Your body needs vitamins in small amounts in order to function properly. If you do not get enough vitamins, you can feel tired as certain functions may be impaired. Vitamin B-12 is important for making new cells, so a lack of it can cause fatigue.
Functions of B-12
Vitamin B-12 is a water-soluble vitamin and a member of the vitamin B complex. These vitamins are important for allowing your body to break down carbohydrates, proteins and fats for energy. The role of Vitamin B-12 in making red blood cells also can contribute to the fatigue you may experience with a deficiency.
Vitamin B-12 and Anemia
Your body needs vitamin B-12 to make DNA. Because red blood cells are broken down fairly often, they need to be resynthesized, which requires the manufacture of new DNA. If you don't get enough vitamin B-12, your red blood cell levels will drop, resulting in anemia. Anemia makes it hard for oxygen to get delivered to all of your tissues, causing you to feel fatigued more easily.
Causes of Low B-12
Vitamin B-12 is found in animal-based foods, such as dairy products, red meat, poultry and eggs. Vegetarians and vegans sometimes have trouble getting enough vitamin B-12 in their diets, though it typically takes several years for a deficiency to develop. Alcoholics and the elderly, who often have poor diets, are also at risk for a vitamin B-12 deficiency. You can also develop a deficiency in vitamin B-12 if you have trouble absorbing this vitamin, which can be a result of a health problem known as pernicious anemia.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Blood tests can measure the levels of vitamin B-12 in your blood, and your doctor can also check the appearance of your red blood cells under a microscope to look for characteristic changes associated with a vitamin B-12 deficiency. Treatment of the deficiency requires adding vitamin B-12 to your diet, taking supplements or receiving a vitamin B-12 injection. If a deficiency goes untreated for a long time, you can develop permanent nerve damage.
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