Vitamin B-12 is a nutrient that your body uses for a variety of purposes, including red blood cell production, central nervous system maintenance and the breakdown and use of the foods in your diet. Some people cannot properly absorb B-12 or lack sufficient amounts of the vitamin in their diets; as a result they can easily develop the symptoms of vitamin deficiency.
Causes
There are a number of potential underlying causes for poor vitamin B-12 absorption, including advancing age, low levels of stomach acid, the presence of gastrointestinal disorders such as Crohn's disease or celiac disease and the presence of a blood cell disorder called pernicious anemia.Since dietary sources of the vitamin commonly come from animal-based foods, vegetarians are also susceptible to vitamin B-12 deficiency. In addition, individuals who undergo certain types of stomach or small intestine surgery have a tendency toward poor B-12 absorption. In a large number of cases, doctors never discover the exact cause of either poor absorption or deficiency.
Symptoms
Common symptoms of vitamin B-12 deficiency include weakness, constipation, fatigue, weight loss, appetite loss and anemia. Additional potential symptoms include dementia, confusion, depression, memory loss, soreness in your mouth or tongue and balance problems. In some cases, the onset of deficiency can also trigger nerve-related symptoms such as tingling or numbness in your hands or feet. Infants with B-12 deficiencies can produce signs that include anemia, delayed development, movement problems and a general lack of vibrancy or health.
Treatment
Treatment for a B-12 deficiency usually involves the administration of injected forms of the vitamin, according to the National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements. Since these injections bypass the gastrointestinal system, they circumvent any potential problems with vitamin absorption. In some cases, absorption problems may also be overcome with large doses of oral B-12. If you're a vegetarian, you can reduce or eliminate any deficiencies with oral or injected doses of the vitamin, or with the conscious inclusion of B-12-fortified foods into your daily diet.
Considerations
If you take large amounts of folic acid, you can mask the presence of a vitamin B-12 deficiency, the Office of Dietary Supplements notes. This occurs when the folic acid in your system corrects anemia, which is frequently one of the most prominent deficiency symptoms. Without the presence of obvious symptoms, a B-12 deficiency can go undetected and eventually trigger permanent nerve damage. Also be aware that the symptoms of B-12 deficiency also commonly occur in association with a variety of other conditions. Consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis.
Member Comments