Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms and remedies
Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin. This vitamin is one of the eight vitamins of the B-complex. Due to today's busy and irregular lifestyle, deficiency of Vitamin B12 has become quite common.
Why is Vitamin B12 important for our body
Vitamin B12 is an important nutrient for the oxygen-supplying red blood cells (RBCs) in our body. Also, it is essential for the health and proper functioning of nerve tissues, as it is involved in the production of the protective myelin sheath that covers the nerves and carries the nerve impulses. helps in.
It works with folate in the metabolism of cells, especially in DNA synthesis, fatty acid metabolism and amino acid metabolism.
Vitamin B12 also helps in the absorption of folic acid in our body. Folic acid is essential for energy production.
Since our body does not make vitamin B12, it is necessary to take it regularly through foods or through supplements. Always consult your doctor before taking any supplement.
How much Vitamin B12 do you need to take daily
Age FemaleMale 0-6 months 0.4 mcg 0.4 mcg 7-12 months 0.5 mcg 0.5 mcg 1-3 years 0.9 mcg 0.9 mcg 4-8 years 1.2 mcg 1.2 mcg 9-13 years 1.8 mcg1.8 mcg 14+ years 2.4 mcg 2 .4 mcg
In addition, the need for vitamin B12 is 2.6 mcg daily for pregnant women and 2.8 mcg daily for breast-feeding women. Here mcg stands for microgram. 1 milligram is equal to 1000 micrograms.
Due to lack of vitamin B12
The biggest reason for deficiency of this important vitamin is food, in which vitamin B12 is deficient. Vegetarians are more likely to be deficient in this vitamin, as it is mostly found in animal meat.
Another reason for vitamin B12 deficiency is anemia in the body. Due to this, the proteins that absorb vitamin B12 in the stomach are destroyed, due to which there is a deficiency of vitamin B12 in the body.
Who is most likely to be deficient in Vitamin B12?
People over 50 years old.
People who are vegetarian.
Those children who feed on milk and whose mother is a vegetarian.
Having any disease that has a bad effect on digestion.
People who have had gastrointestinal surgery.
People suffering from malnutrition.
People who have been consuming excessive alcohol for a long time.
Here are the 10 most important symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency
1. Fatigue and Low Energy
This vitamin plays a very important role in the energy metabolism of our body, so due to its deficiency, there is energy and fatigue in the body.
Vitamin B12 enhances our body's ability to make DNA for new cells. It is also essential in making red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body. Due to its deficiency, there is a lack of oxygen in the body, due to which fatigue and lethargy start feeling.
2. Numbness and Tingling Sensations
Vitamin B12 is very important to keep our nervous system healthy. Therefore some neurological signs such as numbness and tingling in the extremities can be symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency.
Vitamin B12 helps in the formation of nerves as well as is necessary to carry oxygen to various parts of the body. Numbness and tingling in the extremities can be felt even if there is not enough oxygen supply in the body.
Due to its deficiency, the balance of our body can also deteriorate and dizziness can occur.
3. Low Blood Pressure
Lack of vitamin B12 and folic acid in the body can lead to anemia, which increases the chances of low blood pressure.
Vitamin B12 helps in the process of making red blood cells in our body. Red blood cells help deliver enough oxygen to our heart and other organs.
According to a 2012 study, most cardiologists ignore the level of vitamin B12 in patients with low blood pressure. Since a lack of this vitamin can also cause low blood pressure, whenever you have low blood pressure, get your vitamin B12 levels checked as well.
4. Small skin lesions or hyperpigmentation
Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause small lesions or pigmentation problems in the skin. According to a 2008 study published in Canadian Family Physicians, a lack of vitamin B12 in the body can cause skin lesions or pigmentation without any reason, so contact a doctor immediately.
5. Depression
Vitamin B12 is also essential for brain health. It helps in the production of red blood cells which help in keeping the nervous system healthy.
Also, it helps in reducing the metabolic protein called homocysteine. Depression can increase when homocysteine levels are high in the body. For this reason, there may be a lack of vitamin B12 in the body due to depression, especially in the elderly.
According to a study published in the journal Open Neurology in 2013, patients with depression were treated with vitamin B12 supplementation, their condition improved to a great extent.
6. Decline in memory and cognitive ability
Due to low levels of vitamin B12, there can be a decrease in the memory and cognitive ability of the brain. Vitamin B12 helps to make new connections in brain cells, which helps in the formation of memory.
Also, it is an important component found in myelin. Myelin is the coating found in brain cells that protects them. Therefore, a lack of vitamin B12 can lead to serious nerve damage and impaired brain function.
According to a neurology report published in 2011, people who lack vitamin B12 in their blood may have reduced brain volume and problems with their ability to think.
7. Hypothyroidism
Our thyroid gland needs many essential nutrients to make the proper amount of hormones. Vitamin B12 is one of these nutrients.
According to a medical report published in 2008, vitamin B12 deficiency is quite common in patients with hypothyroidism.
8. Infertility
Deficiency of vitamin B12 can affect the fertility of both men and women.
According to a report published in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine in 2001, vitamin B12 deficiency results in decreased fertility and increases the risk of recurrent miscarriages in women. In this study, it was told that in the early stages of vitamin B12 deficiency, the level of homocysteine in the blood increases, which reduces the ability of blood to coagulate and harm the fetus.
Due to the deficiency of this vitamin, there are problems in conceiving and even if a pregnancy occurs, it is difficult to keep the baby in the womb for the full 9 months.
Therefore, if you are experiencing failure to conceive, then definitely get a doctor checked for vitamin B12 deficiency. Both men and women should get it tested because it can be difficult to conceive if there is a deficiency of this vitamin in men too.
Remedies to overcome Vitamin B12 deficiency
If on the basis of the above-mentioned symptoms, you think that there may be a deficiency of vitamin B12, then first get it properly examined by the doctor. Then, to overcome the deficiency of this vitamin, adopt the following measures –
Eat foods rich in vitamin B12 such as fish, meat (especially liver), eggs, milk and milk products.
People who are vegetarian can overcome vitamin B12 deficiency by consuming cereals, food made from soybeans and yeast. If you have excessive deficiency of this vitamin, then keep getting tested regularly.
People who take diabetes medicines or other acid-containing medicines should keep their vitamin B12 levels checked regularly. Because these medicines can have a bad effect on the normal level of vitamin B12.
You can also take vitamin B12 tablets or injections. Consult your doctor to know the proper dosage for them.