According to the National Institutes of Health, vitamin B12 is found naturally in a variety of animal foods. Because vegetarians and vegans consume few, if any, animal products, they are encouraged to take vitamin B12 supplements. Additionally, individuals over the age of 50 often do not have enough hydrochloric acid in the stomach to absorb vitamin B12 from food. Individuals who have had gastrointestinal surgery (for example, weight loss surgery) or who suffer from digestive disorders (for example, celiac disease or Crohn's disease) also have limited abilities to absorb vitamin B12. For these individuals, foods fortified with vitamin B12 or vitamin B12 supplements provide vitamin B12 in crystalline form, making the vitamin easier to digest (“Questions”; “Vitamin B12”). Individuals suffering from pernicious anemia are also unable to absorb vitamin B12. For these patients, doctors usually prescribe vitamin B12 injections or high oral doses of vitamin B12 (“Vitamin B12”). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay If people are at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency for the reasons listed above, consuming dietary supplements from certified brands should be safe and effective for improving health. Although vitamin B12 supplements have no known side effects, the National Institutes of Health warns that vitamin B12 supplements have shown no effectiveness in reducing the risk of heart disease, counteracting the onset of dementia, or increasing energy or resistance among athletes and people without vitamin B12. shortcomings. Rather, healthy individuals should obtain recommended amounts of vitamin B12 from a well-balanced diet (“Vitamin B12”). Contrary to credible information from the credible websites cited above (the National Institutes of Health and the United States Department of Agriculture), many uncertified websites promote vitamin B12 supplements and exaggerated health benefits. For example, Vita Sciences sells a B12 patch that claims to use "bioactive absorption technology in an easy-to-use patch." A one-month supply costs $20 before shipping and tax, which is significantly more expensive than vitamin B12 supplements from neighborhood pharmacies, like Walgreens. Users are promised that they will feel energetic all day if the patch is applied to the neck behind the earlobe or the inside of the wrist for up to 24 hours at a time. The supplement is also advertised to increase overall metabolic rate, regulate sleep, mood, appetite and energy, aid in body detoxification and liver health, increase red blood cell production, maintain nerves healthy and help produce serotonin. While some of these claims may be true, the company does not list any quality certifications, medical recommendations, or scientific references for its claims, nor are the ingredients or manufacturing processes of the vitamin B12 patches disclosed. Additionally, credible recommendations regarding vitamin B12 supplements, such as both government websites mentioned above, do not list vitamin B12 patches as recommended supplementation sources. In fact, the National Institutes of Health specifically warned that vitamin B12 supplements have not been shown to increase energy or athletic performance among users who were not previously vitamin B12 deficient. Please note: this is just an example. Get a document now.