The main causes of B12 deficiency are poor dietary intake (especially in vegans/vegetarians) and malabsorption issues, with pernicious anemia (an autoimmune condition preventing intrinsic factor production needed for absorption) being a very common absorption problem, alongside gastric surgeries, digestive diseases (like Crohn's/celiac), and certain medications (PPIs, metformin) that hinder absorption.
Causes of Vitamin B12 deficiency
No significant interactions are reported between amlodipine and Vitamin B12 specifically, but multivitamins with minerals might decrease amlodipine's effectiveness, so always tell your doctor about all supplements, including B12, as they can affect your blood pressure and medication response. While B12 itself seems safe, other supplements like St. John's Wort can interact, and potential B vitamin effects on blood pressure meds aren't fully understood, making professional advice crucial.
Taking doses of vitamin B-12 might cause: Headache. Nausea. Diarrhea.
Intramuscular hydroxocobalamin and oral cyanocobalamin are treatment options for the management of clinically relevant vitamin B12 deficiency during pregnancy.
During pregnancy, ensuring adequate vitamin B12 levels is crucial for fetal development and maternal health. The third trimester is especially significant as the fetus undergoes rapid growth and development, necessitating adequate nutrient transfer from the mother.
The worst symptoms of B12 deficiency involve severe nerve damage and cognitive issues, including tingling/numbness in hands and feet, trouble walking, memory loss, confusion, depression, and even dementia in severe, untreated cases, alongside severe fatigue, pale skin, and heart palpitations from anemia. These neurological and mental problems can become irreversible if the deficiency isn't treated promptly.
Vitamin B12 deficiency causes
Gastritis: Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining, and it's a common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency. It can cause vitamin B12 deficiency due to a lack of hydrochloric acid in your stomach, which you need for B12 absorption.
The time it takes to recover from Vitamin B12 Deficiency depends on several factors, including: Severity of Deficiency: Mild deficiencies often resolve quicker, while severe cases can take months. Duration of Deficiency: Chronic deficiencies may require more extended treatment to replenish depleted stores.
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.
That said, there are no known risks of taking Vitamin B in combination with blood pressure medication, as long as you are treating a vitamin deficit and not going above the recommended daily dose.
Common side effects
CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKERS
Examples include; amlodipine, nifedipine, felodipine, diltiazem and verapamil. Nutrients that can be depleted by these medicines are potassium, calcium, vitamin D and possibly Co-Enzyme Q10.
Autoimmune: Pernicious anemia is an autoimmune condition in which antibodies to intrinsic factors are produced. Anti-intrinsic factor antibodies bind to and inhibit the effects of intrinsic factors, resulting in an inability of B12 to be absorbed by the terminal ileum.
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.
Fish tapeworms take up dietary vitamin B12, occasionally resulting in vitamin B12 deficiency and megaloblastic anemia. Rarely, heavy infection leads to intestinal obstruction or gallbladder disease due to migration of proglottids (tapeworm segments).
Some people can develop a vitamin B12 deficiency as a result of not getting enough vitamin B12 from their diet. A diet that includes meat, fish and dairy products usually provides enough vitamin B12, but people who do not regularly eat these foods can become deficient.
When will I feel better? 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.
The best form of B12 is often considered methylcobalamin, as it's a naturally occurring, active form the body uses immediately, though adenosylcobalamin is also an active form, with a combination often recommended for better results, especially for deficiency or absorption issues, while cyanocobalamin, a cheaper synthetic option, is effective but requires conversion and is less ideal for some. For general supplementation, natural forms like methylcobalamin or adenosylcobalamin are preferred for better retention.
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.
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.
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.
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.
One of the reasons for vertigo, which patients describe as a 'feeling of turning', is a lack of vitamins. Yeditepe University Hospitals Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery Specialists, who drew attention to the latest research, said "Iron deficiency anemia, vitamin B12 and D deficiency cause vertigo".