According to MayoClinic.com, vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that is essential for life. Vitamin B12 is necessary for healthy nerve and red-blood cell function. Most people get adequate vitamin B12 from eating animal products, such as chicken, milk or eggs. Furthermore, vitamin B12 deficiency is uncommon because the body can store several year's worth of this vitamin before becoming deficient. However, if you are a vegetarian, vegan, had surgery on your intestines or are anemic, you may have a vitamin B12 deficiency, which requires close monitoring.
Step 1
Schedule an appointment with your doctor if you are noticing signs of vitamin B12 deficiency. These include diarrhea, fatigue, loss of appetite, pale skin, problems concentration, bleeding gums, or numbness and tingling in your feet, states Medline Plus of the National Institutes of Health. Early treatment can prevent serious complications.
Step 2
Allow your doctor to perform a physical exam to check for vitamin B12 deficiency. The exam will focus on neurological symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, specifically abnormal reflexes.
Step 3
Prepare to have blood tests performed, including a complete blood count (CBC), reticulocyte count, Schilling test, serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and vitamin B12 and folate levels. It may take a few hours to days, depending on how efficient the lab is at analyzing blood samples. The CBC will check for anemia, and the reticulocyte count will make sure your bone marrow is producing red blood cells adequately. LDH is used to check for inappropriate breakdown of red blood cells. The Schilling test will assess if your vitamin B12 deficiency is related to poor absorption of vitamin B12. Folate is typically checked with vitamin B12 because folate deficiencies usually occur with vitamin B12 deficiencies.
Step 4
Follow up with your physician to determine if you have a vitamin B12 deficiency and have it properly treated with a vitamin B12 supplement.
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