Nutrients hold a peculiar position in your body. You must “Thanks” to vitamins & minerals because your body can’t work effectively without them, even though you might be a host of multiple diseases. Vitamins & minerals are required in minute quantities but are worthwhile. The Vitamin B family significantly contributes to your body and manages various functions. Though, like folic acid, vitamin b12 is also crucial during pregnancy. Let’s explore!
What is Vitamin B12?
According to a popular MTHFR blog Methylfolate Supplements “Vitamin b12 is a prominent individual of the B-complex system and participates in multiple biological functions.” It exists in four forms:
- Methylcobalamin
- Adenosylcobalamin
- Cyanocobalamin
- Hydroxocobalamin
The first two forms exist naturally and artificially, while the latter forms are available synthetically. Your doctor prescribes you according to your body’s demands. Animal-based foods teem with vitamin b12. The US government strictly recommended their manufacturer to add vitamin b12 to fortified foods. You should take 2.8 mg daily if you’re expecting.
Role of Vitamin B12 during pregnancy
Both vitamin b12 and folic acid participate in multiple functions and ensure the baby’s development & growth. These can be;
- Reduces the risk of neural tube disorders because it promotes the formation of infant neural tubes and the development of the brain & spine.
- It assists in the digestion of fats, carbs, and proteins. The aftermath of this boosts your energy level, lower stress and anxiety symptoms, and improves your mood.
- Folate with vitamin b12 assists the synthesis of DNA, RNA, chromosomes, and red blood cells and protects your baby and you from anemia.
- It forms myelin sheath around new and old neurons and maintains neurological functions. It also helps to synthesize new nerve cells.
- Vitamin b12 assists in the metabolism of homocysteine and maintains its level in your blood. Its high level can lead to the formation of blood clots in the placenta; consequently, the nutrient supply blocks the baby and lead to recurrent miscarriage.
Sources of vitamin B12
Vegetables and fruits contain no or less content of vitamin b12. You can get it from;
- Meat
- beef-liver
- Milk
- Eggs
- Fish
- Cod
- Shrimp
- Soy products that are fortified with b12
- Fortified cereals
- Yogurt
- cheese
Women who are vegetarians and also pregnant have higher chances of b12 deficiency. The other causes of its dearth can be lower content of b12 in diet, Crohn’s disease, perniciousanemia, etc. Thus, you should try b12 supplements to meet your body requirements.
What risks are linked with vitamin B12 deficiency?
Vegetarian’spregnant women present a high risk of b12 deficiency that can lead to severe pregnancy outcomes. The major one is neural tube defects. Vitamin b12 deficiency can cause;
- Encephalocele
- Anencephaly
- Spina bifida
- Anemia
- Health issues due to a high level of homocysteine
It’s best practice to keep in touch with your health care provider from the first day of pregnancy. And conduct your blood test to monitor the vitamin b12 in your blood. If you’re b12 deficient and go through fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, and depression, consult your healthcare provider asap.
Conclusion
Vitamin b12 helps your body to form DNA, chromosomes, red blood cells, the myelin sheath around nerve cells, food metabolization, degradation of homocysteine, etc. If you get b12 deficiency during pregnancy, you and your baby are at high risk of complications. You can fill the b12 deficiency gap by taking its supplements. You should discuss this with your doctor before purchasing supplements.
