Extremely low Vitamin B12 leads to severe fatigue, anemia (megaloblastic), nerve damage (numbness, tingling, balance issues, weakness), cognitive problems (memory loss, confusion, depression, irritability, dementia), digestive issues (sore smooth tongue, weight loss), and potentially heart problems or seizures, as the body can't produce enough healthy red blood cells or maintain proper nerve function, leading to widespread physical and mental decline if untreated.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause symptoms that affect your brain and nervous system (neurological symptoms), including: numbness. muscle weakness. psychological problems, which can range from mild depression or anxiety, to confusion and dementia.
Stage 1 is decreased levels of vitamin B12 in the blood. Stage 2 is low concentration of vitamin B12 in the cell and metabolic abnormalities. Stage 3 is increased levels of homocysteine and MMA and decreased DNA synthesis resulting in neuropsychiatric symptoms. Stage 4 is macrocytic anemia.
Taking doses of vitamin B-12 might cause: Headache. Nausea. Diarrhea.
Warning signs of vitamin B12 deficiency include extreme fatigue, weakness, pale/yellow skin, numbness/tingling (pins and needles), cognitive issues (memory fog, confusion), mood changes (depression/irritability), and a sore, red tongue, alongside potential shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and balance problems, as symptoms develop slowly and can worsen over time. It's crucial to see a GP, as early treatment prevents potentially irreversible neurological damage, say NHS, Cleveland Clinic, and WebMD.
The foods highest in Vitamin B12 are animal products, with clams and liver (beef, lamb) being exceptionally rich sources, often providing several hundred percent of the daily value in a single serving, alongside seafood like mussels, sardines, and salmon, dairy, eggs, and fortified cereals and nutritional yeast for vegans.
B12 deficiency can trigger specific food cravings, most notably for meat, fish, or eggs, as the body seeks animal-based sources to replenish the vitamin, especially in those on vegetarian/vegan diets or older adults. While cravings for sugary or salty foods can also signal general B-vitamin issues, the distinct urge for protein-rich animal products is a key indicator, but professional testing is crucial for confirmation.
What Abnormal Results Mean. Values of less than 160 pg/mL (118 pmol/L) are a possible sign of a vitamin B12 deficiency. People with this degree of deficiency are likely to have or develop symptoms.
What is vitamin B12 deficiency anemia? Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia is a condition in which your body does not have enough healthy red blood cells, due to a lack (deficiency) of vitamin B12. This vitamin is needed to make red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all parts of your body.
Vitamin B12 plays a crucial role in neurological health, and its deficiency can lead to various symptoms, including headaches and facial pain. Surprisingly, many individuals with deficiency may have normal serum B12 levels, which complicates diagnosis and treatment.
In fact, some studies have even suggested the opposite. For instance, one study noted that individuals who regularly took vitamin B12 supplements gained between 2.5 to 17 fewer pounds (1.2 to 7.7 kg) over a decade than those who didn't supplement.
People need vitamin B-12 for the brain to work well. If not treated, vitamin B-12 deficiency can lead to issues with the nerves, brain or spinal cord. These might include lasting tingling in the hands and feet or trouble with balance.
Particularly, individuals with lung, stomach, colon, oesophageal, and pancreatic cancers are more prone to experiencing a deficiency in vitamin B12. This article will discuss different types of cancers causing vitamin B12 deficiency, associated symptoms, and available treatment options.
For the patients with a very low serum B12 level (<100ng/l) and anaemia, macrocytosis or neurological symptoms, the treatment is simple: load the patient with vitamin B12 parenterally (by IM injection) and continue with maintenance vitamin B12 by IM injection every 3 months indefinitely (see below for more details).
Disturbed or blurred vision can also occur as a result of a Vitamin B12 deficiency.
Some medical conditions can interfere with how your body processes B12. Those are usually conditions that affect your liver, kidneys or your blood itself. Some examples include: Liver disease and liver failure.
Hydroxocobalamin starts to work straight away. However, it may take a few days or weeks before your vitamin B12 levels and symptoms (such as extreme tiredness or lack of energy) start to improve. Are there any long-term side effects? It's OK to have hydroxocobalamin injections for a long time.
If you feel worse after your B12 injection, you're not alone, and it doesn't mean something is wrong with the treatment. In many cases, it's a temporary response as your body starts healing and adjusting to better nutrition. But it's important to listen to your body.
Cutaneous manifestations associated with vitamin B12 deficiency are skin hyperpigmentation, vitiligo, angular stomatitis, and hair changes. A diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency is often overlooked in its early stages because these signs are not specific to vitamin B12 deficiency alone.
Organ meats and shellfish are the richest dietary sources, with a 3-ounce (85 g) serving of cooked clams providing approximately 84.1 µg, while beef liver contains about 70.7 µg. Fatty fish, such as trout and salmon, supply 5.4 µg and 4.8 µg per 3-ounce serving, respectively.
Milk. One of the best drinks with B12 is milk. One cup of whole milk contains approximately 1.32µg of vitamin B12.
Neurological changes
Furthermore, a vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to nerve-related pain, muscle pain or inflammation that may later radiate towards the calf and heels.