““Vitamin B12 helps make red blood cells and keeps your nervous system working properly. It is found mainly in foods of animal origin. Although individuals whose diets are low in animal products dramatically reduce their risk of developing certain diseases and increase life expectancy, they need a supplemental source of vitamin B12. Some people are unable to absorb the vitamin B12 found naturally in food (particularly those in the over-fifty age group),5 and so a supplement is often necessary to optimize immune function, especially in older people.””