Why am i vitamin b12 deficiency

This anemia can also happen if you don't eat enough foods with B12, but this is rare. People who eat a vegan diet and older adults who don't eat a variety of foods may need to take a daily vitamin pill to get enough B Other causes include drinking alcohol and taking some prescription and nonprescription medicines.

The amount of vitamin B12 you need depends on your age. If your vitamin B12 deficiency is mild, you may not have symptoms or you may not notice them.

Some people may think they are just the result of growing older. As the anemia gets worse, you may:. If the level of vitamin B12 stays low for a long time, it can damage your nerve cells.

If this happens, you may have:. Your doctor will examine you and ask questions about your past health and how you are feeling now. You will also have blood tests to check the number of red blood cells and to see if your body has enough vitamin B The level of folic acid , another B vitamin, will be checked too.

Some people whose vitamin B12 levels are too low also have low levels of folic acid. The two problems can cause similar symptoms. But they are treated differently. Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia is treated with supplements of vitamin B Taking supplements brings your level of vitamin B12 back to normal, so you do not have symptoms.

To keep your level of vitamin B12 normal, you will probably need to take supplements for the rest of your life. Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is an important water-soluble vitamin 1. It plays an essential role in the production of your red blood cells and DNA, as well as the proper functioning of your nervous system.

Vitamin B12 is naturally found in animal foods, including meats, fish, poultry, eggs and dairy. However, it can also be found in products fortified with B12, such as some varieties of bread and plant-based milk. Unfortunately, B12 deficiency is common, especially in the elderly.

People at risk of a B12 deficiency include 2 :. Unfortunately, symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency can take years to show up, and diagnosing it can be complex. A B12 deficiency can sometimes be mistaken for a folate deficiency.

Low levels of B12 cause your folate levels to drop. However, if you have a B12 deficiency, correcting low folate levels may simply mask the deficiency and fail to fix the underlying problem 3. People with a B12 deficiency often look pale or have a slight yellow tinge to the skin and whites of the eyes, a condition known as jaundice.

Vitamin B12 plays an essential role in the production of the DNA needed to make red blood cells. Without it, the instructions for building the cells are incomplete, and cells are unable to divide 5.

This causes a type of anemia called megaloblastic anemia, in which the red blood cells produced in your bone marrow are large and fragile.

These red blood cells are too large to pass out of your bone marrow and into your circulation. The fragility of these cells also means that many of them break down, causing an excess of bilirubin. Bilirubin is a slightly red or brown-colored substance, which is produced by the liver when it breaks down old blood cells. Large amounts of bilirubin are what give your skin and eyes a yellow tinge 6 , 7.

Summary: If you have a B12 deficiency, your skin may appear pale or jaundiced. In the elderly, this type of anemia is often caused by an autoimmune condition known as pernicious anemia. Intrinsic factor is essential for preventing a B12 deficiency, as it binds with vitamin B12 in your gut so that you are able to absorb it 8. This can make you feel tired and weak.

This can occur over time, as vitamin B12 is an important contributor to the metabolic pathway that produces the fatty substance myelin. Myelin surrounds your nerves as a form of protection and insulation 9. Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia can cause a wide range of symptoms. These usually develop gradually, but can worsen if the condition goes untreated. Anaemia is where you have fewer red blood cells than normal or you have an abnormally low amount of a substance called haemoglobin in each red blood cell.

Given the array of symptoms a vitamin B 12 deficiency can cause, the condition can be overlooked or confused with something else. Vitamin B 12 deficiency symptoms may include:. While an experienced physician may notice the symptoms and be able to detect a vitamin B 12 deficiency with a good interview and physical exam, a blood test is needed to confirm the condition. Early detection and treatment is important. If left untreated, the deficiency can cause severe neurologic problems and blood diseases.

A serious vitamin B 12 deficiency can be corrected two ways: weekly shots of vitamin B 12 or daily high-dose B 12 pills. A mild B 12 deficiency can be corrected with a standard multivitamin. In many people, a vitamin B 12 deficiency can be prevented. Most are based on poor or faulty evidence. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content.

Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. I have a question.

Does B12 or even B-Complex deficiency cause blotting of hands, feet and face. I have come across many people in India, who are poor and vegetarian and complain of facial, hands and feet swelling combined with extreme exhaustion. I know exhaustion is a symptom of B-complex deficiency, but am not finding any literature on whether bloating is also a symptom.

My gastrintologist told me that I am deficient in B12 and ordered shots every month. What I am wondering is if a B12 dietary supplement having mcg in them would be enough to replace the shots? Pleast let me know soon. I have a hiatial hernia and two polyps: one in my stomach and one in my small intestine. He took a biopsy and I have to wait at least 10 days to find out the results.

I am very worried about the hernia though. Thanks for your help. Sincerely, Lorraine K. I still jog and mostly walk. Still am working. Been vegetarian leaning mostly to vegan for a long time. Basically very active! I discovered these online. From the Amway company. I believe two XS cans are equivalent to a B12 shot. And they have 15 or more flavors, even decaf. They are great tasting.

Usually I have a Rhodiola and an XS drink in the morning instead of coffee. Sometimes have another XS drink at a lunch break, along with their Perfect Pack vitamins. So yeah I found and pay for these from Amway online. Some of the information on this page seriously underplays the damage caused by b12 deficiency. B12 deficiency is so very common. Should treatment for vitamin b 12 deficiency be started immediately.

My Dad has just been diagnosed on the 5th of March but treatment will not start untilll the 13th of march. Is this normal?

I had my firsts injection about three weeks ago. Yesterday I fainted for the first time in my life. What can I do to get my health back? How do I know if any damage has been caused before diagnosis. Just wanted to add to the above questions, I am 67 years old and B12 Vitamin Deficiency is in my family. I have just recently had a B12 deficiency test done by my doctor thru a blood test.

I have a lots of the symptoms that are listed and as I told my doctor what symptoms I had she suggested I have a variety of blood tests done including B12 deficiency. I will get the results this week. One of my symptoms is burning of the feet and pins and needles etc.

I decided that while waiting for the results I would buy a bottle of B12 Vitamins mcg. I know that some people would have to get B12 shots each month if one were very high in B12 deficiency. So, I took a Vit B tablet and found that the burning of my feet and pins and needles increased quite a bit.

Can anyone tell me why this would be? Would it be because I was allergic to Vitamin B. If I have Vitamin B12 deficiency, which I feel that I have, does anyone know if I took the B12 Shot which goes directly to your bloodstream, I would have some negative reaction to it. About 8 years ago, I started feeling tired, numbess and tingling in my fingers and toes. Two years went by and I was getting worse.