Over the past couple of years, many people suffering from long Covid reported suffering symptoms that are often grouped together as “brain fog”.
Problems with memory loss, difficulty in concentrating and a lack of mental focus have all been cited as lingering effects of infection with the coronavirus.
But there are other causes of these symptoms, including a deficiency of a nutrient that, experts say, is sometimes not given the attention it deserves.
Cobalamin, better known as vitamin B12, plays a key role in many essential processes in the body, and shortages can cause everything from tiredness to mood changes and brain fog.
A lot of the symptoms associated with B12 deficiency are similar to those observed with long Covid
Prof Martin Warren,
Quadram Institute
“It affects some of the ability of the brain to function properly,” says Prof Martin Warren, who leads a group researching vitamin B12 at the Quadram Institute, a centre for food and health research in Norwich in the UK.
“A lot of the symptoms associated with B12 deficiency are similar to those that are observed with long Covid. They’re obviously not identical, but they are similar.”
B12 deficiencies have been highlighted by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, a UK government organisation, which said last month that they were common in patients receiving metformin, a treatment for type 2 diabetes.
The organisation has advised that B12 levels should be tested in patients on metformin if they show symptoms that suggest they may have a deficiency.
Symptoms can be gradual
When it comes to the “brain fog” sometimes seen with B12 deficiency, symptoms can include confusion and memory problems, while depression may also result.
“Vitamin B12 plays two key roles in metabolism, and one of those roles is to help produce agents in the brain that we use as neurotransmitters, and it also affects the nerve endings and the way that those are put together,” Prof Warren says.
“The effect there is that if you don’t have enough B12, some of those things don’t work properly, and that’s what gives rise to the neurological issues.”
The vitamin’s essential roles in many processes ― from making amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, to synthesising DNA, the genetic material ― mean that the effects of deficiencies are widespread.
Anaemia is one other consequence, with shortages of B12 leading to the production of larger than normal red blood cells, which are unable to function properly.
But despite being potentially serious, symptoms do not show up quickly, so are often not recognised.
“It’s not like you suddenly go down with a fever,” Prof Warren says. “You gradually feel more lethargic or your brain just doesn’t think in the way you used to, but it’s a gradual process.”
Healthy, balanced diet
Ruminant mammals, such as cattle, sheep and goats, obtain B12 from micro-organisms present in their digestive tract. Humans, however, do not absorb B12 from their gut bacteria, so we have no option but to consume it in our diet.
B12 is more common in meat, fish and dairy products and, as a result, vegetarians and especially vegans have to be more careful to ensure that they consume enough.
The increased availability of plant-based alternatives to dairy products, such as almond or soya milks fortified with B12 and other important nutrients, have made this easier.
“With good planning and an understanding of what makes up a healthy, balanced vegan diet, you can get all the nutrients your body needs,” the UK’s National Health Service states in an online briefing document.
For example, 250ml of an unsweetened almond milk substitute sold by a major supermarket chain in the UK contains 0.95 micrograms of B12, which is 38 per cent of the recommended daily intake.
Supplements are an alternative source and are considered safe because, unlike with some other nutrients, consuming significantly more B12 than is necessary is not considered harmful.
But it is important to take in small amounts regularly, because when large amounts are ingested, only a fraction is absorbed.
Another group of people advised to pay particular attention to B12 are the elderly, because about 20 per cent of over 60s are deficient.
“Their bodies lose the ability to absorb the nutrient,” Prof Warren says.
People at particular risk are those with a condition called pernicious anaemia, caused by the immune system attacking cells that produce a protein, an intrinsic factor that is essential for the absorption of B12.
Deficiency in children
Deficiencies of vitamin B12 are also found in the developing world, including in children, whose healthy growth may be impaired.
Among the researchers to have looked at this is Prof Henrik Friis, of the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports.
Earlier this year he and his co-researchers released a study, carried out with Medecins Sans Frontieres, which found that B12 deficiency in infants was a major problem in the West African country of Burkina Faso.
Looking at more than 1,000 children with acute malnutrition aged between six and 23 months, they found B12 deficiencies were widespread and were linked to anaemia and hampered motor development, meaning the growth of the child’s bones, muscles and ability to move.
“In children in a low-income situation we found very high prevalence of deficiencies,” Prof Friis says. “We found two thirds of these children had low or marginal B12 status.”
While cautioning that he is not a neurologist, Prof Friis says that because cobalamin is important for the brain development, deficiencies in children may have long-lasting effects.
“It’s very likely it will have some detrimental effects on the development of these children, and they may eventually grow up and have impaired intellectual capacity,” he says.
Aside from consuming animal-based products, people in developing countries could benefit if B12 was added to foodstuffs available to poorer people, something Prof Friis said might need to be made mandatory.
While the production of many nutrients is relatively straightforward using chemical processes, with B12 about 70 steps are needed and yields are “incredibly low”, Prof Warren says, making it uneconomic.
“We’ve looked at ways to enhance B12 production,” Prof Warren says. “It’s the most structurally complex of all the nutrients, consequently it’s not one of the nutrients you can make through chemical synthesis.”
Instead, it is made by bacteria that are cultured industrially, and Prof Warren and other researchers are looking at ways to improve this synthesis.
While B12’s production is not as easy as it might be, the vitamin is available in many foodstuffs ― and people at particular risk are advised to make sure they take in enough of these products to ensure they do not suffer deficiencies of this vital nutrient.
Dubai's free healthcare clinic helps patients suffering from long Covid
<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html" charset="UTF-8" /></head><body><!--PSTYLE=* Labels%3aFH Label 18 Sport--><p>Beach soccer</p><!--PSTYLE=BY Byline--><p>Amith Passela</p><p /></body></html>
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Warlight,
Michael Ondaatje, Knopf
yallacompare profile
Date of launch: 2014
Founder: Jon Richards, founder and chief executive; Samer Chebab, co-founder and chief operating officer, and Jonathan Rawlings, co-founder and chief financial officer
Based: Media City, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: 120 employees
Investors: 2014: $500,000 in a seed round led by Mulverhill Associates; 2015: $3m in Series A funding led by STC Ventures (managed by Iris Capital), Wamda and Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority; 2019: $8m in Series B funding with the same investors as Series A along with Precinct Partners, Saned and Argo Ventures (the VC arm of multinational insurer Argo Group)
MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2
Vinicius Junior (71') Mariano (90 2')
Barcelona 0
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Soldier F
“I was in complete disgust at the fact that only one person was to be charged for Bloody Sunday.
“Somebody later said to me, 'you just watch - they'll drop the charge against him'. And sure enough, the charges against Soldier F would go on to be dropped.
“It's pretty hard to think that 50 years on, the State is still covering up for what happened on Bloody Sunday.”
Jimmy Duddy, nephew of John Johnson
MATCH INFO
Manchester United v Manchester City, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match is on BeIN Sports
Kill%20
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Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20Tabby%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%20August%202019%3B%20platform%20went%20live%20in%20February%202020%3Cbr%3EFounder%2FCEO%3A%20Hosam%20Arab%2C%20co-founder%3A%20Daniil%20Barkalov%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Payments%3Cbr%3ESize%3A%2040-50%20employees%3Cbr%3EStage%3A%20Series%20A%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Arbor%20Ventures%2C%20Mubadala%20Capital%2C%20Wamda%20Capital%2C%20STV%2C%20Raed%20Ventures%2C%20Global%20Founders%20Capital%2C%20JIMCO%2C%20Global%20Ventures%2C%20Venture%20Souq%2C%20Outliers%20VC%2C%20MSA%20Capital%2C%20HOF%20and%20AB%20Accelerator.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
How%20champions%20are%20made
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cstrong%3EDiet%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E7am%20-%20Protein%20shake%20with%20oats%20and%20fruits%0D%3Cbr%3E10am%20-%205-6%20egg%20whites%0D%3Cbr%3E1pm%20-%20White%20rice%20or%20chapati%20(Indian%20bread)%20with%20chicken%0D%3Cbr%3E4pm%20-%20Dry%20fruits%20%0D%3Cbr%3E7.30pm%20-%20Pre%20workout%20meal%20%E2%80%93%20grilled%20fish%20or%20chicken%20with%20veggies%20and%20fruits%0D%3Cbr%3E8.30pm%20to%20midnight%20workout%0D%3Cbr%3E12.30am%20%E2%80%93%20Protein%20shake%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20intake%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204000-4500%20calories%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESaidu%E2%80%99s%20weight%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20110%20kg%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStats%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Biceps%2019%20inches.%20Forearms%2018%20inches%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
'Gold'
Director:Anthony Hayes
Stars:Zaf Efron, Anthony Hayes
Rating:3/5
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
Empire of Enchantment: The Story of Indian Magic
John Zubrzycki, Hurst Publishers
Men's football draw
Group A: UAE, Spain, South Africa, Jamaica
Group B: Bangladesh, Serbia, Korea
Group C: Bharat, Denmark, Kenya, USA
Group D: Oman, Austria, Rwanda
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
TOUR DE FRANCE INFO
Dates: July 1-23
Distance: 3,540km
Stages: 21
Number of teams: 22
Number of riders: 198
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Mamo Year it started: 2019 Founders: Imad Gharazeddine, Asim Janjua Based: Dubai, UAE Number of employees: 28 Sector: Financial services Investment: $9.5m Funding stage: Pre-Series A Investors: Global Ventures, GFC, 4DX Ventures, AlRajhi Partners, Olive Tree Capital, and prominent Silicon Valley investors. The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
RESULT
Deportivo La Coruna 2 Barcelona 4
Deportivo: Perez (39'), Colak (63')
Barcelona: Coutinho (6'), Messi (37', 81', 84')
