Vitamin B12 - Do You Know Everything?

The term Vitamin B12 is used as a generic descriptor for the cobalamins; cobalt containing compound possessing the corrin ring having the biological activity of vitamin. The active coenzyme forms of vitamin B12 are methylcobalamin and deoxyadenosylcobalamin. Dietary sources of vitamin B12 are of animal origin and include meat, eggs, milk, dairy products, fish and poultry. Vitamin B12 is absent in plant foods and humans obtain small amount of vitamin B12 from their intestinal flora. Vitamin B12 plays a crucial role in DNA synthesis, nucleoprotein, erythropoiesis, myelin synthesis, normal growth and cell reproduction and one carbon metabolism. Vitamin B12 deficiency may arise due to decreased dietary intake. Vitamin B12 helps in isomerization of methylmalonyl-CoA to succinyl-CoA by methylmalonyl-CoA mutase and also helps in conversion of homocysteine to methionine by methionine synthase. Dietary deficiency is seen in strict vegetarians, since vitamin found only in foods of animal origin or in microorganism. Deficiency of Vitamin B12 causes pernicious anaemia, megaloblastic anaemia, methylmalonic aciduria, Neuropathy and folate trap. The present review concludes that vitamin B12 deficiency affects a person’s mental and physical health and it can cause severe, irreversible neurologic damage, disorientation, nerve damage, insomnia and many other diseases as mentioned in article. Adults should take 2.4 mcg of vitamin B12, deficiency is mainly seen commonly in Vegetarian they have to add vegan sources of vitamin B12 to their diet which include fortified cereals, bread, nutritional yeast and plant milks. Early identification of vitamin B12 status should be preliminary screening step to reverse the damage caused by vitamin B12 deficiency which will helps in prevention of diseases.

The Pandemic of 21st Century - COVID-19

The global pandemic of novel coronavirus disease is mainly caused by the infection of Coronavirus ‘SARS-CoV-2’. It is infecting persons of all ethnicity, race and community. Corona viruses are enveloped RNA viruses which range from 60 to 140 nm in diameter with spike like projections on their top. Coronavirus is affecting 199 countries, territories and international transport systems. Covid-19 is a recent pandemic, which started in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019 and now it is affecting the whole world. WHO declared this outbreak as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. COVID-19 infection is transmitted by inhalation or contact with infected droplets or aerosols of infected persons, and the incubation period ranges from 5 to 14 days. Viral aerosols remain active for 3 hours in the air, 24 hours on cardboards, and 2 to 3 days on stainless steel and plastic. Symptoms are usually fever, cough, breathlessness, sore throat, malaise and fatigue. In some people, it may progress to pneumonia, multiple organ dysfunction, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. People with heart diseases, lung diseases, cancer, old age, diabetics, Immunosuppressed, and pregnant women are at higher risk for COVID-19 infection. To date, there are now more than 2,732,701 cases of COVID 19 globally with more than 191,150 deaths. In India, total cases are 23,502 with 722 deaths. First case of coronavirus was seen on 29 January 2020. On 24 March 2020, the government of India under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ordered a nationwide lockdown for 21 days, after a 14-hour voluntary public curfew on 22nd March. India is one of the most populous countries of the world. India has the second largest population in the world. Due to the lack of vaccines, ventilators, targeted therapies, mass gatherings, the Indian government started lockdown, the largest exercise in the world with the second largest population. To reduce public movement, section 144 was implemented in many states. A full lockdown will help the collapse of the whole national health system

Urticaria Due to Adverse Drug Reaction in Diabetes - A Case Presentation

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic condition caused by the inability of pancreas to produce enough insulin. Insulin lowers the blood glucose and enables it to enter the cells. Urticaria also known as hives is a result of skin reaction when certain body cells release histamine. They are itchy and can appear in any part of the body. Metformin is the first line of treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus for controlling high blood sugar by decreasing glucose production by the liver and by increasing insulin sensitivity of body tissues. India is at the top of the world with highest number of people with diabetes mellitus (31.7 million). WHO has predicted that by 2030 T2DM may affect up to 79.4 million individuals in India.1Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorder characterized by increased glucose productionand decreased glucose utilization and the complications arising from this disease are major causes of death worldwide. Cells of the body cannot metabolize carbohydrate due to relative or complete lack of insulin, and so the body breaks its own protein, fat and glycogen resulting in hyperglycemia.2,3 T2DM earlier referred to as non-insulin dependent diabetes or adult onset diabetes, accounts for 90 - 95 % of all diabetes.4 Metformin is an oral agent and is considered as insulin sensitizer because it helps in lowering insulin levels, reduces hepatic glucose production, improves peripheral glucose utilization, and helps in uptake and utilization of gut glucose.5Urticaria is caused by dermal oedema, secondary to temporary increase in capillary permeability resulting from increased release of histamine from the mast cells situated around the capillaries. Urticaria present for more than 6 weeks is considered to be acute and chronic.6

Role of Vitamins and Minerals in Improving Immunity during Covid-19 Pandemic - A Review.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought attention to the role of the immune system. The immune system can be strengthened by diet, supplements and good hygiene practices. The immune system is comprised of different cells contained in the blood, lymph, and tissues that are distributed across the body. A large number of cells and even greater numbers of chemical messengers engage in the body's immune defence. In immune response blood cells, B-lymphocytes and T- lymphocytes play a vital role. The world health organization, urges people to follow a healthier lifestyle, saying it will increase their chances of a quick recovery. Proper nutrition is required for proper functioning of immune system. Therefore, healthy balanced diet is the best way to support the immune function. Vitamins and minerals are important ingredients of the diet that the body requires to work properly. Vit D is required in limited amounts to maintain good health. Vitamins and minerals together are also called micronutrients, as they are required in very small quantities. On the other hand, carbs, proteins and fats are altogether termed as macronutrients. In recent years, vitamins A, C, D, and E, believed to have an effect on the immune system, have gained significant attention because they are involved in enhancement of immune systems. Solely, vit-A is involved in proper functioning of eye, immune system and also takes care of skin and genes. In green leafy vegetables, carrots, pumpkin, melons and mangoes vitamins are present in form of pre-vitamins, and further converted into active vit A inside the human body. It is surprising that liver, yolk of egg, butter, whole milk, and cheese are active source of vitamin A. Having a healthy diet including lots of fruits, vegetables is a key component of healthy lifestyles and plays a crucial role in maintaining a properly functioning and efficient immune system to defend against infections and other diseases. All the data was assessed from online search (PubMed, Google Scholar). In this review article we concentrate on vitamins and minerals.