Changing lifestyles, lack of exercise and high-stress levels are causing corporate men to overlook nutrition
A new health crisis is unfolding in India as a new study has revealed that nearly 60 per cent of men working in corporates are deficient in vitamin B12, an important nutrient that helps your body make red blood cells and DNA, the genetic material in all of your cells.
Research conducted by MediBuddy, a digital healthcare platform, suggests. At least 57 per cent of males in corporate companies lack the vitamin, also known as cobalamin, which helps keep your nerve cells and blood cells healthy. It also helps in making your DNA—the genetic material in all of your cells. Experts say your body does not make vitamin B12 on its own and gets absorbed through foods and drinks that have vitamin B12, like meat, dairy, and eggs. It can also be found in fortified foods such as certain cereals, bread, and nutritional yeast.
Why do corporate professionals lack vitamin B12?
The study analysed data from around 4,400 individuals, which included 3,338 men and 1,059 women—all urban corporate employees. Even among women, nearly 50 per cent exhibit deficient levels.
According to researchers, changing lifestyles, which include demanding schedules, erratic eating habits, lack of regular exercise and workouts, and high stress levels, often cause corporate professionals to overlook essential nutrition until the symptoms staInadequate dietary intake is also one of the main causes behind the rise in vitamin B12 deficiency among men and women.
Most lifestyle issues among young corporate men include frequent consumption of overprocessed foods, alcohol, and excess caffeine—all of which significantly reduce B12 absorption. Furthermore, heightened stress levels among corporate employees lead to increased cortisol production, which further depletes B12 reserves in the body.
How does your body absorb vitamin B12?
According to experts, two important things need to happen for your body to absorb vitamin B12 from the food you eat, which include:
- Hydrochloric acid in your stomach removes vitamin B12 from the food it is in.
- Vitamin B12 combines with something called intrinsic factor, a protein made by your stomach.
- Vitamin B12 is then able to be absorbed by your digestive system.
Signs and symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency
Vitamin B12 deficiency leads to many physical, neurological, and psychological symptoms, which slowly get worse over time. A few of these include:
- Feeling very tired and weak all the time
- Feeling nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea
- Not feeling as hungry
- Weight loss
- Having a sore mouth and tongue
- Having yellowish skin
- Numbness or tingling in your hands and feet
- Vision issues
- Memory loss
- Having a difficult time walking or speaking
- Depression
- Feeling irritable
- Change in general behaviour
Ways to prevent vitamin B12 deficiency
To prevent any deficiency of vitamin B12, you must:
Consume animal products
Red meat, fish, poultry, eggs, milk, and other dairy products all contain vitamin B12
Fortified foods
Foods with added vitamins and nutrients include certain breakfast cereals, nutritional yeast, plant milk, and certain bread
Vitamin B12 supplements
Many multivitamins have vitamin B12
Avoid alcohol
Frequent alcohol consumption can damage your digestive system and make it difficult for your body to absorb vitamin B12.
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