The Great Mimic: Why Vitamin B12 Deficiency is More Than a Nutrition Problem

A vitamin B12 deficit, also known as a cobalamin deficiency, occurs when the body is either not absorbing enough vitamin B12 from the diet or is not obtaining enough of it. 

An essential nutrient, vitamin B12 aids in the production of red blood cells and DNA, the genetic material found in every cell. Your body's operation depends on it; a deficiency of Vitamin B12 can lead to psychological, neurological, and physical issues if left untreated.

What is vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 is a vital component that supports the health of your red blood cells and nerve cells. It also aids in the synthesis of DNA in your body.

Vitamin B12 is not produced by the body on its own. To obtain vitamin B12, one must consume foods and beverages rich in it. 
Fish, meat, dairy, eggs, and other animal products are the main sources of vitamin B12. Additionally, it can be found in foods that have been fortified with vitamins and minerals, such as breads, cereals, plant-based milks, and nutritional yeast.

Approximately 2.4 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin B12 are required daily by adults. Additionally, pregnant or nursing women require a little extra, depending on their age.

Do you have a vitamin B12 deficiency?

Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms can appear gradually and worsen with time. Despite having a low level of vitamin B12 in your body, you might not experience any symptoms. But being vigilant can help avoid the physical, neurological, and psychological problems that can result from a vitamin B12 deficiency.

Physical signs and symptoms may include:

1. Feeling extremely exhausted or weak
2. Having diarrhea, vomiting, or nausea.
3. Not feeling hungry and losing weight rapidly.
4. Having tongue ulcers or a sore mouth and having pale skin.
5. Developing hyperpigmentation.

The neurological signs are:

1. Tingling or numbness in your hands and feet
2. Vision issues
3. Having trouble recalling details or becoming easily confused
4. Having trouble speaking or walking as you usually do

Psychological symptoms can include:

1. Feeling depressed
2. Feeling irritable
3. Experiencing a change in the way you feel or behave

What is the cause?

Vitamin B12 deficiency happens if you aren’t eating foods that are rich in vitamin B12 or your body isn’t absorbing the vitamin B12 you consume.
Situations or conditions that can cause vitamin B12 deficiency include:

• Lack of vitamin B12 in your diet: People who don’t eat enough foods that have vitamin B12 or don’t eat foods fortified with B12 can develop a deficiency.
• Gastritis: Gastritis refers to the inflammation of the stomach lining, and it is a common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency. 

It can cause vitamin B12 deficiency due to a lack of hydrochloric acid in your stomach, which is needed for B12 absorption.

• Pernicious anemia: People who have pernicious anemia don’t have intrinsic factors. You need an intrinsic factor so your body can absorb B12 vitamins. People with pernicious anemia are on higher risk to develop B12 deficiency.
• Digestive diseases: Diseases that affect your digestive system, like Crohn’s disease and celiac disease, can prevent your body from fully absorbing vitamin B12.
• Surgeries: People who have had gastrointestinal surgery, like a gastric bypass, can have difficulty absorbing vitamin B12.
• Alcohol use disorder: This condition can damage your digestive system and cause a vitamin B12 deficiency.
• MTFHR deficiency: A gene mutation (change) that makes it harder to metabolize B12 correctly. You need higher doses of vitamin B12 to function well and, sometimes, a special methylated B12 supplement.
• Transcobalamin II deficiency: This is a rare genetic disorder that makes it hard for vitamin B12 to be absorbed into your body.

What is the solution?

To overcome B12 deficiency, it's important to take steps to ensure that your body gets its recommended dose of B12.
The average recommended daily amounts, measured in micrograms, vary by age:

• Infants up to age 6 months: 0.4 micrograms
• Babies aged 7-12 months: 0.5 micrograms
• Children aged 1-3 years: 0.9 micrograms
• Kids aged 4-8 years: 1.2 micrograms
• Children aged 9-13 years: 1.8 micrograms
• Teens aged 14-18 years: 2.4 micrograms
• Adults (19+ years): 2.4 micrograms
• Pregnant: 2.6 micrograms
• Breastfeeding: 2.8 micrograms

Animal products are rich in naturally occurring B12. For people who avoid animal products, it is important to incorporate foods in your diet that are fortified with B12.
B12-rich foods include Meat, Fish, Poultry, Milk, Eggs, Fortified breakfast cereals, Fortified breads, Fortified nutritional yeasts, and Fortified plant milks.

If you follow a vegan diet or you're a vegetarian who doesn't eat enough eggs or dairy products, you could be lacking in vitamin B12. You can add fortified foods to your diet or take supplements to meet this need.

Another way to ensure that you are getting your daily B12 is by opting for vitamin B12 injections or supplements as treatment for Vitamin B12 deficiency, but only under a doctor’s instructions.

Why is it important?

Since vitamin B12 is the main architect of your neurological system, neglecting to treat a deficit can have disastrous consequences. 
Many people heartbreakingly say that vitamin B12 deficiency ruined their lives because they neglected early warning symptoms like weariness or numbness until their brain and spinal cord were irreparably damaged.

Hence, it becomes increasingly important to get yourself diagnosed and eat a healthy B12-rich diet.