Can Lack Of Vitamin B12 Lead To Depression?

Vitamins are very important for our bodies to function properly and among them vitamin B12 is given immense importance as the absence of vitamin B12 can give rise to severe anaemia. But have you heard that the lack of vitamin B12 can also cause depression?

In order to avoid vitamin B12 deficiency, it is important to include a variety of foods which have vitamin B12 in the daily diet. This is harder than it sounds. Most of the foods which are high in vitamin B12 are unfortunately missing from the diet of a regular person.

Consequently, a rising number of individuals are enduring the after effects of vitamin B12 deficiency, or pernicious anaemia and depression due to an absence of this crucial vitamin. It is essential to remember that eating foods which are full of vitamin B12 is only useful for preventing vitamin B12 insufficiency if you are able to digest it normally.

For many, vitamin B12 malabsorption is the main cause of vitamin B12 deficiency. If you are one of the many people who are affected by vitamin B12 malabsorption, in that case, your risk of suffering from pernicious anaemia and depression increases with time, no matter what your diet.

Vitamin B12 is found only in animal-based products: meat, liver, fish, eggs and dairy. However, certain foods contain significantly higher quantities of vitamin B12 than others. Seafood supplies a few of the best sources of vitamin B12.

The relation between anaemia and vitamin B12 is well known. According to latest research, low levels of vitamin B12 have been found to cause depression in certain individuals.

This is because vitamin B12 is responsible for metabolizing and producing the chemical called serotonin. This chemical is responsible for keeping a person happy and in preventing mood swings.

According to researchers, if the level of vitamin B12 is very low in the body of an individual, it can lead to memory loss, anxiety, psychosis and dementia.