A deficiency of Vitamin B 12 (less than 150 pmol/L) is linked to impaired development of the hippocampus and the limbic system. These structures are responsible for memory and emotions, thus affect learning and development. A deficiency of cobalamin also increases the chances of cognitive decline, demyelination, and neuropathy as the individuals age (Green et al., 2017). Understanding the importance of cobalamin is especially important for mothers, as the food they give the child in their early years determines how well the brain develops. It also slows down brain-related conditions during old age. In research carried out at Charité University Hospital, it was found that the intake of vitamin B12 significantly improves cognitive ability.
Summary of Study
Study participants
One hundred patients between the age of 50 and 80 participated in the study, which was carried out at the clinic of the Department of Neurology of the Charité University Hospital. The patients have been diagnosed with cognitive complaints and memory impairment. At the start of the study, no patient was on vitamin B12 supplements or a special diet. Patients with severe neurological, medical, or psychiatric disorders, and brain pathology were excluded from the study. Non-German speaking patients were also not included to avoid a language barrier. The Ethics Committee of the Charité University Hospital Berlin approved the study, and it was carried out according to the Declaration of Helsinki. Participation was also voluntary and with full consent (Kobe et al. 2016).
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Methodology
The patients fasted overnight for ten hours, and then samples of blood to measure the cobalamin levels were measured using the Cobas 8000 Analyzer. The cognitive, memory, and learning abilities of patients were tested using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, German version. The patients also underwent immediate and delayed recognition tests to assess their retaining capacity, all according to standard procedures. The structure and functioning of the hippocampus were also assessed using ANCOVA tests (Kobe et al. 2016).
Results
The research carried out by Kobe et al (2016) showed patients with low Vitamin B12 had poorer memory, especially in learning ability. They also showed lower delayed-recall ability. They could remember on short memory, but memory faded as time passed by. There was a direct relationship between the concentration of vitamin B12 and memory ability. There was also a direct relationship between the intake of cobalamin and age. Younger patients intake more levels of cobalamin compared to older patients. It was also noted that patients with higher vitamin B12 concentrations had a better structure of the hippocampus. The results were consistent irrespective of sex but varied with age.
Table 1
Episodic memory performance in MCI patients with low- and high-normal serum VitB12 concentrations adjusted for confounders ( n = 100) 1
| VitB12 concentration 2 | Effect of VitB12 between groups 3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memory variable | Low ( n = 50) | High ( n = 50) | Unadjusted | Adjusted |
| Learning ability | 40.74 ± 10.24 (20–60) | 45.64 ± 9.40 (27–68) | 4.90 ± 1.96 (0.014*) | 4.20 ± 1.87 (0.027*) |
| Delayed recall | 6.18 ± 4.12 (0–14) | 7.56 ± 3.35 (0–14) | 1.38 ± 0.75 (0.069) | 1.07 ± 0.73 (0.146) |
| Recognition memory | 6.54 ± 6.82 (−11 to 15) | 9.68 ± 4.62 (−7 to 15) | 3.14 ± 1.17 (0.008**) | 2.86 ± 1.21 (0.020*) |
Source: The American Journal of Clinical nutrition
Conclusion
Vitamin B12 plays a vital role in the development of the brain. People with sufficient levels (greater 150 pmol/L) exhibit a higher cognitive ability, learning ability, and memory. Vitamin B12 absorption is the same in both females and males and is dependent on age. In childhood, cobalamin is essential for the rapid development of the brain, which increases their learning ability. A poor microstructure of the hippocampus is not only associated with a deficiency in cobalamin (Kobe et al., 2016). Low levels also cause a poor microstructure of the hippocampus. In old age, administering cobalamin reduces the progression of degenerative brain conditions such as Alzheimer's and dementia. Older people respond better to the vitamin since their conditions are more advanced. According to Green et al., (2017), although cobalamin is essential throughout life, its importance increases during the early and late stages of life.
The research was well, though, as cobalamin is not a common vitamin. Parents and caregivers need such information for them to decide what should be included in the diets of children and the elderly. The researchers also provided an informed and detailed methodology and conclusions on the link between vitamin B12 and brain development.
References
Köbe, T., Witte, A. V., Schnelle, A., Grittner, U., Tesky, V. A., Pantel, J., & Flöel, A. (2016). Vitamin B-12 concentration, memory performance, and hippocampal structure in patients with mild cognitive impairment. The American journal of clinical nutrition , 103 (4), 1045-1054.
Green, R., Allen, L. H., Bjørke-Monsen, A. L., Brito, A., Guéant, J. L., Miller, J. W., ... & Ueland, P. M. (2017). Vitamin B 12 deficiency. Nature reviews Disease primers , 3 (1), 1-20.
