What are the symptoms of low vitamin B12?

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?

How can I raise my B12 levels fast?

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.

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.

What causes low B12 in adults?

Low levels of vitamin B-12 can be caused by: Diet. Vitamin B-12 is mainly found in meat, eggs and milk, so people who don't eat these types of foods may need to take B-12 supplements. Some foods have been fortified with B-12, including some breakfast cereals and some nutritional yeast products.

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 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.

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.

What is the fastest way to cure B12 deficiency?

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 ...

Can vitamin B12 cause joint pain?

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.

Can low B12 cause high blood pressure?

Discussion. 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.

How much vitamin B12 should a senior take?

Dosages for Older People

Around this age, you should be getting around 2.4 micrograms of B12 a day. Not only does this mean consciously eating foods that contain vitamin B12 but it also means that you should ingest this vitamin as a supplement. By taking supplements, you will ensure that your body absorbs vitamin B12.

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.

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.

What fruits and vegetables are high in vitamin B12?

What food has the most B12?

What are the side effects of B12 injections?

Gastrointestinal Effects

Commonly reported side effects of this type include, but are not limited to nausea, upset stomach, vomiting, mild diarrhea, and indigestion. These effects usually last a week after injections, but contact your doctor immediately if you are experiencing these symptoms in extreme fashion.

Can vitamin 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.

Is it OK to take 1000 mcg B12 daily?

Since B12 is a water-soluble vitamin, it's generally considered safe, even at high doses. No Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) has been established for B12, due to its low level of toxicity. UL refers to the maximum daily dose of a vitamin unlikely to cause adverse side effects in the general population.

Can low B12 cause headaches?

B12 insufficiency and deficiency can lead to neurological side effects, including headaches. In fact, headaches are amongst the most commonly reported symptoms related to B12 deficiency in both adults and kids ( 2 , 10 , 11 ).

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.