Pernicious anemia, megaloblastic anemia and macrocytic anemia are other names for types of vitamin B-12 deficiency. Your body uses vitamin B-12 to create DNA, RNA and red blood cells, as well as to turn the food you eat into energy. Proper brain function also requires sufficient vitamin B-12. Some people are more at risk for this type of anemia than others.
Symptoms
Symptoms of vitamin B-12 deficiency include diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite, weakness, irritability, depression, weight loss, tingling hands and feet, confusion, poor memory, sore tongue and mouth, shortness of breath and difficulty maintaining your balance. Symptoms usually get worse as the deficiency gets worse, so if you have only a mild deficiency you may have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all.
Risk Factors
Not consuming enough vitamin B-12 through your diet or not having enough intrinsic factor can both cause vitamin B-12 deficiency. Intrinsic factor is a substance made by your body that is necessary for vitamin B-12 absorption. Without it, you develop pernicious anemia. If you are a strict vegan, you are at higher risk for deficiency, since most reliable sources of this vitamin are animal-based. Older adults, those with intestinal disorders and those who have had intestinal surgery are also more likely to develop a vitamin B-12 deficiency.
Sources
Foods containing vitamin B-12 include cheese, eggs, fish, fortified cereals, meat, milk, poultry and yogurt. Some types of yeast also contain small amounts of vitamin B-12. Supplements can provide vitamin B-12 for vegans and elderly people, who may have trouble getting sufficient amounts of this vitamin otherwise. If you don't have enough intrinsic factor, you may need vitamin B-12 shots.
Recommended Intake
Preventing vitamin B-12 deficiency involves consuming a sufficient amount of the vitamin. The adequate intake level for infants up to 6 months old is .4 mcg per day; for those between 7 and 12 months, .5 mcg per day. Children should consume .9 mcg per day between 1 and 3, 1.2 mcg per day between 4 and 8, and 1.8 mcg per day between 9 and 13. Everyone over 14 needs 2.4 mcg per day, except pregnant women, who need 2.6 mcg per day, and breast-feeding women, who need 2.8 mcg per day.
References
- "American Family Physician"; Vitamin B12 Deficiency; Robert C. Oh, et al.; Mar. 1, 2003
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin B12
- MedlinePlus; Anemia - B12 Deficiency; Yi-Bin Chen, MD, et al.; Jan. 31, 2010
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University; Vitamin B12; Jane Higdon, Ph.D., et al.; August 2007
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