How vitamin B12 could give you an energy boost

Feeling low-energy? You could be among the estimated 3.6% of Americans who are deficient and 12.5% who get insufficient amounts of vitamin B12.

The first step to finding out is seeing your doctor, as Dr. Elizabeth Sharp, internist and medical director at Health Meets Wellness in New York City, previously told Fortune. 

“If someone is dealing with low energy, my initial response would be to recommend a series of tests before considering supplements,” she said. Testing for vitamin deficiencies, including vitamin B12, she says, is “crucial,” especially in vegans and vegetarians. 

What does vitamin B12 do?

Vitamin B12, according to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements, is a nutrient (or family of molecules called the cobalmins that incorporate an ion of the element cobalt in their structure, according to Discover) that helps keep your body’s blood and nerve cells healthy and helps make DNA, the genetic material in your cells. It also helps prevent megaloblastic anemia, a blood condition that may be the culprit behind someone feeling tired and weak. 

Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms

In addition to weakness and fatigue, a B12 deficiency may also prompt a slew of other symptoms, depending on the severity, including:

tingly hands and feet due to nerve problems

How much vitamin B12 do I need per day?

Everyone requires a certain amount of B12 depending on their age, starting with .5 mcg per day for infants up to 2.4 mcg for teens and adults and even more—2.6 mcg and 2.8 mcg, respectively, for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

B12 is found in a wide array of animal-based........

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