Vitamin B12 is a crucial nutrient for your body. It helps produce cellular energy and aids in DNA synthesis, and also performs other important functions.
However, you need to consume B12 daily. It’s because this vitamin is water-soluble and is excreted daily by your body. And if you don’t consume B12-rich food daily, you might suffer from Vitamin B12 deficiency. So how do you know whether you are suffering from Vitamin B12 deficiency or not?
Well, this is what we’ll talk about in this blog. Here we’ll discuss why determining Vitamin B12 deficiency is important and what symptoms indicate this issue. And in the end, we’ll list a Vitamin B12 supplement for daily nutrition intake.
Why is it important to determine Vitamin B12 deficiency?
Vitamin B12 deficiency means that your body has less than the required amount of this nutrient. And, in normal cases, such conditions are characterized by symptoms.
Unfortunately, Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms do not appear when the deficiency is new, or the extent is less. You’ll only notice the symptoms when you have extremely low levels of Vitamin B12. And this can be dangerous. So the reason for determining Vitamin B12 deficiency is important.
What are the Common Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency?
Here are some signs and symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency:
1. Changes in Tongue Texture
One of the most common visible signs of Vitamin B12 deficiency is the loss of papillae. Papillae are small taste buds(bumps) on your tongue that enable you to taste. More papillae mean a better sense of taste.
However, vitamin B12 deficiency reduces the papillae which further reduces the sense of taste. So, if you’re experiencing a variation in taste or find your tongue to be swollen or inflamed, get yourself diagnosed. It may be because of Vitamin B12 deficiency.
2. Feeling Needle-like Sensations
Vitamin B12 plays an important role in nerve metabolism and nerve function. So, the deficiency of Vitamin B12 can lead to nerve cell deterioration. And this can further lead to painful needle-like sensations in your legs, hands, or other extremities of your body.
Sometimes even the nerves spreading out in the spinal cord can get affected, leading to:
● Dizziness
● Wobbliness
● Chronic fatigue
3. Trouble While Remembering Things
Forgetfulness or a patchy memory are also common B12 deficiency symptoms. As said earlier, B12 affects nerve functioning. And if it affects the brain, it can lead to:
● Disorientation
● Memory Loss
● Unnecessary Confusion
● Inability to Remember Things
4. Experiencing Anxiety or Low Mood
Your mood and mental health could be affected by a variety of reasons. And one such reason is vitamin B12 deficiency. Lack of this vitamin can disturb your mental balance, affect your mood, and may even lead to depression.
5. Jaundiced or Pale Skin
People suffering from extreme Vitamin B12 deficiency usually have pale sclera (the eye white section) or a yellow tinge on their skin. It is similar to what happens when a person has jaundice. It usually happens when the lack of B12 affects your RBC formation.
6. Vision Issues
Disturbed/blurred vision is yet another symptom of Vitamin B12 deficiency. It happens when due to lack of B12, the optic nerves leading to your eyes are affected. However, fortunately, with supplementation, it can be treated.
7. High Temperature
Experiencing high fever or temperature because of a lack of Vitamin B12 is quite rare. However, it’s a visible symptom. Some doctors have reported some cases of fever following a low B12 treatment.
Please note that high temperatures could also be because of several other reasons.
These were some common symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency. So, let’s now find what food items you can consume to prevent this deficiency.
Foods to Prevent Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Here are some foods that you can go for:
● Chicken, Liver, Beef
● Eggs
● Cheese, yogurt, and low-fat milk
● Shellfish such as clams, tuna fish, and trout
● Fortified cereals
As you would have noticed, most Vitamin B12 comes from non-veg sources. And vegans cannot consume non veg food. Also, people suffering from poor nutrient absorption are unable to absorb B12 from the food.
So, what should such people do? Well, this is where Vitamin B12 supplements come into the picture. Here’s a supplement you can rely on:
Vegan Vitamin B12 Melts
Melts® Vegan Vitamin B12 is a reliable supplement from Wellbeing Nutrition. It comes in the form of oral nano strips that are easy to consume. Just place the strip on your tongue and let it dissolve. Here are the ingredients of Vegan Vitamin B12 Melts:
● Folate
● Vegan B12
● Curcumin
● BacoMind
All these ingredients help:
● Prevent Vitamin B12 Deficiency
● Enhance Cognition
● Boost Metabolism
● Support Heart Health
● Enhance Nerve Function
● Reduce Tiredness
● Improve Cognition
Wrapping Up
Vitamin B12 deficiency usually never leads to serious consequences. However, if you notice the symptoms mentioned above, you can contact your doctor. Or you can take precautions by consuming Vitamin B12 rich food.
However, if you’re vegan or are suffering from low nutrient absorption, you can go for Melts® Vegan Vitamin B12.
References
- O'Leary, F., & Samman, S. (2010). Vitamin B12 in health and disease. Nutrients, 2(3), 299–316. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu2030299
- Lykstad J, Sharma S. Biochemistry, Water Soluble Vitamins. [Updated 2021 Mar 7]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538510/
- Calderón-Ospina, C. A., & Nava-Mesa, M. O. (2020). B Vitamins in the nervous system: Current knowledge of the biochemical modes of action and synergies of thiamine, pyridoxine, and cobalamin. CNS neuroscience & therapeutics, 26(1), 5–13. https://doi.org/10.1111/cns.13207
- Green, R., & Datta Mitra, A. (2017). Megaloblastic Anemias: Nutritional and Other Causes. The Medical clinics of North America, 101(2), 297–317. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcna.2016.09.013
- Ralapanawa, D. M., Jayawickreme, K. P., Ekanayake, E. M., & Jayalath, W. A. (2015). B12 deficiency with neurological manifestations in the absence of anemia. BMC research notes, 8, 458. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-015-1437-9
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