Vitamin B-12 is an essential vitamin. A deficiency can lead to a number of symptoms, including fatigue, irritability and other mood changes, palpitations, shortness of breath, muscle weakness and menstrual problems. If left untreated, a B-12 deficiency can lead to permanent damage to the nervous system.
Vegan Diet
A diet that contains no animal products whatsoever might be deficient in vitamin B-12. B-12 doesn't naturally exist in vegetables or other non-animal products. Vegans should take a supplement or eat products that are fortified with B-12. Cereals, breads and some soy milks might contain B-12.
Absorption Problems
A number of health problems can cause malasorption problems. Common examples include Crohn's disease, chronic atrophic gastritis and achlorhydria, a condition in which your stomach doesn't produce enough gastric acid. People who undergo bariatric surgical procedures and have part of their intestines or stomachs removed can also have problems absorbing vitamins, including B-12.
Medications
Certain medications can affect the absorption of vitamin B-12. An example is the diabetes medication metformin. According to a 2006 study published on the "Archives of Internal Medicine," up to 95 percent of patients who take metformin will develop a B-12 deficiency.
Pernicious Anemia
People who suffer from pernicious anemia can develop vitamin B-12 deficiency. In people with pernicious anemia, antibodies attacks the stomach lining, damaging it. As a result, the protein needed to attach and process B-12 -- known as intrinsic factor -- is not longer produced and B-12 cannot be absorbed.
References
- Medical News Today: What Is Vitamin B12 Deficiency? What Causes Vitamin B12 Deficiency?
- Merck Manuals: Vitamin B12 (Cobalamins)
- National Healt Service: B12 Deficiency
- "Archives of Internal Medicine"; Risk Factors of Vitamin B (12) Deficiency in Patients Receiving Metformin; Ting RZ, Szeto CC, Chan MH, Ma KK, Chow KML; October 2006
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