Why tiny amounts of vitamin B12 matter more as we age

Article excerpt

Adults need only about two micrograms of vitamin B12 daily, less than a speck of salt, to maintain red blood cells, nerve function, and DNA production. Yet this microscopic amount becomes increasingly critical with age, as the body's ability to absorb B12 from food diminishes and deficiency risks climb. The nutrient plays an outsized role in aging bodies, making adequate intake a quiet but essential factor in healthy aging that many older adults overlook.