Research Paper on:
A Vitamin B12 Overview

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
blood cells ("Facts," 2002). It is also necessary to produce DNA (2002). Vitamin B12 is bound to the protein that is found in foods (2002). Hydrochloric acid in the stomach  releases B12 from protein during digestion and once it is released, B12 combines with a substance called intrinsic factor (IF) prior to absorption into the bloodstream (2002). While many people  have enough B-12, particularly if they eat a typical American diet, there are some populations prone to deficiency. Whitaker (1994) recommends Vitamin B-12 shots for people over the age of  65. When not injected, people usually get their ration of B12 from their food and this vitamin is primarily found in meat and dairy products ("Vitamin," 2003). It is also  often taken orally alone or in combination with other vitamins and minerals. Patients with pernicious anemia have trouble absorbing adequate amounts of oral vitamin B12 and so require regular  intramuscular injections (Elia, 1998). B-12 is thought to prevent some forms of age-related dementia, a condition that usually goes undiagnosed and untreated by the mainstream (Whitaker, 1994). While the majority  of doctors do not recommend such shots as a general rule, it is a prevalent treatment for anemia deficiency (1994). Still, Whitaker notes that dementia is due to  a deficiency of B-12 (1994). Certain populations, other than the elderly, tend to be deficient in B-12. Vegetarians are at risk for low vitamin B12, and this often  will occur approximately two years after they become vegetarians ("Vitamin," 2003). Of course, vegetarians can guard against the tendency to maintain low B12 levels by taking vitamins supplements. While  one may think that vegetarianism is the culprit in B-12 deficiency, most people who are troubled by low vitamin B12 are not strict vegetarians anyway (2003). In fact, while they