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You are here : Healthopedia.com > Medical Encyclopedia > Diet and Nutrition > Vitamin B12: Functions and Sources
      Category : Health Centers > Food, Nutrition, and Metabolism

Vitamin B12

Alternate Names : Cobalamin, Cyanocobalamin

Vitamin B12 | Functions and Sources | Attribution


What food source is the nutrient found in?

Vitamin B12 is found in animal foods, fortified foods, and some fermented foods. Some sources of B12 are:

  • eggs
  • meat
  • poultry
  • fish
  • dairy products
  • tempeh and miso, which both come from soy
  • The amount of B12 in some foods includes:

  • salmon, cooked (3 oz) = 2.6 mcg (micrograms)
  • beef tenderloin lean, broiled (3 oz) = 2.2 mcg
  • milk (1 cup) = 0.5 mcg
  • How does the nutrient affect the body?

    Vitamin B12 helps the body:

  • make red blood cells, with folic acid, another B-vitamin
  • work with many chemicals found in all body cells
  • copy the genetic code within each cell
  • form and maintain the nervous system
  • build and maintain protective coating around nerves
  • digest and use fats, carbohydrates, and some proteins for energy
  • form neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin, that help regulate mood, sleep, and appetite

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    Vitamin B12: Overview & Description

     

    Vitamin B12: Attribution

    Author: Kimberly Tessmer, RD, LD
    Reviewer: Kathleen A. MacNaughton, RN, BSN
    Date Reviewed: 09/28/02









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    Page Last Updated: 30th May, 2006