Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency & Causes Of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Written by tanaypatel5212

April 24, 2021

Symptoms of vitamin B12 is one of the most common searched terms nowadays on search engines. There are so many people in the world suffering from deficiency of vitamin B12. There are different causes of vitamin B12 deficiency and symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency can vary according to causes. It also can lead to hair loss in some people.

But most symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are common and can help to determine the causes of B12 deficiency. 

However, we should have some knowledge about nutrition and diet so we can prevent this type of deficiency by maintaining diet and nutrition.

In this article, we will share about 

What is vitamin B12?
What are the causes of deficiency of vitamin B12?
What are the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency?
How to prevent deficiency of vitamin B12?

Overview of Vitamin B12 or What is vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 is one of the most important vitamins which human being needs in their nutrition in day to day life. Cobalamin is the common name of vitamin B12, It is soluble in water and plays a major role in the metabolism of human cells as well as in the metabolism of fatty acids and amino acids.

Also, it plays a huge and significant role in the process of DNA synthesis. The half-life of vitamin B12 is about 6 days and metabolism occurs in the liver where its half-life is about 400 days. In it is excreted by the kidney.

It is absorbed from our digestive tract at the distal part of the small intestine called the ileum with the help of an intrinsic factor present in the colon.

What are the causes of vitamin B12 deficiency?

There are so many causes that can lead to the deficiency of cobalamin or we can say vitamin B12 which are as follows.

  • Lack of intrinsic factor
  • Poor diet
  • Mal absoption
  • Defect in stomach mucosa
  • Any kind of defect or condition which cause damage or affect the intestines
  • Preggnancy
  • Some Medications

Deficiency Of Vitamin B12 Due To Intrinsic Factor.

There is one protein named intrinsic factor which plays a major role in the absorption of vitamin B12. This intrinsic factor is produced by the stomach and get stored in the ilium.

Due to any kind of defect in stomach mucosa or damage to the stomach, mucosa causes damage to parietal cells also. These parietal cells are responsible to produce the intrinsic factor, therefor damage leads to no production or less production of this protein leads to deficiency of vitamin B12.

Anemia due to deficiency of intrinsic factors is also known as pernicious anemia. Which may show neurological symptoms also.

Sometimes it is autoimmune in which the immune system of the body harms the healthy tissue of the body, which may lead to the deficiency of vitamin B12.

Deficiency Of Vitamin B12 Due To Poor Diet.

Vitamin B12 can not be synthesized in the body or can not be produced by the body. We have to fulfill our Vitamin B12 requirement by maintaining our diet. Non-vegetarian people are not likely to develop a deficiency of vitamin B12.

So poor diet and intake of unhealthy and junk food can lead to low levels of vitamins as well as also affects on overall nutrition of the body.

Non-veg food for the vitamin B12 Diet is as follows.

  • Meat
  • Fish
  • Dairy Products

Veg food for the vitamin B12 Diet is as follows.

  • Cereals fortified with B12
  • Unsweetened soy drinks fortified with vitamin B12
  • Marmite, which is fortified with vitamin B12

Damage to stomach mucosa.

Any kind of damage to stomach mucosa due to conditions like a gastric ulcer or decrease in the area of stomach mucosa due to partial gastrectomy can lead to less production of intrinsic factors which ultimately leads to low absorption of vitamin B12. This causes a deficiency of B12.

Any Condition Which Affects the Intestine.

Condition like peptic ulcer or damage to the mucosa of the intestine can lead to malabsorption and results in vitamin B12 deficiency.

Pregnancy & Some Medication.

Mothers during pregnancy are more prominent to deficiency of vitamin B12. During pregnancy nutrition need for B12 is increased compared to a normal day because the growing baby inside the mother needs more amount of B12.

And if this requirement is not fulfilled during the period of pregnancy then the mother has an increased chance to develop B12 deficiency.

Also, some medicines inhibit the absorption of vitamin B12, This leads to deficiency and produces symptoms of B12 deficiency.

 Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Weakness,
fatigability in different words loss of strength or laziness
Cardialgia or Pyrosis common name is Heartburn and dyspnea 
Constipation, diarrhea, loss of appetite or gas
Numbness, muscle loss, and sometimes difficulty in walking. 
Dim vision
Mental symptoms can develop like memory loss or behavioral changes
A pale yellow colored skin
Red and sore smooth tongue
The ulcer can also develop in the mouth.
Paraesthesia
Irritability
Depression

You May Also Like…

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *