Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatments

Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatments

Introduction

Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that is needed to make red blood cells, DNA, and RNA. Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause permanent nerve damage, mental impairment and anemia. While there are many causes of a vitamin B12 deficiency, most people who develop one have dietary or lifestyle issues that prevent them from getting enough of this important vitamin from food sources or supplements.

What is Vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that's essential for the normal functioning of the human body. It helps maintain a healthy nervous system and red blood cells, produces DNA and RNA (RNA = Ribonucleic acid) in your body to make proteins, enhances brain function, maintains healthy skin and hair growth, supports healthy joints and helps produce energy from food.

Vitamin B12 can be found in animal foods such as fish or meat that are high in protein content, so if you don't eat much meat or fish but still feel like you're not getting enough B12 then try adding eggs to your meals or eating more fortified cereals like whole grains which contain folic acid too!

B12 Deficiency Symptoms

Fatigue

Weakness

Shortness of breath

Cognitive impairment * Numbness or tingling in the arms and legs * Depression

How to tell if you're deficient in vitamin B12.

If you're concerned about your vitamin B12 levels, it's important to ask your doctor about them. Vitamin B12 deficiency is rare, but if it does occur, symptoms may include:

Anemia

Fatigue and weakness

Memory loss

The easiest way to test for vitamin B12 deficiency is with a blood test. Your doctor can order one for you at any time during your annual checkup or when you visit for any other reason.

Signs of a B12 deficiency.

Signs of a B12 deficiency include:

Anemia, which is when you have a shortage of red blood cells.

Weakness and fatigue, including feeling tired all the time or not being able to get up in the morning.

Memory loss, confusion, and mood changes (such as depression).

Numbness and tingling in your hands and feet if you're only getting enough vitamin B12 through supplements or food sources high in animal protein (such as meat). You may also experience these sensations throughout your body--but especially on one side of your body only (which could be due to nerve damage). These symptoms can also occur if you've been taking any medications that interfere with how our bodies absorb nutrients from food sources like supplements or fortified foods such as cereals/granola bars/energy bars made with whole grains instead of refined grains such as wheat flour

Diagnosing a B12 deficiency.

There are several ways to diagnose a B12 deficiency. One is through blood tests, which can reveal whether you have anemia; however, this test is not always reliable because it's possible to have anemia without having vitamin B12 deficiency. Another way to diagnose a deficiency is by checking your urine or stool for the presence of very low levels of vitamin B12 (below 150 pg/mL), which indicates that you may be deficient in this nutrient.

Another option is MRI scans that show where the problem lies in your brain: if it's around the optic nerve or spinal cord, then that area needs more vitamin B12; if it's near the pituitary gland or hypothalamus region then both areas need more vitamin B2

Treating a vitamin B12 deficiency.

If you have a vitamin B12 deficiency, the treatment options include:

Vitamin B12 injections. This is the most effective way to treat a vitamin B12 deficiency and can be done with a doctor or nurse who understands that you require this type of treatment. However, it may be painful and expensive. If you're interested in trying an injection at home, there are several companies that sell kits for this purpose (we recommend [https://www.vitaminshoppehouseproductsonlinereviews2019-2020/]).

Vitamin B12 tablets or capsules (or liquid form). You can also take these vitamins orally if they don't cause any problems with your stomach or digestion system--but again, they'll cost more than those injected into your body!

Food sources of vitamin B12, including fish and meat, are plentiful.

The primary food sources of vitamin B12 are meat and fish. Vitamin B12 deficiency can be prevented by consuming foods fortified with this nutrient, such as breakfast cereals, breads and other baked goods.

A person who has a severe deficiency may experience muscle weakness or fatigue; impaired mental function; redness around the mouth; irritability; tingling in the hands or feet (peripheral neuropathy); loss of appetite; weight loss despite increased calorie intake (lack of absorption); constipation or diarrhea caused by lack of bile production by the liver due to liver damage caused by vitamin B12 deficiency.

Conclusion

Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that's needed for normal functioning of the brain and nervous system. It can be found in foods such as fish, meat, poultry and eggs as well as in dairy products and fortified breakfast cereals. Vitamin B12 deficiency (also called pernicious anemia) is rare but can lead to serious health issues like heart disease, dementia and even death. If you're concerned about your vitamin B12 levels or have any symptoms of a deficiency, talk to your doctor about what steps need to be taken next.