Decreased B-12 Levels

Vitamin B-12 is a water soluble vitamin. It is part of the B vitamin group that promotes and regulates many essential bodily functions. Vitamin B-12 can exist in several forms and contains the mineral cobalt, which is a trace mineral used by your body for immune system regulation. Vitamin B-12 is found naturally in many foods, particularly animal products such as meat and dairy. Because of this, vegetarians and vegans are more susceptible to a vitamin B-12 deficiency. Decreased levels of vitamin B-12 in your diet may result in several complications, including decreased red blood cell count, nerve damage, and growth abnormalities.

Decreased Red Blood Cell Count

Vitamin B-12 plays an important role in the production of hemoglobin, which is a transport protein located inside red blood cells that are responsible for carrying oxygen throughout your body. Decreasing the amount of hemoglobin production in your body leads to a decrease in your overall red blood cell count. A low red blood cell count is called anemia, which is a condition that may lead to chronic fatigue, loss of appetite, pale skin, shortness of breath, and problems concentrating.

Nerve Damage

In some cases, nerve damage may result from a B-12 deficiency. Vitamin B-12 helps regulate the hormone-like molecules called cytokines, which are cell-signaling molecules that are essential for intercellular communication. Disrupting the balance of cytokines may cause temporary nerve damage. A vitamin B-12 deficiency may also cause more permanent nerve damage by decreasing the conversion of certain amino acids that are important for building the structures that insulate your nerves. Without proper insulation, your nerves may break down and decay, causing serious, sometimes permanent, damage.

Growth Abnormalities

A deficiency in vitamin B-12 may be linked to an inhibition of the healthy growth and development of various body tissues, particularly bone and nerve tissue. Since vitamin B-12 contains the trace mineral cobalt, deficiencies in both compounds often occur at the same time. A cobalt deficiency may lead to the decreased production of certain anabolic hormones that are responsible for body tissue growth, and vitamin B-12 acts as a catalyst for the production of many growth-stimulating hormones.

Sources of Vitamin B-12

The most effective way to prevent or correct a vitamin B-12 deficiency is to make sure you are ingesting adequate amounts of the vitamin. The recommended dietary allowance of vitamin B-12 is 2.5 mcg per day. The most common sources of natural vitamin B-12 are red meat, shellfish, milk and eggs. For vegetarians and vegans who do not consume animal products, a vitamin B-12 supplement in pill form may be necessary to reach your recommended intake. Brewer's yeast, and other forms of nutritional yeasts also contain vitamin B-12, and may be an alternative to B-12 pills for vegans.