Dangers of Vitamin B12: A Myth or a Fact

By Deborah Bamisaye

Vitamin B12 is a crucial water-soluble vitamin essential for many bodily functions, requiring daily intake because the body does not store it significantly – excess amounts are typically excreted through urine. This vitamin plays key roles in red blood cell production, nerve cell maintenance and functioning, cellular metabolism, immune system support, anemia prevention, and converting food into energy. Deficiency in vitamin B12 can cause serious health problems, including neurological issues such as depression and mood changes, anemia, and birth defects during pregnancy.

Vitamin B12 Dangerous? Is that a Myth or a Fact?

Vitamin B12, like any other vitamin, is necessary for your body.

Most people suggest and I do too – to have enough vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B12.

But, everything in life has pros and cons. Vitamin B12 is no different.

Why? This is because unlike fat-soluble vitamins, water-soluble vitamins aren’t stored in significant amounts in the body. Usually, the excess is excreted through urine every day. Therefore, you need to consume it daily.

Sounds great, right?

So, How does Vitamin B12 Harm You?

Well, vitamin B12 becomes dangerous (creates side effects) when you consume it in excessive dosage.

Excessive consumption/dosage of the vitamin will cause a few things, which are:

1. Skin rash, rosacea, and acne

2. Headaches, fatigue, and cramps

3. Nausea and diarrhea

4. Irregular heart rhythms

Those are the side effects of consuming too much vitamin B12. Now, after reading those, is it actually dangerous? The good news is that excessive consumption of vitamin B12 is so rare. It means therefore, these side effects rarely happen.

Why? Because, once again: ‘The excess of water-soluble vitamins are excreted through urine.’ But it doesn’t stop there.

According to research, after studying the potential side effects of taking high doses of vitamin B12 for up to 5 years, it showed that there weren’t any patterns of harm and side effects. This shows how rare it is. Yes, it is very possible to have headaches, nausea, and acne. But it’s rare and it isn’t life-threatening.

Can it be Dangerous for Certain People?

The answer would be a conditional Yes! Usually, the manifesting side effects are an indicative sign of kidney dysfunction or liver diseases as the body doesn’t process and secrete the excess vitamin properly.

So, high dosages of vitamin B12 are dangerous for people who have kidney dysfunction, such as people who have diabetic nephropathy (diabetes that leads to loss of kidney functioning). But, if you have normal functioning kidneys, you shouldn’t be worried about vitamin B12 excessive consumption. Instead, you should worry about vitamin B12 deficiency more.

Vitamin B12 plays a huge role in your body. There are so many things that vitamin B12 does.

It creates red blood cells, maintains nerve cells for nerve functioning, metabolizes cells, helps with immune functioning, anemia prevention and even converts food into energy. So, vitamin B12 can lead to neurological issues (such as depression and mood changes), anemia, and even birth defects (for pregnant people).

Preventing vitamin B12 deficiency is more critical for most people than fearing overdose. Typical prevention methods include consuming animal-based foods like meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and milk, taking vitamin B12 supplements when necessary, and eating fortified foods that include added B12. These measures ensure adequate levels, supporting the vital functions that rely on this vitamin.

Let’s See What Some Doctors Discovered:

Dr. F. Muhammad conducted studies in Kano, Northwestern Nigeria, where he found that Vitamin B12 insufficiency is very common among T2DM patients on metformin therapy. His research showed a prevalence of Vitamin B12 deficiency of 24% in metformin-exposed diabetic patients, compared to 8% in metformin-naïve diabetics and 5% in non-diabetic individuals. Metformin dose and duration were significant predictors of the deficiency, which was linked to peripheral neuropathy and macrocytic anemia in patients. This study was done at the Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital, Kano.

Dr. Sampson Omagbemi Owhin and colleagues published a study at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Edo State, finding a 41% prevalence of Vitamin B12 deficiency in metformin-treated T2DM patients and 20% in metformin-naïve diabetics. They highlighted the need for supplementation to prevent complications such as macro-ovalocytic anemia, immune dysfunction, and neuropathy associated with the deficiency.

Other Nigerian researchers including Adebukola K. Orolu and colleagues have reported case studies and investigations into vitamin B12 deficiency manifesting in various clinical symptoms, emphasizing the importance of diagnosis and treatment in Nigerian healthcare settings.

Overall, Nigerian doctors emphasize the high prevalence of Vitamin B12 deficiency, particularly among diabetic populations on metformin, and recommend routine screening and supplementation to mitigate neurological and hematological complications. These findings stem from hospitals in major Nigerian cities like Kano, Irrua, and Lagos.

Now that you know how important Vitamin B12 is, I’m pretty sure you’ll love to say to everyone out there, “Do not be afraid to take vitamin B12.”

Sharing the link to this piece with your loved ones would not be a bad idea you know.

Thank you for reading and see you next time!