This blog post will walk you through: vitamin b12 symptoms. Don’t worry, we’ve got all the answers about this subject.
Contents
General symptoms of anaemia may include: extreme tiredness (fatigue)
lack of energy (lethargy)
breathlessness
feeling faint
headaches
pale skin
noticeable heartbeats (palpitations)
hearing sounds coming from inside the body, rather than from an outside source (tinnitus)
loss of appetite and weight loss
Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency If you have anaemia caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency, you may have other symptoms, such as: a pale yellow tinge to your skin
a sore and red tongue (glossitis)
mouth ulcers
pins and needles (paraesthesia)
changes in the way that you walk and move around
disturbed vision
irritability
depression
changes in the way you think, feel and behave
a decline in your mental abilities, such as memory, understanding and judgement (dementia) Some of these symptoms can also happen in people who have a vitamin B12 deficiency but have not developed anaemia. It’s important for vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia to be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.
Symptoms Of Vitamin B12 Or Folate Deficiency
Eficiency anaemia occurs when a lack of vitamin B12 or folate causes the body to produce abnormally large red blood cells that cannot function properly.
When To See A Gp
See a GP if you think you may have a vitamin B12 or folate deficiency. These conditions can often be diagnosed based on your symptoms and the results of a blood test. This is because although many of the symptoms improve with treatment, some problems caused by the condition can be irreversible.
Causes of a vitamin B12 or folate deficiency There are a number of problems that can lead to a vitamin B12 or folate deficiency. These include: pernicious anaemia – where your immune system attacks healthy cells in your stomach, preventing your body absorbing vitamin B12 from the food you eat; this is the most common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency in the UK
a lack of these vitamins in your diet – this is uncommon, but can happen if you have a vegan diet and do not take vitamin B12 supplements or eat foods fortified with vitamin B12 , follow a fad diet or have a generally poor diet for a long time
medicine – certain medicines, including anticonvulsants and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), can affect how much of these vitamins your body absorbs Both vitamin B12 deficiency and folate deficiency are more common in older people, affecting around 1 in 10 people aged 75 or over and 1 in 20 people aged 65 to 74. Treating vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia Most cases of vitamin B12 and folate deficiency can be easily treated with injections or tablets to replace the missing vitamins.
Vitamin B12 supplements are usually given by injection at first. Then, depending on whether your B12 deficiency is related to your diet, you’ll either require B12 tablets between meals or regular injections. These treatments may be needed for the rest of your life.
In some cases, improving your diet can help treat the condition and prevent it coming back. The best sources of folate include green vegetables, such as broccoli, brussels sprouts and peas. Some complications improve with appropriate treatment, but others, such as problems with the nervous system, can be permanent.
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How Much To Get?
The answer depends on things including your age, your eating habits and medical conditions, and what medications you take.