Chennai: A culmination of several micro-components, Vitamin B is an important nutrition required to perform a wide range of metabolic activities. Doctors and nutritionists in the city state that the deficiency could impact the neurological functioning of the body and opine that people are unaware of the serious effects that it could lead to.
Talking to News Today, an independent consultant dietitian from the city, Dr Dharini Krishnan explains, “Vitamin B is a combination of B1, B2, B6 and B12 which is needed to perform all the cell activities. Lack of the component affects the overall functional of the body.”
The nutrient is water-soluble and it is said losing the nutrient will lead to major complications. If one consumes water immediately after eating Vitamin B-rich food, a part of it gets washed off. In addition, eating in large quantities will also lead to losing the nutrition.
“Two cups of dals per day is suggested. Two or three tablespoons of sprouts once or twice a week should do. It shouldn’t be washed after sprouting,” suggests the dietitian.
How is B12 generated?
B12 is not present in vegetarian diet, adds Dharini. “When fibre-rich food is consumed, it passes through the colon and the good bacteria generate this component and that is how B12 is generated in a vegetarian diet,” she says.
Further, the dietitian says that a lot of people lack Vitamin B12 owing to insufficiency of fibre intake. She also states that consumption of processed foods and store-bought curd and batter kills the functioning of good bacteria in the human body.
Talking of prevalence, “Out of 100 patients, at least 10-15 suffer from Vitamin B12 deficiency, especially in children, and other forms of deficiency is uncommon,” states Dharini.
When anaemia could mislead
Lack of Vitamin B12 can lead to pernicious anaemia which damages the red blood cells (RBCs). Unlike the stubborn iron-deficiency anaemia, this condition can be reversed if supplements are taken regularly.
“However, identifying the cause of anaemia with symptoms is difficult. Most of the patients assume that the condition is due to lack of iron and begin to take the wrong supplements. Only a blood test can reveal the reason behind the problem,” says Fortis Malar Hospital senior consultant gynaecologist, Dr Jaishree Gajaraj.
Hidden hunger
Not having the nutrient can cause ‘hidden hunger’, where a large amount of carbohydrates is consumed but do not have enough energy (Vitamin B6, to be specific) to process and break down the components and distribute the energy.
“Required fibre should be consumed on a daily basis to process complicated elements,” states Dharini.
Requirement and effects
“Vitamin B1 is required for the metabolic activities that keep happening internally. Cells cannot metabolise glucose in the absence of which conditions like pellagra and Beriberi develop,” states Apollo Hospitals senior consultant general physician, Dr Arshad Akhil.
Further, Beriberi is of two types — dry and wet. The dry condition would affect the neurological functions and wet variant would lead to heart-related ailments.
When a patient is affected with pellagra, s/he would have dementia, diarrhoea, and dermatitis.
Contributing factors
“In India, people widely consume polished rice in which the nutritional elements are washed away which is why conditions related to Vitamin B is prevalent. Alcohol intake and poor diet are also a major contributing factor,” says Dr Arshad.
Further, B12 is an essential component for the formation of myelin sheath which protects the nerves. In the absence of this, it would affect the cognitive health of the patient. In addition, it is also required for developing the DNA and RBCs.
Sources:
Vegetarian: Hand-pounded rice, kambu, ragi.
Non-vegetarian: organ meat (kidney, liver, heart, brain, lungs, intestine, pancreas)
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Values required every day |
| 1.1 mg – B1 1.1 – B2 1.3 mg – B6 2.4 microgram – B12 |