Vitamin B12 is an essential micronutrient for the well-being and health of our body. Let’s find out what are the symptoms to watch out for, because they are indicators of a deficiency
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The vitamina B12 it is an essential nutrient your body needs for processes such as DNA synthesis, energy production and central nervous system function.
Although found in many foods, insufficiency and deficiency are relatively common. This has often been shown to be due to an unbalanced diet, malabsorption, certain medical conditions, or the use of drugs that deplete vitamin B12.
In fact, studies suggest that up to 20% of people over the age of 60 are deficient in this vitamin.
Since the ability to absorb B12 from food decreases with age, deficiency is more common in the elderly. According to research, however, this does not mean that children and younger adults, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, can also develop a deficiency.
Ecco 10 signs and symptoms to pay attention to. (Vitamin B12: what it is for and the consequences of a deficiency)
Fatigue
If you are deficient in B12, you will probably feel fatigued.
The cells in your body need B12 to function properly. Therefore, having inadequate B12 levels has been shown to reduce normal red blood cell production, which in turn can impair oxygen supply.
In particular, a deficiency of vitamin B12 or folate can cause anemia megaloblastica. This condition, according to studies, leads to the formation of large, abnormal and immature red blood cells and reduced DNA synthesis.
When your body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to the tissues, you will likely feel weak and tired.
It is important to know that, according to some research, you can develop fatigue and other symptoms related to vitamin B12 deficiency, even when your vitamin B12 levels are considered to be within or only borderline.
Pale or yellow skin
Another sign is the pale or yellowish skin. According to research, like the condition called iron deficiency anemia, anemia related to vitamin B12 deficiency can make the skin turn pale, due to a lack of red blood cells.
It can also cause a condition called jaundicewhich causes the skin and whites of the eyes to take on a yellowish color.
The color is caused by high levels of bilirubin, a waste product created when the body breaks down red blood cells.
Headache
B12 insufficiency and deficiency can lead to neurological side effects, including the headache.
In fact, headache has been shown to be among the most commonly reported symptoms related to vitamin B12 deficiency in both adults and children.
Studies have shown that people who frequently experience certain types of headaches are more likely to have low B12 levels.
A 2019 study with 140 people, half of whom suffered from migraines, found that blood levels of vitamin B12 were significantly lower in participants with migraines, compared to participants without a history of migraines.
The study also found that those with the highest B12 levels were 80 percent less likely to have migraines than participants with the lowest B12 levels.
Depressive symptoms
Vitamin B12 is essential for the proper functioning of the central nervous system, and a deficiency in this nutrient can affect mental health.
In particular, vitamin B12 deficiency has been shown to be associated with an increased risk of developing depression.
Having low levels of B12 can cause high levels of a sulfur-containing amino acid called homocysteine. In turn, this can contribute to the development of depression by increasing it oxidative stressDNA damage and cell death in the body.
A 2020 study of 132 children and adolescents, 89 with and 43 without depression, found that participants with depression had lower B12 levels and higher homocysteine levels.
In addition to depressive symptoms, low or deficient levels of B12 can lead to other mental conditions, including psychosis and mood disorders.
Gastrointestinal problems
A deficiency of vitamin B12, according to studies, can also cause diarrhoea, nausea, constipationbloating, gas and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
These problems can affect both adults and children.
Be aware, however, that many of these symptoms are non-specific and could be caused by other factors. For example, food intolerances, medications, and infections could lead to diarrhea.
Difficulty concentrating and mental disability
According to research, because a B12 deficiency negatively impacts the central nervous system, people with the deficiency may feel foggy and have difficulty concentrating.
Older people are at particular risk because the risk of deficiency increases with age.
In fact, many studies have associated low B12 levels with worsening mental function in the elderly. Fortunately, research shows that mental deterioration related to low B12 levels can improve with supplementation.
For example, a 2020 study gave 202 people with mild mental disabilities and low B12 levels on replacement therapy for 3 months.
After treatment, 84% of participants reported significant improvements in symptoms, such as poor concentration, memory decline, and forgetfulness.
Pain and inflammation of the mouth and tongue
Glossite is a medical term that refers to an inflamed, red and sore tongue, and according to research it can be caused by a B12 deficiency.
In people with this deficiency, glossitis can appear alongside the stomatitiswhich is characterized by sores and inflammation in the mouth.
Although these conditions are common in people with B12 deficiency anemia, they can also occur without anemia and can be a sign of an early B12 deficiency.
That said, glossitis can also be caused by deficiencies in other nutrients, such as folic acid, riboflavin (B2), and niacin (B3).
Paresthesia in the hands and feet
The paresthesia is a medical term that refers to a burning or tingling sensation in certain areas of the body, such as hands and feet. Many adults and children with vitamin B12 deficiency report having paraesthesia.
Unfortunately, this symptom has been shown to overlap with others related to diabetic neuropathy – nerve damage caused by high blood sugar that can cause pain and numbness in the extremities.
For research, people with diabetes who take metformin have a higher risk of developing vitamin B12 deficiency, because this drug can reduce the absorption of B12 in the body.
Hence, a vitamin B12 deficiency could be misdiagnosed as peripheral neuropathy in people with diabetes.
As a result, many experts recommend that people taking metformin be regularly screened for vitamin B12 deficiency.
Disturbances in vision and eyelids
Several studies show that B12 deficiency can cause vision disturbances, possibly due to damage to the optic nerve.The eyes can be a valid indicator of vitamin B12 deficiency, especially if these typical symptoms of the so-called eyelid myochemia or even blefarospasmo. It is a condition that is not too common, but difficult to control, which causes the eyelids to blink or contract them involuntarily. But also the most common form of eye flicker caused by a muscle spasm around the eye that begins to jump, flicker or vibrate sporadically, uncontrollably, usually every few seconds for a minute or two, shouldn’t be underestimated either.
Other signs and symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency
In addition to the above symptoms, vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause:
- muscle crampsand muscle weakness: Vitamin B12 deficiency negatively impacts motor and sensory nerve function, and many studies have shown that it can cause muscle cramps and weakness.
- impaired coordination: Ataxia, or impaired balance and coordination, is a neurological symptom that can be caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. As such, a b12 deficient person has been shown to have difficulty walking.
- erectile dysfunction: According to research, men with vitamin B12 deficiency can experience erectile dysfunction due to increased homocysteine levels in the body.
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