Adequate amounts of B12 are required for blood cell formation and proper nerve function. It is found in foods, such as fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk and dairy, and many products ate fortified with it. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, when the level in the blood drops to 170 to 250 pg/mL deficiency symptoms can occur. Deficiencies can occur with no known reason or be due to a disease that restricts the body's ability to absorb vitamin B12. A lack of B12 can cause various neurological symptoms, which require medical attention.
Numbness
A lack of vitamin B12 can lead to nerve damage which can cause sensations of numbness and tingling, warns the National Institutes of Health. This can occur anywhere in the body but is most common in the hands and feet. Grasping objects, walking and maintaining balance may become challenging due to a loss of sensation. Depending on the severity of the deficiency, adding foods high in B12 into the diet may be enough, while more severe cases require vitamin B12 shots.
Shakiness
If B12 levels become too low, patients can become shaky, weak and it may be challenging to coordinate movement. In severe cases, paralysis can occur.
Since the body is able to store vitamin B12, deficiencies are not that common except in the elderly, states the Mayo Clinic. With age, diseases that interfere with digestion are more common and there are many medications that can hinder the body from using B12 properly.
For most consuming one chicken breast, one hard-boiled egg and 1 cup plain low-fat yogurt daily will meet the requirement. A cup of raisin bran with 1 cup of milk also contains the daily amount needed.
Mental Decline
Other warning signs of a B12 deficiency include confusion, dementia, hallucinations, psychosis, paranoia, depression, violent behavior and personality changes claims the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The good news is that in most cases these symptoms can be resolved by bringing B12 levels back to normal. If even mild changes in cognitive ability are noticed, it is important to seek medical attention and have the level of vitamin B12 tested.
Optic Neuropathy
While rare, a vitamin B12 deficiency can cause damage to the nerves and muscles that control vision. This can lead to changes in vision such as blurriness or sight loss. The difficulty in detecting a deficiency, is that it tends to occur slowly and symptoms may be so subtle that they are not recognized or attended to. Symptoms may progress so slowly that a patient may adapt to them without realizing something is wrong. However, it can be caught during a routine blood test, so regular testing is essential especially in those at a higher risk.
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