Vitamin B12 is an essential water-soluble vitamin readily available in many common foods like meats, shellfish and dairy products, as well as by prescription and in supplement form. Vitamin B12 helps the body maintain healthy nerve and red blood cells, and is instrumental in DNA processes. A Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to a host of psychiatric problems, including dementia or psychosis. It is important to recognize the symptoms of this vitamin deficiency, in order to take proactive steps to avoid it.
Mechanism
Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause the homocysteine levels in your blood to increase, according to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. This, in turn, can affect their role in metabolizing the neurotransmitters that send messages between the body and the brain. According to the Institute's website, observational studies show a potential link between elevated homocysteine levels and the incidence of mental health conditions like Alzheimer's disease and dementia. In addition, these studies also show vitamin B12's link to cognitive decline.
Psychiatric Effects
According to the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine, psychosis can be sudden or acute, or chronic and ongoing. The Office of Dietary Supplements also suggests that you may experience depression, confusion and dementia from a B12 deficiency.
Deficiency Levels
Research reveals that psychosis symptoms occur when vitamin B12 levels are just slightly lower than normal. According to the MayoClinic.com, the levels are nowhere near as low as they need to be for a B12 deficiency to cause physical conditions like anemia.
Reversing Deficiency
Vitamin B12 psychosis is reversible, and according to the MayoClinic.com, you can avoid it altogether by eating foods rich in B12. The recommended dietary allowance for adults is 2.4 micrograms per day, 2.6 micrograms per day for pregnant women, and 2.8 micrograms per day if you are breastfeeding. Your doctor may recommend a vitamin B12 shot or supplement pill if you are deficient.
At-Risk Populations
Because the body stores an ample supply of vitamin B12, nutritional deficiency is rare. However, if you are a strict vegetarian who avoids the meats and dairy products rich in this vitamin, or you are elderly, you are at higher risk for becoming deficient, according to the MayoClinic.com. Deficiency is also possible if you have a condition that requires additional B12, like pregnancy or a disease of the liver or kidney.
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