Is vitamin B12 deficiency serious?

If left untreated, the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency tend to worsen and irreversible problems involving the nerves and brain may develop. The risk of experiencing a number of serious complications, including heart failure, may also increase.

Is B12 deficiency life threatening?

B12 deficiency. Delay in diagnosis and treatment resulted in a near fatal presentation of a common disease. The primary care physician should be aware that there is a window of opportunity for diagnosis and treatment; several complications of Vit. B12 deficiency are irreversible if early treatment is not provided.

What level of B12 is dangerously low?

Standard blood tests can detect B12 deficiency; however, the cutoff levels for deficiency (less than 200 pmol/L) may be inadequate, as some recent studies suggest a better cutoff may be possibly 300 to 350 pmol/L or higher.

What happens if your B12 is low for too long?

If your anemia goes untreated for a long time, it can lead to heart failure. That's because your heart has to work harder. B12-related anemia may also raise the chances you'll have a heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular problem.

What damage can B12 deficiency cause?

Studies have shown that 20–30% of people with B12 deficiency have neurological damage, such as: nerve damage. damage to the spinal cord. neurological problems that affect mental health.

Dangers of vitamin B12 deficiency

What is the most common cause of B12 deficiency?

Pernicious anaemia is the most common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency in the UK. Pernicious anaemia is an autoimmune condition that affects your stomach. An autoimmune condition means your immune system, the body's natural defence system that protects against illness and infection, attacks your body's healthy cells.

What are the warning signs of vitamin B12 deficiency?

Can low B12 cause heart problems?

Macrocytosis associated with vitamin B12 deficiency is also associated with fatal and non-fatal coronary disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, and other circulatory health problems.

How long does it take to recover from B12 deficiency?

Once you begin treating your vitamin B12 deficiency, it can take up to six to 12 months to fully recover. It is also common to not experience any improvement during the first few months of treatment. If you can, it's a good idea to address what's causing the deficiency.

What is the treatment for B12 deficiency?

Treating vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia. Vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia is usually treated with injections of vitamin B12, in a form called hydroxocobalamin. At first, you'll have these injections every other day for two weeks, or until your symptoms have stopped improving. Your GP or nurse will give the injections.

Do I need B12 injections for life?

If your vitamin B12 deficiency is not caused by a lack of vitamin B12 in your diet, you'll usually need to have an injection of hydroxocobalamin every 2 to 3 months for the rest of your life.

Can low B12 make you feel sick?

Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea

Vitamin B-12 deficiency can affect the digestive tract. A lack of red blood cells means that not enough oxygen reaches the gut. Insufficient oxygen here may lead to a person both feeling and being sick. It may also cause diarrhea.

Is B12 deficiency damage reversible?

A deficiency of vitamin B12 can cause neurological and psychiatric problems that “can progress if left untreated, and can lead to irreversible damage,” said Dr. Donald Hensrud, director of the Mayo Clinic's Healthy Living Program. Fortunately, it can be reversed fairly easily with vitamin pills or injections.

What is the fastest way to increase B12?

Do symptoms of B12 deficiency come and go?

The symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency can develop slowly and worsen over time. Some symptoms may be experienced by people who have a vitamin B12 deficiency without anemia. Some people may experience no symptoms, despite low levels of vitamin B12.

Can B12 cause back pain?

Vitamin B12 helps the body replace nerve cells in the spine and additionally also reduce inflammation, a common cause of chronic back pain. A study suggests that vitamin B12 can provide relief from back pain due to the role it plays in the nervous system.

Can low B12 cause dizziness?

Frequent bouts about dizziness and vertigo can indicate B12 deficiency. You may experience a feeling of wobbles when you get up too fast from a sitting position. You may also feel dizzy when you walk up or downstairs, it could also be dangerous.

Does vitamin B12 affect blood pressure?

We found that a higher intake of vitamin B12 was associated with lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure and a higher intake of folic acid was associated with lower systolic blood pressure in children.

Does Vit B12 deficiency cause weight gain?

People with vitamin B12 deficiency are likely to experience a wide range of symptoms, though weight gain is unlikely one of them. If you're experiencing unexplained weight gain, consider discussing it with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian to determine the root cause.

Can vitamin B12 deficiency cause neurological problems?

Neurological changes

A lack of vitamin B12 can cause neurological problems, which affect your nervous system, such as: vision problems. memory loss. pins and needles (paraesthesia)

Can stress affect B12 levels?

What is the relationship between vitamin B12 and stress? The fact is, high levels of stress can deplete your body of B vitamins, which are essential for the nervous and circulatory systems. It can also reduce the absorption of nutrients in your system from the foods you eat and the supplements you take.

What should your B12 level be?

Normal values are 160 to 950 picograms per milliliter (pg/mL), or 118 to 701 picomoles per liter (pmol/L). Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or may test different samples.

Can low B12 cause neck pain?

Usually neck pain is not be due to vitamin B12 deficiency. But since vitamin B12 is low you should take vitamin B12 supplements. For neck pain depending on its severity and other clinical features topical or oral analgesics may be prescribed.

Can low B12 cause joint pain?

It's necessary for maintaining both mental and physical health. Not getting enough vitamin B12 to the point of a deficiency can cause a variety of serious symptoms including depression, joint pain, and fatigue. Sometimes these effects can be debilitating to the point where you might think you're dying or seriously ill.