Some studies have found an association between heartburn medications and increased risk of vitamin B-12 deficiency. Medicines to treat heartburn, also called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), work by suppressing stomach acid. Blocking stomach acid and other secretions may also block B-12 absorption.
If your bones have been aching lately, you're feeling down in the dumps, are having sleeping problems, or experiencing acid reflux, you may think these are simply signs of aging. These symptoms on their own may not signal a major problem, but put them together and it could mean that you're not getting enough vitamin D.
B12 needs to interact with acid in the stomach to be bio-available in the rest of the body. So problems with indigestion and heartburn can be linked to B12 deficiency.
(2) So vitamin D deficiency might promote GERD either through subclinical gastroparesis or esophageal dysmotility.
Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency may include:
Fatigue. Not sleeping well. Bone pain or achiness. Depression or feelings of sadness.
People with vitamin B12 deficiency can have neurological symptoms and/or damage without anemia (lack of red blood cells). General physical symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency can include: Feeling very tired or weak. Experiencing nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
Weakness, tiredness, or lightheadedness. Heart palpitations and shortness of breath. Pale skin. A smooth tongue.
Conditions that magnesium may help treat:
Acid reflux & heartburn - magnesium will reduce spasm of the lower esophageal sphincter and prevent the release of acid into the esophagus. Magnesium is also needed for stomach acid production, so deficiency can be an indicator of low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria).
Omeprazole: Best OTC Heartburn Medication
Omeprazole, commonly known as Prilosec, is a PPI that reduces the quantity of food-digesting acid made by the cells within the lining of your stomach. In fact, Prilosec was one of the first and strongest PPIs created to combat acid reflux.
For mild, occasional heartburn, over-the-counter medications such as antacids and histamine blockers can help relieve symptoms. Always read the product label before taking an antacid or histamine blocker and never take a larger dose or take doses more frequently than directed.
Multivitamins, especially the ones containing zinc, iron, or calcium, can aggravate the symptoms of GERD including heartburn.
Once you begin treating your vitamin B12 deficiency, it can take up to six to 12 months to fully recover. It is also common to not experience any improvement during the first few months of treatment. If you can, it's a good idea to address what's causing the deficiency.
Fatigue. Megaloblastic anemia due to vitamin B-12 deficiency may lead to a person feeling fatigued. Without enough red blood cells to carry oxygen around their body, a person can feel extremely tired.
There are certain foods that also need a cut-down in case of vitamin B12 deficiency. “Some foods and drinks can interfere with vitamin B complex intake like alcohol, caffeine and processed foods, etc should be avoided completely,” Shah added.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can indeed lead to weight gain. But the weight gain is not a direct result of the deficiency. Instead, vitamin B12 deficiency causes lethargy or lack of energy, and in turn, inactivity causes weight gain. When you lack the energy to move, you don't burn fat.
Vitamin D deficiency is the state of having inadequate amounts of vitamin D in your body, which may cause health problems like brittle bones and muscle weakness.
Vitamin D deficiency is linked to many disease processes. It also plays a role in weight gain. If you're struggling with weight loss, there's a very good chance you're also struggling to store adequate amounts of vitamin D in your body.
Iron deficiency is the most prevalent nutritional deficiency, with young children and premenopausal women at the highest risk of iron deficiency [21, 22].
According to the National Library of Medicine, vitamin D deficiency can lead to a loss of bone density, which can contribute to osteoporosis and fractures (broken bones). Severe vitamin D deficiency can also lead to other diseases.
In general, the two main causes of vitamin D deficiency are: Not getting enough vitamin D in your diet and/or through sunlight. Your body isn't properly absorbing or using vitamin D.