer signs of inflammation, suggesting that vitamin B12 may help protect the body as it ages.
The researchers plan to continue studying this connection. Future research will examine whether vitamin B12 works differently in men and women, whether aging changes its effects, and how infections or digestive conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome may influence the relationship.
They also want to learn whether people with clear vitamin B12 deficiency gain even greater benefits from vitamin B12 supplements.
While the results are promising, this study does not prove that low vitamin B12 directly causes inflammation. It only shows a strong association between the two. More clinical studies will be needed before doctors can recommend vitamin B12 supplements specifically to reduce inflammation.
Even so, the findings highlight the importance of maintaining healthy vitamin B12 levels throughout life. Eating a balanced diet that includes foods naturally rich in vitamin B12, or using supplements when recommended by a healthcare professional, may support healthy blood cells, brain function, nerve health, and possibly help keep inflammation under control.
If you often feel unusually tired, have numbness or tingling, or think you may not be getting enough vitamin B12, it is a good idea to speak with your doctor. A simple blood test can check your vitamin B12 level, and your doctor can recommend the safest way to correct a deficiency if one is found.
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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