6 Signs You May Be Vitamin B12 Deficient

Vitamin B12 is a crucial part of our body's structure. It helps make DNA, nerve and blood cells, maintains a healthy brain and immune system, and enables proper metabolic functioning.

Unlike most vitamins, vitamin B12 is only obtainable from animal-based foods like eggs, meat, shellfish, and dairy. Because vegetarians and vegans aren't able to get it from plant foods, they're especially at risk for vitamin B12 deficiencies. Those over the age of 50 are presumably more at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency because they absorb less B12.

The aging process has its own issues, including a reduced capacity for the body to absorb vitamin B12 from food. Medically, as many as 4 out of 100 women from the ages of 40 and 59 are B12 deficient. How do you know for sure? The signs and symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency include tingling, fatigue, unsteadiness, and depression, and you can remember them to take the proper measures.

What are the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency?

1. No amount of sleep can combat your fatigue.

You’ve tried a full day without sleep. You’ve tried an afternoon jolt of caffeine, but nothing seems to wake you. Fatigue is one of the first signs of a vitamin B12 deficiency. Your body needs the vitamin to create red blood cells that supply your organs with oxygen. A deficiency of oxygen results in fatigue, regardless of how many hours you have slept.

2. You feel weak.

When you notice that your muscles do not get enough oxygen, any object you attempt to pick up can appear to be 1,000 pounds, and when you walk, it may appear as though you are walking through mud. General weakness usually occurs after a particularly intense exercise, like an extensive hike. Your muscles may feel like they're weak for a little before you return to your normal state.

Unexplained and continual weakness may be a result of a vitamin B12 deficiency.

3. You experience numbness.

Neurological pain, such as numbing, tingling, or burning sensations, can be a result of nerve damage that is caused by the body receiving insufficient oxygen.

4. You forget things.

As well as not just the name of somebody you just met, however, your buddy's name. Maybe you have began to act differently, like putting your keys into the pantry. Despite your initial anxiety that you suffer from early dementia, it could possibly be low B12. Research of 121 people demonstrated that those with low B12 scored worse on cognitive exams and displayed smaller brain masses.

5. You feel lightheaded.

If you're walking through the grocery store and suddenly feel like you could often drop to your knees, or can just about make it up the stairs without getting a headache, low vitamin B12 could make you feel unwell.

In fact, one study that compared the Vitamin B12 levels of patients suffering from symptoms of dizziness and the healthy population found that the patient group displayed 40% less of the bodily hormone than the healthy volunteers.

6. You feel sad and anxious.

You might be experiencing too little B12 if you're incapable of control yourself when crying over spilling some coffee, or when you're unable to carry on a conversation with another individual due to feeling anxious.

One theory is that a lack of B12 can cause serotonin levels and dopamine levels to decrease, resulting in fluctuations in your mood.

What are the causes of vitamin B12 deficiency?

There are a few ways to become deficient in vitamin B12. The most common is by not eating enough meat and dairy, which are the main sources of this nutrient. Other causes of deficiency include: having a disease that damages the stomach or intestines, being elderly, having a poor diet, and being born with a low birth weight. If you are concerned that you may be deficient in B12, talk to your doctor about getting tested.

Are there any tests that can diagnose vitamin B12 deficiency?

Vitamin B12 is essential for the proper functioning of the brain and nervous system. Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to neurologic problems, including anemia and nerve damage. However, there are no reliable tests that can diagnose vitamin B12 deficiency in individuals. The only way to determine if someone has a deficiency is to measure their blood levels of vitamin B12.

How can you prevent or treat vitamin B12 deficiency?

Vitamin B12 is essential for the prevention and treatment of many diseases. If you are a vegan or vegetarian, you may be at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency. If you have any medical conditions that affect your ability to absorb vitamin B12, you may also be at risk for deficiency. Some signs and symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency include anemia, fatigue, memory loss, and tingling sensations in the hands and feet. There is no known cure for vitamin B12 deficiency, but treatments can help improve symptoms. In general, foods that are high in vitamin B12 include meat, dairy products, eggs, and seafood. You can also get vitamin B12 from supplements.

What is the recommended daily intake of vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin for both adults and children. The recommended daily intake for adults is 2.4 micrograms, but the recommended daily intake for pregnant women is 4.9 micrograms, and the recommended daily intake for lactating women is 5.2 micrograms. Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to anemia and neurologic problems in infants and children, so it's important to make sure you're getting enough of this vitamin.