Better concentration and a better memory? Try vitamin B12!
Vitamin B12 is the most complex vitamin (from a chemical point of view); it contains cobalt, which is essential for its activity. Also known as cyanocobalamin, it plays a part in the proper functioning of the body, and our bodies require it every day. Although we only need it in small amounts, its importance for red blood cell production and metabolism is enormous. Various studies suggest that it has a beneficial effect on our mood and memory, and supports brain function. Vitamin B12 is necessary for maintaining the proper functioning of the nervous system and the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Unlike other vitamins, B12 is synthesised in nature only by bacteria found in the digestive systems of animals. We therefore obtain it mainly from animal products, such as meat and dairy products. Its uniqueness also lies in its ability to be stored in the liver for many years, but a deficiency poses a risk not only to vegans and older people. A B12 deficiency does not manifest itself immediately (it can take up to a year). Fatigue is the first sign of a deficiency in this vitamin. Chronic fatigue, memory problems, tingling in the limbs or depression can be subtle warning signs. As vitamin B12 is essential for the production of myelin, the protective sheath around nerve fibres, a deficiency can lead to neurological problems such as numbness and balance issues. If this deficiency is left untreated, it can lead to serious neurological disorders and anaemia; the deficiency also manifests itself through various haematological and psychiatric symptoms (including confusion and disorientation, atrophy, mood and behavioural changes, psychosis and cognitive problems, loss of concentration, insomnia and incontinence). In the past, pernicious anaemia was incurable. In 1926, two doctors discovered that eating raw liver could alleviate these symptoms – fatigue, memory loss and nerve damage. Two decades later, they succeeded in isolating the substance responsible for this effect, which turned out to be vitamin B12.
