Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin and cyanocobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin. Even though it is water-soluble, which means it dissolves in water, and the body excretes excess amounts in the urine, the body can store vitamin B12 for years within liver cells. Despite this, vitamin B12 deficiency still occurs and can result in significant health problems.
Sources of Vitamin B12
The dietary sources of vitamin B12 include eggs, fortified foods like breakfast cereals and soymilk, meats, dairy products, organ meats like liver, and poultry. Some vegetables have vitamin B12, but according to PubMed Health, the body absorbs B12 from animal sources better than from plant sources. The daily dietary requirement for vitamin B12 in an adult is 2.4 mcg a day. Vitamin B12 is also present in multivitamin pills, and is available in injected form, as well, to treat vitamin B12 deficiency.
Causes of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
According to the National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements, most people in the United States have enough vitamin B12 in their diet. Vitamin B12 deficiency can occur in certain groups, however. The elderly are prone to B12 deficiency because their stomachs produce less acid, which is necessary to absorb the vitamin from the intestines. People who have pernicious anemia can have B12 deficiency due to lack of a protein called intrinsic factor, which is also necessary to absorb B12. People who have conditions like Crohn's disease and celiac disease suffer from malabsorption, the inability to absorb certain nutrients, including vitamin B12. Lastly, strict vegetarians and ovo-vegetarians who do not ingest meat or dairy products can suffer from B12 deficiency.
Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to a condition called macrocytic anemia. In this condition, the lack of B12 makes the body produce fewer and larger red blood cells, decreasing their ability to carry oxygen to the tissues. The symptoms of macrocytic anemia include weakness, shortness of breath, and dizziness. According to Lab Tests Online, B12 deficiency can also cause neuropathy, or nerve damage, which can lead to numbness and tingling of the extremities, as well as confusion and other changes in mental status.
Treatment
The treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency depends on the cause. People with nutritional deficiencies, like ovo-vegetarians, can include an oral B12 supplement in their diets, either as a standalone pill or in conjunction with a daily multivitamin. For people who have pernicious anemia, malabsorption, or any condition that interferes with their absorption of B12 from the intestines, vitamin B12 injections may be necessary.
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