Vitamin B12

B12 (also known as cobalamin) is essential for keeping your brain and nerves healthy and for making DNA and red blood cells. B12 also helps lower levels of homocysteine, an amino acid linked (in high levels) to dementia, heart disease, stroke, and osteoporosis. 

B12 is an essential supplement for those on a plant-based diet – particularly vegans - because it is not possible to extract from plants. 

https://www.vegansociety.com/resources/nutrition-and-health/nutrients/vitamin-b12/what-every-vegan-should-know-about-vitamin-b12 

We typically get B12 through diet. Rich sources include beef, liver, clams, poultry, fish, fortified cereals, eggs, cheese, yogurt, milk, and fortified plant milks (like soy, almond, or rice milks). 

An estimated 3.2% of adults ages 50 or older have very low B12 levels, and up to 20% may have borderline deficiency. Aging is often the causeWe tend to produce less stomach acid as we get older. That makes it harder to extract B12 from food, says Dr. Meir Stampfer, a professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/should-you-take-a-vitamin-b12-supplement 

Other causes of B12 deficiency include: 

  • taking heartburn medications that suppress stomach acid 
  • weight loss surgery 
  • autoimmune diseases that attack the stomach lining or gastrointestinal tract. 

And here is another excellent article from Healthline: 

https://www.healthline.com/health/vitamin-b-12-foods 

Yoga Nutrition sells different forms of B12: 

Cranberry and cinnamon flavour  -

30ml bottle: https://yoganutrition.co.uk/products/liquidb12energizer

120ml bottle: https://yoganutrition.co.uk/products/liquid-b12-energizer-4-month-supply

5,000mcg high strength for those that need it: https://yoganutrition.co.uk/products/liquid-b12-energizer-high-strength-5-000mcg-120ml

Flavourless 60ml: https://yoganutrition.co.uk/products/liquid-b12-energizer-flavourless

PS: unlike Vitamins A and D, there are no known harmful side effects from taking too much B12.