Vegetarians and vegans often claim to have healthier eating habits than meat eaters. In many ways, this is true, but there are certain risks associated with a diet that does not include any animal products. Certain nutrients, such as vitamin B12, are only to be found naturally in animal products. People who avoid eating anything that come from animal sources must pay extra attention to their nutritional needs, and seek out supplements when they’re needed.

What Does Vitamin B12 Do?

Vitamin B 12 is essential for healthy living. Its main functions involve the formation of red blood cells and the maintenance of a healthy nervous system. B 12 is necessary for the timely synthesis of DNA during cell division. This is especially important in tissues where cells are dividing rapidly, particularly the bone marrow tissues responsible for red blood cell formation.

B 12 is also important in maintaining the nervous system. Nerves are surrounded by an insulating fatty sheath which is made of a protein called myelin. B 12 plays a vital role in the metabolism of fatty acids essential to maintain healthy myelin. B 12 deficiency over a long period of time can lead to nerve degeneration and irreversible nerve damage.

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