Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Last Update: January 14, 2023, 7:19 pm IST

Vitamin B12 is one of the most important nutrients

Vitamin B12 is one of the most important nutrients

Despite the fact that B12 is found in many foods, vitamin B12 deficiency is quite prevalent.

It is very important to have a healthy diet and pay attention to your fitness. It is important to feed your body with essential vitamins and minerals, otherwise, it can take a toll on your health. Vitamin B12 is one of the most important nutrients, helping your body with various processes such as DNA synthesis, energy production and central nervous system function.

Despite the fact that B12 is found in many foods, vitamin B12 deficiency is quite prevalent. This is often caused by unhealthy diet, malabsorption, specific illness, or the use of B12-depleting medications.

Learn about the signs, symptoms, and treatment for vitamin B12 deficiency.

symptoms

fatigue

difficulty breathing

dizzy

pale or yellowed skin

irregular heartbeat

weight loss

numbness or tingling in extremities

muscle weakness

personality changes

shaky movements

confusion or amnesia

Causes of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Diet: Vitamin B12 is mostly found in meat, eggs or milk. You should include these options in your diet. But if you’re a vegetarian, don’t worry, breakfast cereals and food products containing nutritional yeast can also be consumed for better health.

Pernicious anemia: People who suffer from pernicious anemia, a rare medical condition, are unable to produce intrinsic factor, a protein produced by your gut. In order for your body to properly absorb vitamin B12, you must have an intrinsic factor.

Gastric surgery: Vitamin B12 deficiency is often caused by gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the lining of the stomach. This can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency because your stomach lacks hydrochloric acid, which is necessary for the absorption of vitamin B12.

Intestinal problems. Your body may not be able to absorb vitamin B12 effectively if you have a digestive disorder such as Crohn’s disease or celiac disease.

treatment

It is often treated with cyanocobalamin. Depending on the underlying cause of the deficiency, the patient may require treatment until their vitamin B12 levels return to normal, or they may require lifelong vitamin B12 medication. Vitamin B12 treatment options include vitamin B12 oral medication, vitamin B12 intramuscular injection (a shot that goes into a muscle), vitamin B12 nasal gel, and vitamin B12 nasal spray.

There are certain dietary eating habits you must follow to reduce the deficiency of Vitamin B12 in your body. Health experts recommend eating eggs, soybeans, yogurt, oats, milk, cottage cheese, green vegetables, salmon, and lobster, as they are rich in vitamin B12.

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