Vitamin B12 is an essential water-soluble vitamin that is found in fish, meat and dairy products. Although water soluble, the body can store several years' worth of the vitamin, so nutritional deficiencies are rate. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, low levels are commonly found in one out of every 31 adults who are 51 and older. The use of gastric-acid blocking agents, prevalent in older Americans, can lead to a decrease in vitamin B12 levels, "American Family Physician" reports.
Anemia
B12 is required for the body to produce red blood cells, MedlinePlus reports. People who suffer from mild anemia may have little or no symptoms, while those who have B12-deficiency anemia may experience diarrhea or constipation, fatigue, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, pale skin, problems concentrating or swollen and red tongue. According to MayoClinic.com, two types of anemia can be linked to a deficiency of B12. These are megaloblastic anemia and perniciaous anemia. The first type can be treated with B12 supplementation while the second type of anemia requires lifelong treatment because the individual is unable to absorb vitamin B12, leading to the deficiency and anemia.
Neurological and Psychiatric Disorder
When deficiency of vitamin B12 has been present for a longer period of time you may experience neurological damage, MedlinePlus warns. Symptoms of nerve damage can include confusion, depression, loss of balance and numbness or tingling of the hands and feet. Other neurological symptoms include shaky movements and unsteady gait, muscle weakness, spasticity, incontinence and vision problems, MayoClinic.com reports. Neurological damage can also lead to psychiatric symptoms, including dementia, psychoses and mood disorders. Physicians from MayoClinic.com have also found that these symptoms are present in individuals who have levels which are only slightly lower than normal but higher than those that cause anemia.
Cardiovascular Disease
Homocysteine levels in the blood are a significant risk factor for atherosclerosis, deep-vein thrombosis and heart attacks. According to MayoClinic.com, the elevated levels may be a marker of disease and not a cause. Supplementation with B12, B6 and folic acid will reduce total homocysteine levels but may not help with prevention of the increased risk factors. Some physicians theorize that supplementation of B12 when there is deficiency will help reduce your risk factors for cardiovascular disease. However, more clinical evidence is needed before vitamin supplementation can be assumed to prevent cardiovascular disease in people who have vitamin-B12 deficiency.
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