Lack of Vitamin B12 in the Jordanian Society

According to Cheryl Haines of HighBeam research: "Ask most Jordanians about vitamin B12 and chances are they, or someone they know, will be taking weekly injections to combat a supposed deficiency in this important bodily vitamin."

This does not come as a surprise to me, as my father and my grandmother both take routine vitamin B12 injections.

Cheryl adds: " While no official records currently exist at the Ministry of Health, one doctor contacted by The Jordan Times estimates that 80 per cent of her patients are B12 deficient.

Several health practitioners noted similar figures, claiming that a significant portion of the population requires weekly injections to alleviate the symptoms commonly associated with a deficiency -- fatigue, difficulty concentrating and muscle weakness."

This is not a good sign for Jordanians, for the symptoms stated above can clearly lead to a decline in a person's physical and mental performance.

Vitamin B-12 is the largest and most complex vitamin currently known to man. A slight deficiency of vitamin B-12 can lead to anemia, fatigue, mania, and depression, while a long term deficiency can potentially cause permanent damage to the brain and central nervous system.