Do you have vitamin B12 deficiency? What are the symptoms?
In this video, I’m going to discuss a medical condition called vitamin B 12 deficiency.
Sources of Vitamin B-12 come from animal derived foods such as red meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products, fortified breakfast cereals, fortified nutritional yeasts and vitamin B12 supplements.
The absorption of Vitamin B-12 requires its binding to intrinsic factor which is secreted by the stomach.
Vitamin B-12 plays an important role in red blood cell formation, cell metabolism, DNA synthesis, brain and nerve function.
Vitamin B-12 deficiency is not uncommon. In the United States, about 6% of adults younger than 60 years have vitamin B12 deficiency. Among people older than 60 years, the rate is close to 20%.
Vitamin B12 deficiency causes a variety of symptoms. They include:
Fatigue, Muscle weakness
Hand and Feet Numbness
Pale or yellowish skin
Imbalance, Dizziness
Nausea, poor appetite
Weight loss
Irritability
Diarrhea
Sore and red tongue
Shortness of breath
Mouth ulcers
Disturbed visions
Personality changes
Mental confusion, memory loss
Vitamin B12 deficiency occurs in people who follows a vegan diet if they do not have an adequate intake of vitamin B12 supplement. This is because vitamin B12 naturally comes from animal derived foods.
Vitamin B12 deficiency also occurs in people with Autoimmune gastritis. Autoimmune gastritis is an inflammatory condition In which our immune system attacks the parietal cells in the stomach that produce the intrinsic factor. The intrinsic factor plays a key role in the absorption of vitamin B12.
Long term use of Metformin, H2 blockers such as Famotidine or Pepcid and proton pump inhibitors such as Omeprazole or Prilosec can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency.
Other causes include Stomach surgeries such as gastric bypass surgery, Crohn's disease, celiac disease, bacterial overgrowth in small intestine, tapeworm infection, Nitrous oxide abuse.
Vitamin B 12 deficiency can be diagnosed by low serum level of Vitamin B12 through blood test. Methylmalonic acid or MMA and homocysteine levels are elevated in cases of Vitamin B12 deficiency. Increased levels of MMA and homocysteine in the presence of low normal vitamin B12 may indicate an early Vitamin B12 deficiency.
Test for anti intrinsic factor antibody helps determine the cause of vitamin B 12 deficiency.
People with Vitamin B 12 deficiency can increase the intake of vitamin B-12 rich foods such as seafoods, beef, liver, diary products, eggs etc.
Vitamin B-12 Supplements are available for the treatment. They include:
Vitamin B-12 Injections
Oral tablet
Sublingual liquid or tablet
Nose gel or sprays
Although some people may need a monthly injection of Vitamin B12 for the rest of their life, Vitamin B-12 oral tablet can be the most cost effective treatment for many people with Vitamin B-12 deficiency.