Vitamin b12 deficiency

A vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to nerve and brain damage and anemia. Early symptoms include weakness, constipation, and depression. It can result from dietary factors, medication use, and some underlying conditions. Vitamin B12 is vital for creating and maintaining nerve and red blood cells, it supports the nervous system, and it helps create DNA, the basis of all cells. Without treatment, This article looks at how to recognize B12 deficiency, who is at risk, and how to treat or prevent it. Share on Pinterest blackdovfx/Getty Images According to the Low levels of B12 • • • • problems with balance • • problems with thinking • a sore mouth or tongue In infants, signs of a deficiency include: • not growing or developing at the expected rate • problems with movement • megaloblastic anemia Anemia and neurological problems can lead to further symptoms and complications. Anemia Body cells need vitamin B12 to reproduce. If a person does not have enough vitamin B12, their body cannot make enough red blood cells. This can result in The hallmark symptom of B12 deficiency is megaloblastic anemia, in which the red blood cells are immature and larger than usual. This affects their ability to deliver oxygen effectively to the body. Common symptoms of anemia are: • • • • • pale or yellowish skin • • • reduced appetite and weight loss Neurological symptoms A vitamin B12 deficiency can also lead to neurological symptoms, such as: • • problems with thinking and memory • • • changes in gai...

Symptoms Vitamin deficiency anemia usually develops slowly over several months to years. Signs and symptoms may be subtle at first but usually increase as the deficiency worsens. These may include: • Fatigue • Shortness of breath • Dizziness • Pale or yellowish skin • Irregular heartbeats • Weight loss • Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet • Muscle weakness • Personality changes • Unsteady movements • Mental confusion or forgetfulness Causes Vitamin deficiency anemia can occur if you don't eat enough foods containing vitamin B-12 and folate, or if your body has trouble absorbing or processing these vitamins. Vitamin B-12 deficiencies Low levels of vitamin B-12 can be caused by: • Diet. Vitamin B-12 is mainly found in meat, eggs and milk, so people who don't eat these types of foods may need to take B-12 supplements. Some foods have been fortified with B-12, including some breakfast cereals and some nutritional yeast products. • Pernicious anemia. This condition occurs when the body's immune system attacks cells in the stomach that produce a substance called intrinsic factor. Without this substance, B-12 can't be absorbed in the intestines. • Gastric surgeries. If portions of your stomach or intestines have been surgically removed, that can reduce the amount of intrinsic factor produced and the amount of space available for vitamin B-12 to be absorbed. • Intestinal problems. Crohn's disease and celiac disease can interfere with absorption of vitamin B-12, as can tape...

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...

Vitamin B 12 deficiency is a common cause of megaloblastic anemia, various neuropsychiatric symptoms, and other clinical manifestations. Screening average-risk adults for vitamin B 12 deficiency is not recommended. Screening may be warranted in patients with one or more risk factors, such as gastric or small intestine resections, inflammatory bowel disease, use of metformin for more than four months, use of proton pump inhibitors or histamine H 2 blockers for more than 12 months, vegans or strict vegetarians, and adults older than 75 years. Initial laboratory assessment should include a complete blood count and serum vitamin B 12 level. Measurement of serum methylmalonic acid should be used to confirm deficiency in asymptomatic high-risk patients with low-normal levels of vitamin B 12. Oral administration of high-dose vitamin B 12 (1 to 2 mg daily) is as effective as intramuscular administration for correcting anemia and neurologic symptoms. Intramuscular therapy leads to more rapid improvement and should be considered in patients with severe deficiency or severe neurologic symptoms. Absorption rates improve with supplementation; therefore, patients older than 50 years and vegans or strict vegetarians should consume foods fortified with vitamin B 12 or take vitamin B 12 supplements. Patients who have had bariatric surgery should receive 1 mg of oral vitamin B 12 per day indefinitely. Use of vitamin B 12 in patients with elevated serum homocysteine levels and cardiovascular...