What are the main Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms?
Vitamin B12 deficiency can present with a variety of symptoms. If you suspect that you may be lacking this important nutrient, speak to your healthcare professional right away.
People with digestive disorders such as celiac disease or Crohn’s disease are especially vulnerable to developing vitamin B12 deficiencies due to difficulties abstaining it in the gut. Older adults may also have an increased likelihood of becoming deficient, since stomach acid production decreases with age.
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1. Numbness or tingling in your fingers or toes
Vitamin B12 is essential for producing red blood cells, which transport oxygen throughout your body. Without enough of these vital cells, you may experience anemia – a condition that may leave you feeling weak and run-down, as well as other symptoms like numbness or tingling in your fingers or toes.
If your doctor suspects you may have a vitamin B12 deficiency, they will test for it. The test measures your blood level of Vitamin B12 to determine how low it is.
Your doctor may suggest taking a daily supplement or getting injections of B12 to correct the issue. Depending on what caused your deficiency, they may also suggest changing up your diet to increase vitamin B12 intake.
There are a few reasons why you may not be getting enough vitamin B12 from your food intake. One is if you have an underlying condition such as atrophic gastritis or celiac disease which prevents absorption of this vital nutrient. Furthermore, certain medicines like metformin for diabetes or certain anticonvulsant drugs could potentially obstruct absorption as well.
Vitamin B12 deficiencies can severely impact your brain chemistry, leading to memory loss, disorientation and difficulty thinking or reasoning clearly. These symptoms may manifest themselves in various forms such as forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating and difficulty sleeping.
Signs of a vitamin B12 deficiency can be subtle, so if you experience any of the following symptoms, get checked for it right away. A quick blood test from home will provide accurate results and put you on track towards maintaining an optimal vitamin B12 level.
If your family history includes vitamin B12 deficiency, your doctor may also order a blood test for pernicious anemia – an autoimmune condition in which the stomach and intestines do not produce enough intrinsic factor. Signs of this disorder include numbness or weakness as well as issues with heart rhythm.
2.Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms: Feeling sick to your stomach
Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient your body requires to create red blood cells (RBCs) and DNA, the genetic material inside cells. Without it, your cells cannot form correctly or mature properly.
Your body can absorb B12 from food you eat as well as through dietary supplements. Digestion occurs when hydrochloric acid in your stomach separates vitamin B12 from the protein it binds to in food, then it joins forces with intrinsic factor, another protein produced by your stomach.
In some people, this process does not work properly and they lack vitamin B12. Pernicious anemia, a rare autoimmune disease in which your body’s immune system attacks cells in your stomach that produce intrinsic factor, can be the culprit.
Other causes of this condition include chronic stomach inflammation, such as atrophic gastritis; and taking certain medications which reduce stomach acid levels. Examples include proton pump inhibitors and histamine 2-receptor antagonists–drugs used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease or peptic ulcer disease.
B12 can be obtained from a variety of foods, such as meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products that have been fortified with this vitamin.
Your doctor may suggest taking a vitamin B12 supplement to ensure you’re getting enough. Additionally, alcohol should be avoided as it can irritate your stomach and hinder absorption of this nutrient.
Some older adults may lack sufficient hydrochloric acid in their stomachs to absorb vitamin B12. Medication that inhibit stomach acid production or release, like antacids or H2 blockers, may also prevent your body from abstaining vitamins B12 and other essential minerals. If you’re uncertain whether you have a vitamin B12 deficiency, ask your doctor.
3.Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms: Losing weight
Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to serious issues, including megaloblastic anemia. This condition causes your red blood cells to grow too large and difficult for them to move from the bone marrow into your bloodstream, leading to low oxygen levels in the body which may manifest as fatigue, shortness of breath or weakness.
Some individuals may experience weight loss when they have a vitamin B12 deficiency. This is because low levels of this essential nutrient make it harder for the body to burn fat stores.
If you are deficient in vitamin B12, your doctor can provide either supplements or shots as a more convenient and cost-effective solution than taking pills.
Many people get enough vitamin B12 from foods that contain it, such as meat, fish, dairy products and eggs. Most of these items have been fortified with it so be sure to read the label for details.
Other people may be at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency if their digestive system can’t absorb this nutrient properly. For instance, those with gastrointestinal disorders such as Crohn’s disease or celiac disease may not absorb vitamin B12 properly.
Vitamin B12 deficiencies can occur if you have pernicious anemia, a condition in which your stomach doesn’t make intrinsic factor – a protein responsible for absorption of this essential nutrient.
If your intake of vitamin B12 is inadequate, you can try increasing fortified foods in your diet or taking a daily supplement. A standard multivitamin contains 6 micrograms of this essential nutrient – sufficient for most adults.
4.Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms: Glossitis or a swollen tongue
Glossitis, or a swollen tongue, is one of the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency. This condition occurs when your body lacks this essential nutrient necessary for producing red blood cells and DNA.
Vitamin B12 deficiencies can manifest as pale skin with a yellow tint to their eyes due to an inadequate production of red blood cells. This may result in anemia.
If you have a swollen tongue or sore red tongue, consult with your doctor about it. They can check your blood work and other tests to identify the source of the issue.
Your doctor may order a swab of your mouth and tongue to detect yeast infection, bacteria or other infections. This helps them determine if your symptoms are due to an underlying illness or nutritional deficiency.
Another possible cause of a swollen tongue is herpes simplex, an infectious virus that causes cold sores and blisters around your mouth. If this virus is the culprit behind your glossitis, you’ll likely need a prescription drug to combat it.
Geographic tongue, also known as benign migratory glossitis, can cause a swollen tongue. This inflammatory disorder causes patches on the surface of the tongue that lack papillae (small bumps) and appear as smooth red lesions with slightly raised borders.
The most effective treatment for glossitis is to identify and address the underlying cause of swelling. Your doctor may suggest medication, dietary modifications or supplements to help alleviate symptoms; however, if not addressed, glossitis will likely return. A swollen tongue can make eating, drinking or speaking difficult as well as creating an uncomfortable environment for many people.
5. Diarrhea
Vitamin B12 plays a significant role in producing red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout your body. It may also aid in preventing anemia.
If your symptoms don’t resolve on their own, it’s time to see your doctor. They may ask about your diet, medications taken and how long the diarrhea has been going on. Additionally, they could perform a stool test or take a blood sample in order to check your B12 levels.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause diarrhea if not enough is consumed through food, or your body does not absorb it effectively during digestion. This occurs because vitamin B12 is bound to a protein in food and must be released before being absorbed by the body.
Hydrochloric acid in your stomach and small intestine releases hydrochloric acid, which separates vitamin B12 from its binding protein (haptocorrin). Once freed, vitamin B12 then binds with intrinsic factor, another protein found in food sources; this combines with the vitamin and is absorbed through absorption through your intestines.
Your stomach also releases digestive enzymes that cleave haptocorrin in the duodenum, releasing more vitamin B12 from food matrix. Once inside the intestines, this cleaved vitamin B12 combines with intrinsic factor and gets absorbed by your ileum – that part of bowel that produces stools.
Some conditions, such as celiac disease and Crohn’s disease, can hinder your body’s absorption of vitamin B12. This could lead to diarrhea if there isn’t enough in your diet or if you aren’t getting it well enough. Other medications like metformin, neomycin, chloramphenicol and colchicine may also obstruct vitamin B12 absorption.