Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency mainly involves weight loss, dizziness and anemia. Vitamin B12 is a powerhouse which is crucial for a healthy brain and a good immune system.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency may lead to a reduction of healthy red blood cells which may affect the nervous system.
- It is consumed by people to maintain healthy red blood as well as for neurological health.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency is also known as Cobalamin deficiency.
- When the Vitamin B12 deficiency is not treated it may result in neurological problems.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency can happen due to many reasons such as with age it can become harder to absorb vitamins.
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Key words: Vitamin B12, Vitamins, Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Nervous system, red blood cell, immune system
Source of Vitamin B12
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Vitamin B12 is not produced in the body naturally but humans have to acquire it externally through food, etc. Vitamin B12 occurs naturally in animal products. So if people consume plant-based foods largely such as fruits, veggies, beans, and soy, they are at risk for deficiency. Vitamin B12 is required for the creation of new, healthy red blood cells. Some of the food sources of Vitamin B12 to help from Vitamin B12 deficiency are-
- Vitamin B12 in animal foods that have it naturally or the items that have been fortified with it.
- The animal sources of food include dairy products, eggs, fish, meat, and poultry.
Vitamin B12
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Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms
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Vitamin B12 deficiency happens due to a lack of Vitamin B12 in the body. The symptoms can usually develop but if the condition goes untreated it can worsen.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms
Some of the major symptoms to know if you have Vitamin B12 deficiency are:
- Weight loss
- Mood swings
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Anemia
- Vision loss
- Smooth tongue
- Loss of appetite
- Dementia
- Numbness
- Depression
- Brain and nerve damage
- Skin starts looking pale or yellow
- Significantly increase the risk of psychosis
- Fast and noticeable heartbeats
- Hearing sounds coming from inside the body rather than from an outside source
Also Read: Nutrients
Ways to Prevent Vitamin B12 Deficiency
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Vitamin B12 deficiency can affect the quality of life if it is not cured but there are also various ways to prevent ourselves from having Vitamin B12 deficiency. They are given below:
Diets
By eating food that is rich in Vitamin B12 like eating enough meat, poultry, beef, liver, seafood, dairy products, low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese, and eggs.
Diets
Supplements
By taking multivitamins or other supplements and foods fortified with vitamin B12.
Supplements
Vitamin B12 Deficiency Causes
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Vitamin B12 deficiency can occur due to various reasons and some of them are given below:
- Immune system disorder.
- Alcohol misuse or heavy drinking can make it harder for body to absorb nutrients.
- Medicines that inhibit the uptake of vitamin B12.
- Graves' disease or lupus, these types of disorders of the immune system.
- Atrophic gastritis is when the stomach lining gets thinned.
- The vitamin absorbing capacity of the body is being reduced by pernicious anemia.
- Crohn’s diseases, parasites, celiac disease in the small intestine
- Oral contraceptives in women for extended periods of time tend to have issues absorbing vitamin B12.
- Pernicious anemia reduces the vitamin absorbing capacity of the body.
Also read: Function of Vitamin A,B,C and D and E
Things to Remember
- Vitamin B12 deficiency is also known as Cobalamin deficiency.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency may lead to a reduction of healthy red blood cells which may affect the nervous system.
- Some of the food sources of Vitamin B12 to help from Vitamin B12 deficiency are dairy products, eggs, fish, meat, and poultry.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency’s major symptoms are Weight loss, Mood swings, Constipation, Dizziness, Anemia, Vision loss etc.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency can be prevented by taking multivitamins or other supplements and foods fortified with vitamin B12.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency can also occur due to alcohol drinking.
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Sample Questions
Ques: What happens if Our Vitamin B12 is Low? (2 marks)
Ans. The common symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are weakness, and fatigue. They occur because our body doesn't have enough vitamin B12 to make red blood cells, which transport oxygen throughout our body. As a result, we are unable to efficiently transport oxygen to your body's cells, making you feel tired and weak.
Ques: Stomach problems like chronic gastritis and stomach cancer can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency. Is it True or False? (1 mark)
Ans. TRUE. The stomach secretes a substance called intrinsic factor, which binds vitamin B12 from diets and helps in its absorption. Damage of stomach lining results in reduced secretion of intrinsic factors and therefore affects the absorption of vitamin B12.
Ques: How do you know someone has vitamin B12 deficiency? (1 mark)
Ans. When a person has vitamin B12 deficiency various symptoms start getting noticeable in that person. These symptoms are such as Loss of appetite, Pale skin, Weight loss, Vision loss, Smooth tongue, Dementia, Depression, etc.
Ques: What is the main cause of Vitamin B12 deficiency? (2 marks)
Ans. Vitamin B12 deficiency can happen due to many reasons such as with age it can become harder to absorb vitamins, it can also happen if you have weight loss surgery or any other operation to remove part of your stomach and it can also happen due to excess drinking.
Ques: Non- Vegetarians are more likely to have vitamin B12 deficiency. True or False? (1 mark)
Ans. FALSE. Vitamin B12 is usually found in non-vegetarian food such as meat, liver, kidney, seafood, egg, etc., and in vegetables, Vitamin B12 is only present in their root nodules where they get vitamins from microorganisms.
Ques: Can the brain or nerve be damaged due to vitamin B12 deficiency? (1 mark)
Ans. Brain and nerve damage can be caused by the deficiency of vitamin B12.
Ques: Vitamin B12 deficiency results in? (1 mark)
(a) Large blood cells
(b) Small and pale red cells
(c) Normal-sized red blood cells
Ans. a) Large blood cells
Ques: How Much B12 should we take a day and how long does it take to recover from Vitamin B12 Deficiency? (3 marks)
Ans. For adults, the recommended daily amount of vitamin B12 is 2.4 micrograms, we can safely take higher doses. Our body absorbs only as much as it needs, and any excess passes through your urine. High doses of vitamin B12, such as those used to treat a deficiency, might cause Dizziness. Usually, within 48 to 72 hours response is received, with brisk production of new red blood cells. Injections of vitamin B12 will be needed every one to three months to prevent symptoms from returning, once B12 reserves reach normal levels.
Ques: The vitamin whose content increases following the conversion of milk into curd by lactic acid bacteria is___ (1 mark)
(a) Vitamin C
(b) Vitamin D
(c) Vitamin B12
(d) Vitamin E
Ans. c) Vitamin B12
Ques: How do you test Vitamin B12 deficiency? (3 marks)
Ans. Proper Vitamin B12 deficiency can be tested by going to a doctor. The types of tests that are conducted are:
- Vitamin B12 level test
- Methylmalonic acid level test
- Complete blood count test
- Schilling test
- Intrinsic factor antibodies test
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