Visit any health store, drug store or discount department store and you will see shelves of vitamin and mineral supplements, and even though these are good for us, you cannot simply take as much as you want. Before increasing any dosage of vitamins, you must be educated and knowledgeable about the possible consequences, and seek professional medical advice if necessary.
The following information will help to tell you how much Vitamin B12 you should be taking on a daily basis, and what would be considered an excessive amount.
The main purpose of Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is to avoid anemia, which it does by regulating and forming red blood cells and helping our bodies to absorb iron. It also helps with the memory by producing acetylcholine, and it produces myelin which helps to protect the nerves. The vitamin can also keep us fertile by metabolizing proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
Vitamin B12 is absorbed into the digestive tract, a process that takes several hours, and most of the surplus is excreted in our urine, although the liver also retains some of the extra for up to five years. To avoid deficiency and to make sure you are getting your recommended amount of this particular vitamin, the RDA, or recommended daily allowance is 2 mcg.
Certain people may require more, including pregnant women, vegetarians, the elderly, anyone suffering from AIDS or taking medication for gout, and anyone taking potassium supplements.
It is generally safe to take up to 100 mg of the vitamin, as tests have indicated that there is no evidence of toxicity, and if you are deficient, you can take a higher dose than the label indicates.
Many older people have low amounts of gastric amounts in their stomachs, meaning that they are unable to extract the vitamin from their food, and for this reason the elderly may need to take a higher dosage. A supplement can also help to minimize the chances of illness or disease, although of course you should talk to your doctor about any dosage increase.
Because older people have trouble with their digestive system, shots are usually the solution, as a supplement would still not be fully absorbed into the system.
An increased dosage of Vitamin B12 can also help to treat such conditions as varicose veins, tinnitus and osteoarthritis. As mentioned before, make sure you talk to your doctor about potentially taking more.