Cobalamin is a vitamin that is needed by the nervous system where it acts as a methyl donor. Cobalamin works with folic acid in the working of the red blood cells and the synthesis of DNA. It is very important in helping in the maintaining of the myelin sheath that surrounds the nerve cells.

Cobalamin is a vitamin that is water soluble and thus gets excreted in the urine very quickly. Cobalamin also tends to collect in the liver, body tissue and kidney. It is necessary to maintain the level of cobalamin in the body as its deficiency leads to neurological damage that leads to the degeneration of the nerves. This is why it is suggested to take cobalamin supplements when pregnant to reduce birth defects.

Cobalamin is an important vitamin and its deficiency leads to many health problems and defects. Vegetarians usually suffer from a deficiency of cobalamin, and this is obvious only after years of being a vegetarian. With this deficiency, they suffer from bacterial overgrowth in the body, tapeworm infestation and mal-absorption situations.

Pernicious anemia is another condition of cobalamin deficiency where the stomach cells get impaired and cannot absorb cobalamin. This condition is characterized with large and immature red blood cells. When suffering from this condition, the patient experiences breathlessness, pallor, tiredness, listlessness and poor infection resistance.

Cobalamin supplements are best to maintain the levels of cobalamin in the body; however if this cannot be afforded, then sufficient amounts of food containing cobalamin has to be eaten. Examples of such food are beef liver, kidneys, leafy green vegetables, milk, eggs, cheese, orange, and brewers yeast.

The human body needs lots of vitamins where cobalamin is one of them. Take it in sufficient amounts to lead a healthy life.