727-525-090010 Signs and Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Vitamin B-12 is an essential nutrient that all humans must get from their diet. Most dietary sources of vitamin B-12 are animal-based, such as meat, eggs, dairy, fish, and cheese. However, even with a proper diet, some people are deficient in vitamin B-12.
Benefits of Vitamin B-12
Vitamin B-12 performs many roles within your body, including:
- Forming new red blood cells
- Synthesizing DNA
- Assisting in brain and nerve function and development (all age levels)
- Helping improve bone density
- Lowering the amount of homocysteine in the bloodstream, possibly preventing macular degeneration and heart disease
- Boosting serotonin production to improve energy and mood
- Promotes regeneration of healthy hair, skin, and nails
Causes of Vitamin B-12 Deficiency
Vitamin B-12 is stored in your liver for up to five years. As you gain more vitamin B-12 through your diet, your liver’s stores are replenished. However, if you eat a diet without sufficient vitamin B-12 for long enough, such as a vegan diet, the stores in your liver will become depleted and you will begin experiencing signs and symptoms of vitamin B-12 deficiency. Along with not getting enough vitamin B-12 in their diets for long periods of time, people can also become deficient in vitamin B-12 due to:
- Alcoholism and its effect on the liver
- Aging
- Any surgery that removes part of the stomach or intestines, such as bariatric surgery
- Pernicious anemia
- Atrophic gastritis
- Immune disorders, such as Graves’ disease or lupus (SLE)
- Taking medications that interfere with vitamin B-12 absorption, including some heartburn and diabetes medications
Vitamin B-12 Deficiency Signs and Symptoms to Know
If you are deficient in vitamin B-12, you may not notice any changes at first. However, as the deficiency worsens, you’ll start to notice some or all of the following signs and symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Loss of color in the skin
- A smooth feeling over the tongue
- Gastrointestinal upset, including flatulence, constipation, and/or diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Numbness or tingling in body parts
- Problems walking
- Muscle weakness
- Loss of vision
- Depression
- Memory loss
- Unexplained behavioral changes
The signs and symptoms of vitamin B-12 deficiency are similar to several other conditions, so it’s important to be checked out by a licensed physician and to have blood work completed to determine if vitamin B-12 deficiency is the cause of your symptoms.
Quality Medical Care in Tampa Bay
If you believe you are deficient in vitamin B-12 and don’t have a medical provider, call Tampa Bay’s premier primary care team at Dr. Kavita Rao’s office at 727-525-0900 or contact us online. We can assess your condition, order the relevant lab work, and get you the treatment you need to start feeling better today!