Vitamin B12 is responsible for creating red blood cells that allow oxygen to be carried throughout the body. This is extremely important for many essential functions, including maintaining a normal nervous system. B12 is distributed throughout the body by binding to what is known as the "intrinsic factor," which is a glycoprotein produced in the stomach. When B12 is not properly absorbed, it cannot do its job, creating uncomfortable symptoms that can range from mild to severe.
Diets Causing a B12 Deficiency
B12 is found in meat, fish, eggs, milk and cheese. A diet that does not include these foods requires supplementation or else there will be a deficiency of the vitamin. Vegans and vegetarians need to pay special attention to supplementing their diets with B12 as a diet relying on vegetables, fruits, and grains will not supply this vitamin. Persons suffering from pernicious anemia are also prone to deficiencies because with this condition, stomach cells required to absorb B12 are destroyed.
Other Causes of B12 Deficiency
Lap band and gastric bypass surgeries where part of the stomach or small intestine is removed to help patients lose weight can cause a B12 deficiency. People with Crohn's disease, parasites or bacterial growths in the small intestine are also prone to the deficiency. If you are on medication for ulcers or use pharmaceuticals on a regular basis for heartburn, you can be a strong candidate for the loss of B12.
Symptoms of a B12 Deficiency
The body actually does not need much B12 to respond in a favorable manner. Additionally the body is able to store B12, so often when there is a deficiency it is not immediately felt. Sometimes symptoms of a lack of B12 are not revealed until three or four years after the deficiency begins. This is because the liver can hold a large amount of the vitamin, disseminating it slowly to the body until it is used up. When symptoms do appear they can take many forms, depending on the degree of the deficiency.
Symptoms
Anemia, abnormal paleness, fatigue, improper digestion, lack of appetite, nausea, diarrhea, fever, depression, impaired memory, lack of menstruation, abnormality in the mucus membranes of the mouth, stomach and vagina, infertility, numbness and tingling in the hands and feet and nerve damage in the legs and arms are symptoms of a Vitamin B 12 deficiency.
Regulating B12
The good news about regulating a B12 deficiency is that most of the symptoms go away once your body receives enough and your intake is maintained. In the case of nerve damage or dementia that can occur from a prolonged deficiency (especially in the elderly), this is, however, generally not the case. Make sure that you consult with your healthcare provider if you have concerns. A routine blood test should also point out your B12 level.
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