Hi, friends. Today, I will be telling you all about Vitamin B12, an essential vitamin in our body for energy and the proper functioning of our brain. It is also needed for blood production in our body and D.N.A. synthesis.
Causes of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
It has been estimated that by the time people reach 60, approximately 20% are Vitamin B12 deficient.
You can find vitamin B12 in lots of everyday foods. But, it’s more in animal stuff like meat, chicken, eggs, fish, milk, and milk things like yogurt, butter, cheese, and cottage cheese.
That is why people who are pure vegetarians and those who don’t consume milk products (vegans) often suffer from Vitamin B12 deficiency. As one age, the ability of the body to digest Vitamin B12 from food products decreases.
This is why people who are over the age of 50 often begin suffering from a deficiency of Vitamin B12 nowadays. Even young adults and children have started suffering from this deficiency mainly because the youth do not consume that much milk or milk products and also don’t eat as many eggs.
Plus, young adults are also often seen going on diets. Conversely, the youth drink protein shakes to build their bodies rather than eat natural food.
In our body, the level of Vitamin B12 is considered normal if it is above 300 picograms/mL in blood. If it is less than 200 picograms/mL in blood, it is regarded as a deficiency of Vitamin B12. Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency.
Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Now, if you are suffering from a deficiency of Vitamin B12, what are its symptoms, and what tests should be conducted? Let me tell you about this now.
The first symptom of a deficiency is chronic fatigue or tiredness. To produce blood, our body needs a proper level of Vitamin B12, so whenever there is a deficiency of Vitamin B12, it usually first results in anemia. Specifically, it is called ‘Megaloblastic Anaemia,” which causes tiredness and fatigue in the body. Plus, the skin color appears pale, and the whites of the eyes also get a yellowish tinge to them.
A deficiency of Vitamin B12 also directly affects our mental well-being, which means that deficiency causes a lack of concentration, focus, and forgetfulness.
This happens more once a person crosses the age of 50-60 years. People with recurrent migraines or frequent headaches are often discovered to have a Vitamin B12 deficiency.
Addressing the deficiency usually cures headaches/migraines. Vitamin B12 is also essential for our psychological well-being because a lack often results in psychological stress and depression.
It also causes insomnia and burning sensation in hands/feet, cramps, and a sense of “pins & needles” in extremities. All of these symptoms could be caused by B12 deficiency.
Many people also exhibit bloating in the belly area due to a deficiency, gas, or a feeling of nausea after meals and diarrhea in extreme cases.
But this is more often faced by young kids. Another symptom of deficiency common in both old and young alike is a burning sensation and recurrent ulcers in the mouth.
Tests For Vit B12 Deficiency
Now, if you are exhibiting any of these symptoms above and if you happen to be a vegetarian and you are also older than 50 years of age, OR you are already suffering from some chronic medical problem, then as a first step, you should go to an excellent medical center and have these four blood tests done.
- The first is a Complete Blood Count or C.B.C. Test.
- The second test is a check for the level of Vitamin B12 in the blood,
- The third is a Folic Acid Level Test.
- The fourth test is a Thyroid Function Test.
Treatment of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Vitamin B12 and folic acid are important for keeping our minds and emotions in good shape, and they also help our nerves stay healthy. So, if these tests show that you don’t have enough folic acid and vitamin B12 in your blood, the first thing to do is eat more foods like fish, red meat, eggs, and leafy green veggies.
Vegetarians must include or increase milk consumption, such as curd, cheese, butter, and other vegetarian products like soya, mushrooms, and beetroots.
Besides this, there is a Vitamin B12 supplement known as Methycobal. You should consume one capsule of this supplement daily for at least 3 to 6 months. Those who have digestion issues or suffer from frequent indigestion can benefit from taking injections of Vitamin B12.
