Help in the Formation of Red Blood Cells and Prevention of Anemia
Vitamin B12 plays an important role in the production of red blood cells in the body. Low [4] levels of this nutrient reduce the formation of red blood cells and prevent proper development. Appropriate red blood cells are tiny and round, but they become larger and usually oval in vitamin B12 deficiency scenarios.
The nutrient also helps in the prevention of anemia. The medical condition characterized by a low number of red blood cells is called anemia. In a typical blood test, the illness is regarded as low hemoglobin or hematocrit. Note that hemoglobin carries oxygen in the red blood cells, and when it’s low, the body won’t get enough oxygen.
When there is a vitamin B12 deficiency, the red blood cells take an irregular shape. Due to the cells’ largeness and irregularity, they are unable to move from the bone marrow into the bloodstream at the right rate, which leads to megaloblastic anemia.