Vitamin B12 plays an important role in the formation of red blood cells, for neurological health and the production of DNA. B12 injections are available with a doctor's prescription and indicated for people who cannot maintain diet-bound blood serum levels of B12. Foods rich in B12 include beef liver, clams and fortified cereal and milk. Anemia, fatigue, weakness, weight loss and loss of appetite are a few of the symptoms of a B12 deficiency.
Anemia
The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that pernicious anemia, also known as megaloblastic anemia, is a rare disorder that prevents the body from absorbing adequate amounts of vitamin B12 from the digestive tract. Inability to get enough B12 results in producing too few red blood cells. Symptoms of pernicious anemia include weak muscles, numbness in the hands or feet, difficulty walking and nausea. The National Institutes of Health reports that people with pernicious anemia require lifelong vitamin B12 replacement, most often in the form of injections.
Intestinal Malabsorption
The Linus Pauling Institute in Oregon explains that some people are incapable of absorbing appropriate amounts of vitamin B12 from their diet, known as food-bound vitamin B12 malabsorption. One top cause of this kind of malabsorption, especially prevalent in the elderly, is thought to be a result of chronic inflammation in the lining of the stomach. People who have food bound vitamin B12 malabsorption do not need more of the vitamin, but rather, they need a form of the vitamin found in supplements. The ODS reports that 10 to 30 percent of older American suffer from this problem, known as atrophic gastritis.
Stomach Reduction Surgery
People who undergo stomach reduction surgery, or have a of portion of the small intestine removed, are at risk for losing cells that secrete acids the body needs to release and absorb B12. Hydrochloric acid in the stomach is responsible for releasing B12 from food in the stomach to be absorbed by the body. The Office of Dietary Supplements, ODS, suggests post-operative, nutrient-deficiency monitoring and in some cases vitamin B12 injections.
Vegetarians
Strict vegetarians and vegans are at a higher risk of developing a B12 deficiency compared to those who follow a looser variation of a vegetarian diet and eat or drink dairy products. Because dietary B12 is limited to foods sourced from animals, people on a strict non-animal diet should either be sure they consume other fortified foods, including cereal, or receive vitamin B12 injections.
Gastrointestinal Disorders
People with celiac disease or Crohn's disease are at higher risk of developing a B12 deficiency. Small intestine disorders, including celiac and Crohn's, can inhibit the body's ability to absorb the vitamin. For some, slowed cognitive functioning from early B12 deficiency, is the only symptom.
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