Vitamin B12: Symptoms and Solutions

If we follow a balanced diet, normally we would receive all the nutrition we need because we’d be eating from all the food groups, be taking in the minerals and vitamins we need and leaving out or reducing those things that are bad for us such as saturated fats, salt and sugar. At a time when the health service is stretched and heart disease, obesity and diabetes are major issues, especially for the US and UK, it is becoming more important that we are educated about food and what it means for our bodies other than knowing it makes us fatter or thinner. Poor diet doesn’t just mean being over or underweight but can give rise to all sorts of diseases and conditions. As one of our key vitamins, B12 plays an intrinsic role in major bodily functions and it is important to recognise vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms and how to tackle them.

The relevance of Vitamin B12

B12 is a water soluble vitamin which is concerned with processes of cell metabolism such as the production of DNA and red blood cells. It’s important in neurotransmission because it helps keep nerve cells healthy and working in tandem with folic acid, is instrumental in converting food into energy. Whilst the liver stores much of the B12 our bodies need some is expelled through urine. A balanced diet which includes sources of vitamin B12 (meat, poultry, shellfish, eggs, milk, and milk products) should be sufficient to keep levels steady but in some cases dietary supplements may be required to alleviate vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms.

What are the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency?

Because vitamin B12 works with blood cells, DNA and nerve cells symptoms are both physical and neurological. Physically you’ll suffer from pale skin and cold hands and feet caused by poor circulation, you’ll feel dizzy and short of breath, there’ll be chest pains and maybe an irregular heartbeat. There are headaches and these will be frequent and maybe severe. The non-physical signs of a lack of B12 are insomnia, moodiness, depression, brain related issues such as confusion, being unable to concentrate and memory problems. It’s unlikely you’ll have all the symptoms but any number is combination could be a sign of being short on supply. Although Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms may take up to 5/6 years to develop, the nature of the bodily functions it has relevance to, means that the deficiency needs to be treated

Treatment of a vitamin B12 deficiency

For people with a relatively good level of general health a change in diet can fix the problem. Eating more foods that are a good source of the vitamin will usually do the trick and the level of new intake could be boosted by dietary supplements (vitamin pills).

With the food sources being almost exclusively animal products, people following a mainly vegetable diet will almost certainly develop Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms. There is no choice other than to include synthesised forms of the vitamin in their eating regime.

As bodies age, some functions simply become less efficient and in the case of older people it is not uncommon for less B12 to be taken in even if diet remains unchanged. B12 is mostly absorbed through the gastro-intestinal tract and this is a part of the body that suffers age deterioration. Again, this can be fixed with diet changes or dietary supplements.

In extreme cases, there may be more serious developments such vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia amongst others. In these cases medical advice should be sought.

• Vitamin B12 Is A Vital Part of Your Diet
• Vitamin B12 Deficiency Pernicious Anemia
• Understanding Vitamin B12 Deficiency