Are you more tired than usual, a little pale and new kinds of symptoms have come to visit your body - for example, tingling in the limbs or just nausea? One of these reasons could be vitamin B12 deficiency. To your delight, low vitamin B12 is often a problem that is not difficult to treat, only needs to be diagnosed, and begin to complete deficiencies.
Vitamin B12: What does it do in the body and why is it important?
Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is an important water-soluble vitamin, which plays a vital role in the production of red blood cells, in DNA production and in the proper functioning of the nervous system. Many of the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency arise because such a deficiency actually causes a deficiency in healthy blood cells. The body needs plenty of these cells to transfer oxygen to the entire body and keep the organs in good health. Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause physical and psychological symptoms, including nerve problems, fatigue, and thinking difficulties.
Like other nutrients, the best way for most people to get vitamin B12 is in the diet, especially in animal foods, which include red meat, chicken, eggs, milk, and fish. A person who has difficulty getting enough B12 can also consume vitamin B12-enriched foods or vitamin-containing supplements.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can usually be treated, however, people with a long-term deficiency may suffer from the effects of deficiency, such as nerve damage. Diagnosing the signs of vitamin B12 deficiency early and receiving the right treatment can improve the condition.
Vitamin B12 deficiency - absorption problems and old age
Vitamin B12 deficiency can be caused for several reasons, including:
- Lack of "internal factor" - a substance that is produced in the stomach and necessary for the absorption of vitamin B12 from food. Some people simply do not produce enough of an internal cause while others suffer from a health condition that destroys it, such as surgical removal of parts of the stomach.
- Low Nutrition In Vitamin B12. These are mainly people who do not eat animal products, such as vegans, and also vegetarians, who eat less animal-derived products. Also, drastic diets and anorexia can cause vitamin B12 deficiency.
- B12 uptake problems in the stomach due to problems such as celiac disease (gluten intolerance), colitis, Crohn's, or pancreatic problems.
- Some medicines may interfere with the absorption of vitamin B12, such as anti-heartburn, antibiotic and hormone, and laxative drugs.
- Heavy alcohol consumption and smoking.
- Age - In adults 50 and older, vitamin B12 uptake begins to decline.
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women, whose vitamin bases supply both their needs and fetal and infant needs, can suffer from low vitamin B12 if they do not receive they're (daily) recommended daily allowance.
- Malignant anemia is a disease that causes a problem in the absorption of vitamin B12.
- The too low acidity of the stomach also causes a problem in the absorption of vitamin B12.
Low Vitamin B12 - Symptoms
Many of the initial symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are related to anemia, so the body's cells don't get enough oxygen from the blood. Symptoms of low B12 include:
- Bites in the arms or legs: Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause a feeling of “pins and needles” in the arms or legs. This symptom occurs because the vitamin plays a crucial role in the nervous system and its absence can cause the body to develop nerve conduction problems or nerve damage. This is because vitamin B12 helps produce a substance called myelin, which is a coating that protects the nerves and helps them to convey sensations. People with vitamin B12 deficiency may not produce enough myelin.
- Walking Problems: Over time, damage to the peripheral nerve caused by vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to movement problems. Feeling numb in the feet and limbs can make it difficult for a person to walk without support, and also affect the balance. This symptom is often seen in the elderly with undiagnosed vitamin B12.
- Anemia fatigue: Megaloblastic anemia, caused in part by vitamin B12 deficiency and folic acid, can cause fatigue. Without enough red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body, a person can feel particularly tired.
- Pale or yellow skin: jaundice develops when the body is unable to produce enough red blood cells. The red blood cells that circulate beneath the skin give it the usual color, so when a deficiency develops in these cells the skin may appear pale. This occurs when B12 deficiency causes megaloblastic anemia, where the red blood cells produced in the bone marrow are large and fragile. In addition, the fragility of these cells also means that many of them decompose, resulting in excess bilirubin, whose large amounts give the yellow hue to the skin and eyes.
- Fast heartbeat: Fast heart rate and shortness of breath may be symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency. This is because to compensate for the reduced number of red blood cells in the body, the heart starts beating faster to ensure that oxygen is circulating throughout the body and reaches all organs.
- Mouth pain: It turns out that vitamin B12 also affects oral health. Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause mouth problems such as tongue inflammation, which causes swollen, smooth and red tongue, mouth pain, and burning sensation in the mouth. These symptoms occur because vitamin B12 deficiency causes a decrease in red blood cell production, resulting in less oxygen coming to the tongue.
- Cognition Problems - Difficulty in Thinking and Memory Loss: Apparently, vitamin B12 deficiency causes at least oxygen to reach the brain, and therefore can cause thinking and memory problems. Low levels of B12 have also been associated with dementia.
- Nervousness: Vitamin B12 deficiency can affect a person's mood, causing nervousness or depression.
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea: Vitamin B12 deficiency can affect the digestive tract. Lack of red blood cells means that insufficient oxygen also reaches the digestive system, and its activity goes awry.
- Vision Problems: Lack of untreated vitamin B12 can as mentioned, cause damage to the nervous system, including the optic nerve. Damage can disrupt the outbound neural signal to the brain and cause blurred or improper vision.
B12 - The proper values
Suspect you have low B12? A normal blood test will reveal the level of vitamin in your blood, and whether it is normal.
Normal vitamin B12 values are considered values ranging from 200 to 800 picograms per milliliter. If your blood test has found that your vitamin B12 values are less than 200 picograms per milliliter, you should consult your doctor. Since B12 levels decline slowly and for years, it is sometimes possible that you will develop a vitamin deficiency that will only be reflected in low values over time.
Vitamin B12 too low? This is how you raise it
So you have the blood test, and reset, you seem to have low vitamin B12, and now need to be treated. First, it is important to get to the doctor and together with him to understand what causes the low level of vitamin B12 in your blood.
If there is a lack of absorption problems, your doctor may recommend high-frequency vitamin B12 injections to help your body regenerate its B12 stores. Subsequently, the frequency of injections will decrease depending on the situation. It is also important to try to find out what is the source of the vitamin's absorption problem - sometimes the problem itself can be addressed and resolved.
Another way to help your body regain its vitamin B12 stock is through a nutritional supplement, which is often sucked by Christmas. There are extensions that are also taken as my spray.
And the third way, which should be a way of life for everyone, is ... nutrition. Simply consume B12 through the diet - especially animal products, including liver, chicken, beef, and eggs. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, it is important that you consult a professional to help you incorporate B12 into your diet and avoid lack.
