{"id":1113,"date":"2017-08-09T10:40:18","date_gmt":"2017-08-09T10:40:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=1113"},"modified":"2021-05-13T20:28:04","modified_gmt":"2021-05-13T20:28:04","slug":"symptoms-vitamin-b12-deficiency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/symptoms-vitamin-b12-deficiency\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Symptoms of a Vitamin B12 Deficiency"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Like all vitamins, B12 does a tremendous amount of things for your body. It plays a vital role in the production of DNA, as well as red blood cells. It also helps to maintain the health of nerve cells and prevents the development of megaloblastic anemia, a type of anemia that can make you feel excessively tired and weak.<\/p>\n

Like all vitamins, your body doesn\u2019t produce vitamin B12, which means that the only way to get this vitamin is by consuming it. There are a lot of foods that contain vitamin B12, and it is also available in supplement form. Once you ingest vitamin B12, there are two steps that your body goes through in order to absorb it:<\/p>\n

1. Vitamin B12 is separated from the protein that it is attached to by hydrochloric acid in the stomach.<\/p>\n

2. Vitamin B12 mixes with in with a protein that is made by the stomach \u2013 the intrinsic factor \u2013 and is then absorbed by the body.<\/p>\n

A condition known as pernicious anemia, a condition that prevents the production of the intrinsic factor \u2013 can also prevent the ability to absorb vitamin B12 from both foods and supplements. As a result, people who have this condition are often deficient in vitamin B12. Additionally, as you age, your body loses its ability to absorb the vitamin. Also, if you are taking certain medications, such as Metformin, or you have had weight loss surgery, you may not be able to absorb the vitamin, which could result in a deficiency. The amount of vitamin B12 a person needs depends on your age.<\/p>\n

For adults, the recommended daily intake is 2.4 mcg. Are you getting enough vitamin B12? If not, how can you tell? There are definite signs that are indicative of a vitamin B12 deficiency. Below, you will find a description of some of the most common symptoms of a B12 deficiency. If you are experiencing any of these signs, it is important to speak to a health professional in order to avoid developing serious health complications.<\/p>\n

1. You\u2019re feeling extremely Fatigued<\/h3>\n

If you are having a hard time staying awake throughout the day, despite getting a full night of rest, or you just never feel like you have gotten enough sleep, there\u2019s a pretty good chance that you have a vitamin B12 deficiency. In order for your body to create red blood cells, it needs enough vitamin B12<\/a>. Red blood cells transport oxygen to all of your major organs, and when you aren\u2019t getting enough oxygen, you will feel excessively tired, no matter how much you sleep.<\/p>\n

Extreme fatigue is one of the leading signs of a vitamin B12 deficiency; however, it\u2019s not the only cause for excessive tiredness. If you are constantly feeling run down, though, it is a wise idea to speak with your doctor. If you are constantly tired and are exhibiting other symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency, a medical professional will be able to make an accurate diagnosis and provide effective solutions.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/h3>\n

2. You feel like you have lost your strength<\/h3>\n

If your body isn\u2019t producing enough red blood cells (which vitamin B12 helps to do,) your organs aren\u2019t getting enough oxygen. This can not only make you feel exceptionally tired, but it can also make you feel very week.<\/p>\n

The oxygen that red blood cells carry replenishes the oxygen<\/a> in your muscles. If your muscles aren\u2019t getting enough oxygen, they can literally feel like they are mush.<\/p>\n

This, in turn, makes it difficult to complete simple tasks, or it can make items that normally aren\u2019t a struggle to lift very difficult to pick up and carry.<\/p>\n

\"\"3. You are feeling strange sensations throughout your body<\/h3>\n

Vitamin B12 helps to protect your nerves<\/a>, including how they function. If you aren\u2019t getting enough of the vitamin, your nerves could end up becoming damaged. As a result, you may start to experience odd sensations.<\/p>\n

Some people who are vitamin B12 deficient have reported that they feel as if there is an electrical current running throughout their bodies, or that they have numbness or a pins and needles sensation.<\/p>\n

Since the nerves are responsible for the sensations that you experience, if they become damaged as a result of a B12 deficiency, you could definitely start to experience odd sensations throughout your body.<\/p>\n

\"\"4. You\u2019re noticing issues with your short term memory<\/h3>\n

If you are having a hard time remembering things that you normally wouldn\u2019t have any difficulty recalling, such as your best friend\u2019s daughter\u2019s name, your mother\u2019s phone number or where you put your car keys (while you are holding them in your hand,) you might be worried that you are developing dementia<\/a>; however, that may not be the case.<\/p>\n

Short term memory problems have also been linked to a vitamin B12 deficiency. While the short term memory loss of dementia is progressive and non-reversible, if the cause of short term memory loss is related to a vitamin B12 deficiency is to blame, taking a supplement or increasing the amount of B12-rich foods that you consume could help to alleviate the problem.<\/p>\n

\"\"5. You are feeling as if you are off-kilter, dizzy or wobbly<\/h3>\n

If you suddenly feel like the room is spinning, though you haven\u2019t done anything to make you feel dizzy<\/a>, or you are walking and feel like you are going to lose your balance, you could be suffering from a vitamin B12 deficiency.<\/p>\n

Research has found that those who are deficient in this essential vitamin often experience an off-kilter sensation; they feel as if they can\u2019t catch their balance, or as if they are suddenly off balance.<\/p>\n

\"\"6. Your skin looks yellowish in color<\/h3>\n

If your normally rosy, healthy complexion suddenly looks like it has a yellowish hue to it, the reason could be a vitamin B12 deficiency. Like many of the other symptoms that are associated with a vitamin B12 deficiency<\/a>, the development of pale skin is also the result of a decreased production of red blood cells.<\/p>\n

On top of that, the red blood cells that you do have become extremely delicate and are easily broken. This can cause your body to release bilirubin, a pigment that will give your skin a yellowish color, which could, in turn, make your skin look like it has a yellow hue.<\/p>\n

\"\"7. Your tongue looks oddly smooth and red<\/h3>\n

Take a look at your tongue<\/a>. Does it look like it very smooth and redder than it normally does? If so, you might be suffering from a vitamin B12 deficiency. Research has found that approximately half of the people who are severely B12 deficient lose their papillae, the little red bumps that are usually found on the tongue, particularly around the edges.<\/p>\n

In addition, you might feel a soreness or burning sensation in your tongue, especially towards the back. Also, since most of the papillae contain taste buds, you might notice that foods \u2013 even those that have a sharp, spice or pungent taste \u2013 may taste blah.<\/p>\n

As a matter of fact, researchers have found that some people who experience this side effect of a vitamin B12 deficiency also lose weight, as food doesn\u2019t take as good as it usually does.<\/p>\n

\"\"8. You feel very depressed or anxious<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s normal to feel depressed<\/a> or anxious from time to time; however, if you are noticing a marked increased in these feelings, a vitamin B12 deficiency could be to blame. Why? \u2013 Because a reduced amount of B12 actually impacts your mood.<\/p>\n

Though doctors aren\u2019t sure what causes a B12 deficiency to affect the mood, they do believe that it might have something to do with the fact that the vitamin plays a part in the synthesis of chemicals in the brain, including dopamine and serotonin, which normally help to regulate your mood.<\/p>\n

If you have a deficiency in the vitamin, these chemicals can become out of whack, which could end up having a serious impact on your mood.<\/p>\n

\"\"9. You are noticing a sudden change in your vision<\/h3>\n

In serious cases of a vitamin B12 deficiency, vision problems may develop. The optic nerve<\/a> can become damaged, or the blood vessels in the retina can become plugged up.<\/p>\n

These eye issues can lead to the development of vision problems, such as double vision, blurry vision, light sensitivity, and in the most extreme cases, loss of vision.<\/p>\n

Some people have reported seeing shadows in their sight, or experiencing such blurred vision that they have difficulty reading, driving, using the computer or completing various other, everyday tasks.<\/p>\n

\"\"10. You feel like you are always short on breath<\/h3>\n

If walking up a short flight of stairs or walking<\/a> from your car to your front door makes you feel as if you just ran in a marathon, it just might be that you have a vitamin B12 deficiency.<\/p>\n

When your body is unable to transport oxygen to the vital organs as a result of reduced red blood cell production (one of the leading effects of reduced vitamin B12 absorption,) you can end up feeling like you are out of breath.<\/p>\n

Why? \u2013 Because your lungs aren\u2019t getting the amount of oxygen that they need from the red blood cells.<\/p>\n

\"\"11. You feel like you are backed up<\/h3>\n

If you are having difficulty passing bowel movements, it could be because you are not getting enough vitamin B12. Believe it or not, red blood cells play an important role in the gastrointestinal tract, as they help pass stools. If you aren\u2019t getting enough B12, your body isn\u2019t producing enough red blood cells, which leads to weakened blood.<\/p>\n

As a result, you may start to experience constipation<\/a>. A healthy person has at least three bowel movements a week. If you aren\u2019t passing that your bowels that often, or you are having extreme difficulty or pain when you do try to pass them, it could be because you are deficient in vitamin B12. Taking a supplement or increasing the amount of vitamin B12 rich foods that you eat could help to ease this uncomfortable symptom.<\/p>\n

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should speak to your doctor as soon as possible. Doing so will allow for a proper diagnosis to be made, and you will learn how to correct the deficiency.<\/p>\n\r\n

<\/div>