Open AccessVitamin B12 deficiency: metabolic effects, clinical evaluation, and treatment
Author(s) -
Synara Cavalcante Lopes,
Daniel Duarte Gadelha,
Manuela Dias de Carvalho,
Virgínia Oliveira Fernandes,
Renan Magalhães Montenegro Júnior
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
revista de medicina da ufc/revista de medicina da universidade federal do ceará
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2447-6595
pISSN - 0100-1302
DOI - 10.20513/2447-6595.2019v59n2p40-49
Subject(s) - micronutrient , vitamin b12 , physiology , insulin resistance , medicine , endocrinology , biology , insulin , pathology
Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble essential micronutrient, required by all the body cells. Its deficiency has been implicated not only in hematological and neurological disorders, but also in many metabolic processes, such as insulin resistance and body composition changes, which have aroused particular interest in recent years. This study reviews the physiology of vitamin B12 from its digestion and absorption to its distribution in tissues, metabolic effects and controversies regarding the diagnosis of deficiency, and to dietary and pharmacological treatments.