Vitamin B12 is starting to confuse medical scholars — but why

Is Vitamin B12 a protagonist or an antagonist? - something which has begun to bother the medical community who earlier had just good things to say about it. 

Cobalamin or Vitamin B12 has for the longest enjoyed the reputation of a ‘superhero’ element for its indispensable role in making red blood cells or repairing DNA.

However, the upcoming studies have found a dual side to it — the vitamin is only good to humans if found in an optimal range.

Too little of this vitamin or too much of it is both problematic, with scientists saying the vitamin has a U-shaped relationship with the body.

Vitamin B12 is unique because it is mostly present in animal food. If one is a vegetarian, they are often required to take supplements for it or rely on specific foods to compensate for the need.

As per studies, Indians are more prone to B12 deficiency because of largely vegetarian diets.

U-shaped relationship

A Vietnam-based study that aimed at understanding the association between B12 intake and cancer risk found the vitamin to have a ‘confusing’ effect on the body.

The researchers compared the results between 3,758 cancer cases and 2,995 people in the control group.

The findings showed that both lower and high intakes of the vitamin were associated with an increased risk of cancer.

The study published in the National Library of Medicine found that a low intake of Vitamin B12 was connected to cancers of the esophageal tract, lungs and breast.

Likewise, an over- intake of the vitamin was observed in patients having gastric cancers.

Possible explanation

As per documented evidence, B12 is needed for genetic repair work. In its absence, there is a viable risk of incorrect coding of genes, resulting in harmful mutations which can make it easy for cancer to grow in the body.

Hence, one cannot get away without optimum consumption of this vitamin for smooth functioning of the body.

On the other hand, if a person overconsumes the vitamin, then there are no documented benefits associated with it.

In fact, unexplained high levels of vitamin B12 has been found consistent with certain cancers.

As per The Conversation, some researchers are speculating if elevated levels of Vitamin B12 are contributing to cancer or cancer itself is increasing the count in the blood.

Some experts are assuming that high levels of B12 in the bloodstream is also boosting growth for pre-cancerous cells.