How to boost hb levels can help improve your overall health and energy, especially if you have low hemoglobin, a condition known as anemia. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. Low hemoglobin can cause symptoms like fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath. Vitamin B12 plays a vital role in red blood cell production. A deficiency in vitamin B12 can result in pernicious anemia, which impairs hemoglobin production.