Vitamin B12 deficiency

Dr Maxwell Adeyemi

VITAMIN B12 deficiency happens when your body is either not getting enough or not absorbing enough vitamin B12 from the food that you eat that it needs to function properly.

Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause physical, neurological and psychological problems if it is not treated.

Vitamin B12 is an important nutrient that helps your body keep your nerve cells and blood cells healthy. It also helps your body make DNA, the genetic material in all of your cells.

Your body does not make vitamin B12 on its own, so you have to consume food and drinks that have vitamin B12 in order to get it. Vitamin B12 is found in animal products you eat and drink such as meat, dairy and eggs. It can also be found in fortified foods (foods that have certain vitamins and nutrients added to them) such as certain cereals, bread and nutritional yeast.

How the body absorb vitamin B12

There are two things that need to happen in order for your body to absorb vitamin B12 from the food you eat. First, hydrochloric acid in your stomach removes vitamin B12 from the food it was in. Then, vitamin B12 combines with something called intrinsic factor, a protein made by your stomach. Vitamin B12 is then able to be absorbed by your digestive system.

Vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia

Vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia happens when your body does not have enough healthy red blood cells because your body has a vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 is needed to make red blood cells. Because of this, a lack of vitamin B12 can cause anaemia. People can, however, have a vitamin B12 deficiency without having anaemia.

Causes of vitamin B12 deficiency

Vitamin B12 deficiency happens if you are not eating enough vitamin B12 or your body is not absorbing the vitamin B12 you consume properly. Situations or conditions that can cause vitamin B12 deficiency include:

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Lack of vitamin B12 in your diet: People who don't eat enough foods that naturally have vitamin B12 or don't eat foods fortified with vitamin B12 can develop vitamin B12 deficiency.

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Gastritis: Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining, and it’s a common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency. It can cause vitamin B12 deficiency due to a lack of hydrochloric acid in your stomach, which is needed for vitamin B12 absorption.

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Pernicious anaemia: People who have pernicious anaemia, a rare medical condition, are not able to make intrinsic factor, a protein made by your stomach. You need intrinsic factor so that your body can absorb B12 vitamin. People with pernicious anaemia have a B12 vitamin deficiency.

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Digestive diseases: Diseases that affect the digestive system, like Crohn’s disease and celiac disease, can prevent your body from fully absorbing vitamin B12.

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Surgery: People who have gastrointestinal surgery, such as a gastric bypass (weight loss surgery), can have difficulty absorbing vitamin B12.

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Alcohol abuse: This condition can damage your digestive system and cause vitamin B12 deficiency.

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Transcobalamin II deficiency: This is a rare genetic disorder that impairs the transport of vitamin B12 (also known as cobalamin) within the body.

Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency

Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause physical, neurological and psychological symptoms. The symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency can develop slowly and can get worse over time. Some people may have no symptoms despite having a low level of vitamin B12 in their bodies. People with vitamin B12 deficiency can have neurological symptoms and/or damage without anaemia (lack of red blood cells).

General physical symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency can include:

* Feeling very tired or weak

* Experiencing nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea

* Not feeling as hungry as usual

* Weight loss

* Having a sore mouth or tongue

* Having yellowish skin

* Numbness or tingling in your hands and feet

* Vision problems

* Having a hard time remembering things or getting confused easily

* Having a difficult time walking or speaking like you usually do

* If neurological problems develop from vitamin B12 deficiency, they may not be reversible

* Feeling depressed

* Feeling irritable

* Experiencing a change in the way you feel and behave

Diagnosis

It can be difficult to diagnose vitamin B12 deficiency because symptoms are not always present or the symptoms can be similar to other nutritional deficiencies.

The tests used to diagnose vitamin B12 deficiency are a complete blood count (CBC) and a vitamin B12 blood test level.

Treatment

Vitamin B12 deficiency can be treated with vitamin B12. Depending on the cause of the deficiency, the person may only have to be treated until their vitamin B12 levels are back to normal, or they may have to take vitamin B12 therapy for the rest of their life.

Risk factors for vitamin B12 deficiency

A person is more likely to develop vitamin B12 deficiency if they have one or more of the following risk factors:

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Being older than 75 years: Elderly people are more at risk for developing vitamin B12 deficiency because their bodies are often unable to fully absorb vitamin B12.

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Having a digestive system disorder: Digestive disorders such as celiac disease and Crohn’s disease can make it more difficult for your body to absorb vitamin B12.

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Following a strict vegan or vegetarian diet: Vitamin B12 is only naturally found in animal products such as meat and dairy. Because of this, people who eat a vegan or vegetarian diet are more likely to have a vitamin B12 deficiency if they are not eating enough fortified foods with vitamin B12.

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Taking certain medications: Certain medications can cause low levels of vitamin B12 in your body, including metformin, proton pump inhibitors [used to treat GERD and peptic ulcers], and oral birth control pills.

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Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol: Chronic alcoholism can damage your digestive system and cause vitamin B12 deficiency.

Untreated vitamin B12 deficiency can result in health conditions such as:

* Peripheral neuropathy

* Degeneration of the spinal cord

* Paralysis

* Bowel incontinence and/or urinary incontinence

* Erectile dysfunction

* Depression

* Paranoia and delusions

* Memory loss

Contact Dr Maxwell on 3631807 or 7575411