Vitamin B12 deficiency can be extremely harmful for the body
Our body requires 2.4 micrograms of vitamin B12 on a daily basis. But do you know deficiency of even this small amount can put the body at extreme risk?
Vitamin B12 is also called Cobalamin. It is one of the 8 vitamin Bs which the body needs for the normal functioning of the nervous system.
Since plants do not make vitamin B12, the only foods that have vitamin B12 in them are meat, eggs, and dairy products.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can be spotted by the symptoms its deficiency shows. Sometimes the signs of vitamin B12 deficiency can be confused with something else, hence it is better to get it tested medically.
Difficulty in walking; having balance problem
People with vitamin B12 tend to walk with feet wide apart. This unsteady walk can be an indicator of other health conditions, but due to vitamin B12 deficiency the peripheral nerve damage affects the movement of the individual.
The person might also experience numbness in feet and limbs which also affects the smooth movement of the individual.
Swollen tongue
A swollen tongue can be an early indicator of vitamin deficiency.
Swollen tongue with straight long lesions is a classic sign of vitamin B12 deficiency. The tongue is often red and is accompanied by pins and needle sensation.
Depression
A 2018 study on the case of a 55-year-old man by experts at the Department of Neurosurgery, Ispat General Hospital, Rourkela, Odisha found the neurological link of vitamin B12 deficiency.
The patient's "memory was disturbed, judgment impaired, had a changed personality as he had become isolated, apathetic, and withdrawn. He was also unwilling to think and depressed."
The patient was treated with Vitamin B12 and folic acid.
"His blood was sent for vitB12 and folic acid estimation, and he was started with vitB12 1000 microgram intramuscularly once daily and olanzapine 5 mg at bedtime. His serum VitB12 and folic acid value came to be 90 pg and 10 ng/ml, respectively. His weakness improved significantly with immediate effect, all other symptoms took around 1 month to improve," the study report says.
One of the major roles of Vitamin B12 is in the functioning of nervous system. Lack of it affects the cognitive ability of the body.
Increased heart beats
Many health reports say a faster heart rate, without any other explanation is an indication that the body does not have sufficient vitamin B12.
The heart makes up for the reduced number of red blood cells which happens when the body lacks vitamin B12. This puts additional pressure on the heart to pump more blood to the body.
The common signs of vitamin B12 one should know
It is essential to notice the early signs of a disease so that it is treated early.
The common signs of vitamin B12 are strange sensations in the body which often seem like numbness or tingling sensation in feet and limbs.
The person may feel weak all the time; there will be physical exhaustion due to fatigue and mental exhaustion due to difficulty in thinking and reasoning.
Anemia is a common sign of vitamin B12. This is a condition where the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells.
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Sources of vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is abundantly found in animal products. Plants do not synthesize vitamin B12; this explains why most of the people who are deficient in vitamin B12 are mostly vegetarian.
One can find vitamin B12 in meat, poultry and other animal products.
Foods to increase your vitamin B12 levels
Unlike some of the other nutrients, vitamin B12 is not produced naturally in the body. This is why we must eat foods that are rich in the nutrient. Some of the best sources of vitamin B12 are:
- Milk
- Eggs
- Yogurt
- Fatty fishes
- Red meat
- Clams
- Fortified cereal