What are the symptoms of low B12?

Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia can cause a wide range of symptoms. These usually develop gradually, but can worsen if the condition goes untreated.
  • extreme tiredness (fatigue)
  • lack of energy (lethargy)
  • breathlessness.
  • feeling faint.
  • headaches.
  • pale skin.
  • noticeable heartbeats (palpitations)
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What happens when your vitamin B12 is low?

Constipation, diarrhea, loss of appetite, or gas. Nerve problems like numbness or tingling, muscle weakness, and problems walking. Vision loss. Mental problems like depression, memory loss, or behavioral changes.
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What is the main cause of vitamin 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.
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How can I raise my B12 levels fast?

To increase the amount of vitamin B12 in your diet, eat more of foods that contain it, such as:
  1. Beef, liver, and chicken.
  2. Fish and shellfish such as trout, salmon, tuna fish, and clams.
  3. Fortified breakfast cereal.
  4. Low-fat milk, yogurt, and cheese.
  5. Eggs.
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What are the warning signs of vitamin B12 deficiency?

Here are seven warning signs associated with vitamin B-12 deficiency.
  • Dizziness. Frequent bouts about dizziness and vertigo can indicate B12 deficiency. ...
  • Forgetfulness. ...
  • Muscle Weakness. ...
  • Pale Complexion. ...
  • Pins and Needles. ...
  • Unexplained Fatigue. ...
  • Vision Issues.
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Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms (ex. Depression), Why symptoms happen, Schilling’s test, Treatment



How long it will 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.
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What foods to avoid if you have B12 deficiency?

Foods or drinks to avoid
  • Folate (vitamin B9) is an essential nutrient, especially before and during pregnancy. ...
  • However, too much folic acid can mask a vitamin B12 deficiency. ...
  • Research has suggested that the consumption of alcohol may reduce vitamin B12 levels.
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What medications should not be taken with B12?

Certain medications can decrease the absorption of vitamin B12, including: colchicine, metformin, extended-release potassium products, antibiotics (such as gentamicin, neomycin, tobramycin), anti-seizure medications (such as phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone), medications to treat heartburn (such as H2 blockers ...
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What food is highest in B12?

Good sources of vitamin B12
  1. Animal liver and kidneys. Organ meats are some of the most nutrient-packed foods. ...
  2. Clams. Clams are small, chewy shellfish that are packed with nutrients. ...
  3. Sardines. Sardines are small, soft-boned saltwater fish. ...
  4. Beef. ...
  5. Fortified cereal. ...
  6. Tuna. ...
  7. Fortified nutritional yeast. ...
  8. Trout.
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Is 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.
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Who is most at risk for B12 deficiency?

Any person can develop vitamin B12 deficiency at any age. People who are 60 years old or older are more likely to have vitamin B12 deficiency compared to other age groups.
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Can B12 deficiency cause stomach problems?

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.
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Is it good to take vitamin B12 tablets?

When taken at appropriate doses, vitamin B-12 supplements are generally considered safe. While the recommended daily amount of vitamin B-12 for adults is 2.4 micrograms, higher doses have been found to be safe. Your body absorbs only as much as it needs, and any excess passes through your urine.
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What Blocks B12 absorption?

[1] People who regularly take medications that suppress stomach acid for conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or peptic ulcer disease—such as proton-pump inhibitors, H2 blockers, or other antacids—may have difficulty absorbing vitamin B12 from food.
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Does B12 cause dementia?

Vitamin B12 has not been proven to cause Alzheimer's or dementia, but studies have shown that increasing B12 intake in women can slow cognitive decline.
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What is normal level of vitamin B12 in elderly?

A serum vitamin B12 level between 200 pg/mL and 900 pg/mL is considered normal, but a threshold of 300 to 350 pg/mL is recognized as a marker for a desirable status in the elderly.
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What is the fastest way to cure B12 deficiency?

If your vitamin B12 deficiency is caused by a lack of the vitamin in your diet, you may be prescribed vitamin B12 tablets to take every day between meals. Or you may need to have an injection of hydroxocobalamin twice a year.
...
Good sources of vitamin B12 include:
  1. meat.
  2. salmon and cod.
  3. milk and other dairy products.
  4. eggs.
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How do you feel after B12 injections?

The injection is given into a muscle (known as an intramuscular injection). You may have some pain, swelling or itching where your injection was given. However this is usually mild and will wear off quite quickly.
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Is banana rich in B12?

"It contains high amounts of vitamin B6 and B12, as well as magnesium and potassium.
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Can lack of vitamin B12 cause back pain?

It is necessary for blood cell formation and repair, production of DNA and overall maintenance of brain cells. Vitamin B12 helps the body replace nerve cells in the spine and additionally also reduce inflammation, a common cause of chronic back pain.
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Which medicine is best for B12?

You'll usually take cyanocobalamin tablets every day to prevent or treat vitamin B12 deficiency. However, you may also need vitamin B12 injections at first to boost your levels. It may take a few weeks before your vitamin B12 levels and symptoms (such as extreme tiredness or lack of energy) start to improve.
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Does B12 deficiency 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.
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What autoimmune disease causes low B12?

Pernicious anemia is an autoimmune disease caused by vitamin B12 deficiency due to atrophic gastritis or loss of parietal cells or lack of intrinsic factor.
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