9 signs you have a vitamin B12 deficiency
Allana Akhtar
Thu, 9 June 2022 at 11:26 pm·3-min read Animal products, like eggs and meat, are the only natural sources of vitamin .
While it’s true that animal products such as eggs, meat, dairy, and fish are rich sources of vitamin B12, they are not the only natural sources. Certain types of edible algae and bacteria-synthesized B12 can be found in some plant-based foods. However, these sources can be unreliable in terms of the amount and bio availability of B12 they provide. For people following a vegetarian or vegan diet, fortified foods or supplements are often recommended to ensure adequate B12 intake.
- Research has studied the link between vitamin B12 deficiency and cognitive decline in older people.
- More research is needed on that front, but the nutrient is essential for producing energy.
- Vitamin D deficiencies can cause anemia, fatigue, sensory problems, and nerve damage.
Vitamin B12 is an easy vitamin to get, whether through foods or supplements — which is good because deficiency may cause long-lasting damage to your nerves and cognition.
Recent research has found higher rates of cognitive decline in older people who have both a vitamin B12 deficiency and an excess with either folic acid or vitamin B9, Dr. Eduardo Villamor, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan, said.
Some research has suggested vitamin B12 can help with depression and prevent dementia, but Villamor said more research was needed on the influence of vitamin B12 on neurological behavior.
“There is substantial interest on the role of vitamin B12 on neurocognitive performance, especially in the elderly,” Villamor said. “The role of vitamin B12 on fetal, infant, and child neurodevelopment is also an important area of research.”
Here’s how to know whether you’re deficient in vitamin B12 and why you need the important nutrient:
Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency range from mild fatigue to severe neurological complications
Villamor said people lacking in vitamin B12 developed a variety of symptoms depending on how long they were deficient in the nutrient.
People with a mild vitamin B12 deficiency could develop fatigue, he said. Vitamin B12 reacts with compounds in the body to produce DNA and energy, which is why a deficiency can lead to tiredness.
Mild to moderate vitamin B12 deficiency may cause anemia, when the body lacks enough healthy red blood cells to help distribute oxygen. Dr. Aaron Goodman, a hematologist and professor at UC San Diego Health, previously told Insider that anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency produced cracks or sores around the mouth.
Villamor said moderate vitamin B12 deficiency could lead to a form of anemia called macrocytosis, when red blood cells enlarge. The condition does not typically produce symptoms, according to Mayo Clinic, but can show up on routine blood tests.
Moderate deficiency may also lead to peripheral neuropathy, or damage to the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include sensory problems like tingling or numbness in the hands and feet, and glossitis, tongue inflammation that might result in sensitivity to spicy or acidic food.
Severe deficiency could result in “serious neurological and psychiatric manifestations,” Villamor said. Neurological symptoms include:
Irritability.
Impaired cognition.
Depression.
Psychosis.
Dementia.
Severe vitamin B12 deficiency may also cause more serious anemia and problems with other blood cells, inflammation, weakening of the heart, and infertility, Villamor said.
Treating vitamin B12 deficiency
Villamor said people at the highest risk of B12 deficiency were those with low intake of animal foods like eggs and meat, which are the only natural sources of the vitamin. These people might not eat enough animal foods “either by choice, for example, strict vegetarians, or due to socioeconomic constraints, as in many low- and middle-income countries where animal foods can be expensive,” Villamor said.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can be prevented through the intake of animal foods “if choice and purchasing power allow,” Villamor said, or through oral supplements and fortified foods. Other treatments include intramuscular shots or an IV drip.
The doctor added older adults or people who have undergone stomach surgery, such as a bypass, might have a type of malabsorption that can cause vitamin B12 deficiency. People taking medication to decrease stomach acid and alcohol drinkers may also be at risk, Villamor said.
Here are the nine signs and symptoms mentioned:
- Cognitive Decline: The text mentions a link between vitamin B12 deficiency and cognitive decline, particularly in older people.
- Anemia: B12 deficiency can cause anemia, a condition where the body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells.
- Fatigue: A common symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency is fatigue, due to its role in energy production.
- Sensory Problems: This includes tingling or numbness in the hands and feet, which is a symptom of peripheral neuropathy.
- Nerve Damage: The text talks about peripheral neuropathy, which is damage to nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, leading to sensory problems.
- Glossitis: Inflammation of the tongue that might result in sensitivity to spicy or acidic foods.
- Irritability: Severe deficiency can affect mood, leading to irritability.
- Psychiatric Manifestations: This includes impaired cognition, depression, psychosis, and dementia as part of neurological symptoms.
- Physical Health Issues: Severe B12 deficiency may lead to serious anemia, problems with other blood cells, inflammation, weakening of the heart, and infertility.
Read the original article on Insider