Deficiency of vitamin b12

Do you get enough Vitamin B12 does a lot of things for your body. It helps make your DNA and your red Since your body doesn't make vitamin B12, you have to get it from animal-based foods or from How Much Should You Get? The answer depends on things including your age, your eating habits and medical conditions, and what medications you take. The average recommended daily amounts, measured in micrograms (mcg), vary by age: • Infants up to age 6 months: 0.4 mcg • Babies ages 7-12 months: 0.5 mcg • Children ages 1-3 years: 0.9 mcg • Kids ages 4-8 years: 1.2 mcg • Children ages 9-13 years: 1.8 mcg • Teens ages 14-18: 2.4 mcg (2.6 mcg per day if pregnant and 2.8 mcg per day if breastfeeding) • Adults: 2.4 mcg (2.6 mcg per day if pregnant and 2.8 mcg per day if breastfeeding) Food Sources of Vitamin B12 You can get vitamin B12 in animal foods, which have it naturally, or from items that have been fortified with it. Animal sources include dairy products, eggs, fish, meat, and poultry. If you're looking for a food fortified with B12, check the product's Nutrition Facts label. Vitamin B12 Deficiency Most people in the U.S. get enough of this nutrient. If you're not sure, you can ask your doctor if you should get a blood test to check your vitamin B12 level. With age, it can become harder to absorb this vitamin. It can also happen if you have had weight loss surgery or another operation that removed part of your stomach, or if you drink heavily. You may also be more likely to get a v...

Share on Pinterest Michela Ravasio/Stocksy Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that your body needs for processes like DNA synthesis, energy production, and central nervous system function ( Studies suggest that up to 20% of people over the age of 60 in the United States and the United Kingdom are deficient in the vitamin. This is often due to limited dietary intake, malabsorption, medical conditions, or the use of B12-depleting medications ( Vitamin B12 deficiency is determined as follows ( Normal Borderline Deficient >300 pg/mL 200–300 pg/mL <200 pg/mL Because the ability to absorb B12 from food declines with age, deficiency is more common in older adults. Still, that doesn’t mean children and younger adults, including those who are pregnant and nursing, can’t develop B12 deficiency ( B12 deficiency is often misdiagnosed, often due to inadequate laboratory testing or because the symptoms are not specific ( So what happens when your vitamin B12 is low? Read on about nine of the most commonly reported symptoms related to B12 deficiency and how this deficiency is diagnosed and treated. B12 deficiency is associated with a greater risk of developing depression ( Having low levels of B12 can cause elevated levels of a sulfur-containing amino acid called A 2020 study with 132 children and teens, 89 with and 43 without depression, found that the participants with depression had lower B12 levels and higher levels of homocysteine compared with those without depression ( In additi...

Most people have healthy levels of vitamin B12. But some don’t. What you do or don’t eat, along with certain health conditions and medications, could be the reason why. When left untreated, a B12 deficiency can lead to problems with your heart, nerves, or brain. B12 shots, supplements, and changing what you eat can help. But first, the doctor has to find out why you’re not getting enough. Here are some of the most common causes they’ll look for. Pernicious Anemia This disorder causes immune system to attack cells in the stomach that make intrinsic factor (IF). That’s a protein you need to absorb B12. Experts aren’t sure what causes pernicious anemia. Some people are born with it, but that’s rare. Symptoms can include: • Tiredness • Pale skin • Weakness • Fast heart rate Your body also needs B12 to make red blood cells. That’s what carries oxygen to your tissue and organs. You can become anemic when you don’t have enough. “Pernicious” means deadly. But it’s not so deadly anymore. Today, there are simple ways to treat this kind of anemia. Your doctor will likely give you a B12 shot in your muscle. You’ll get it once a week until your levels are normal. After that, you may need a shot or high-dose supplement once a month for the rest of your life. If you don’t like shots or pills, ask your doctor if a B12 nasal spray is right for you. Age Some older adults have a condition called atrophic gastritis. That’s when your stomach doesn’t make enough hydrochloric acid. It helps you ...