Where is B12 deficiency most common?

Because the ability to absorb B12 from food declines with age, deficiency is more common in older adults. Still, that doesn't mean children and younger adults, including those who are pregnant and breastfeeding, can't develop B12 deficiency ( 5 , 6 ).

Who is most affected by vitamin B12 deficiency?

A person is more likely to develop vitamin B12 deficiency if they have one or more of the following risk factors: Being older than 75 years: Elderly people are more at risk for developing vitamin B12 deficiency because their bodies are often unable to fully absorb vitamin B12.

Who is more prone to B12 deficiency in American society?

In the United States, the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency is less than 5% in young and middle-aged adults but is between 5 and 10% in the elderly population. However, marginal vitamin B12 status is more common, with an estimated 20% of individuals 60 years and older affected.

Are most people low in vitamin B12?

Most people in the U.S. get enough of this nutrient. If you're not sure, you can ask your doctor if you should get a blood test to check your vitamin B12 level. With age, it can become harder to absorb this vitamin.

What are the most common causes of vitamin B12 deficiency in developed countries?

The 2 main causes of vitamin B-12 deficiency are inadequate dietary intake and, in the elderly, malabsorption of the vitamin from food.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency: The most common Cause – Dr.Berg

Why is B12 deficiency so common?

Even though the vitamin is found in many foods, B12 insufficiency and deficiency are relatively common. This is often due to limited dietary intake, malabsorption, certain medical conditions, or the use of B12-depleting medications ( 2 , 3 , 4 ).

Is B12 deficiency genetic?

Deficiency of vitamin B12 has been linked to dietary, environmental and genetic factors.

What are the warning signs of vitamin B12 deficiency?

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.

What is borderline B12 deficiency?

Patients with B12 levels between 200 and 300 pg/mL are considered borderline, and further enzymatic testing may be helpful in diagnosis. Patients with B12 levels below 200 pg/mL are considered deficient. However, a low serum B12 level does not determine the etiology of the deficiency.

What autoimmune disease causes pernicious anemia?

Pernicious anemia is sometimes seen in association with certain autoimmune endocrine diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, hypoparathyroidism, Addison's disease, and Graves' disease.

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.

What helps B12 absorption?

In the stomach, hydrochloric acid and enzymes unbind vitamin B12 into its free form. From there, vitamin B12 combines with a protein called intrinsic factor so that it can be absorbed further down in the small intestine. Supplements and fortified foods contain B12 in its free form, so they may be more easily absorbed.

Can B12 deficiency nerve damage be reversed?

Most problems due to vitamin B12 deficiency can be treated with vitamin B12 supplementation, but nerve damage may not be reversible even after treatment. The sooner your vitamin B12 deficiency is treated, the more likely it is that your symptoms will go away.

What deficiency causes weakness in legs?

Muscle weakness due to vitamin D deficiency is predominantly of the proximal muscle groups and is manifested by a feeling of heaviness in the legs, tiring easily, and difficulty in mounting stairs and rising from a chair; the deficiency is reversible with supplementation (15–18).

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.

Can B12 deficiency affect teeth?

VITAMIN B12. A Vitamin B12 deficiency can increase your risk of a severe form of gum disease called periodontitis.

How long does it take to get B12 levels up?

Your liver stores B12 for a long time. It can take 3-5 years to use it up. You may get a shot once a week for a month. But you might need them more often if you have more serious symptoms, like nerve problems, or your pernicious anemia is serious.

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.

Does B12 deficiency cause yawning?

The anaemia of B₁₂ deficiency can present in various ways

It can also present as continual sighing or yawning. The low red blood cell count may lead to an increased flow state perceived as pulsatile tinnitus.

How can I raise my B12 levels fast?

Who is most at risk for pernicious anemia?

Pernicious anemia is more common in people of Northern European and African descent than in other ethnic groups. Older people also are at higher risk for the condition. This is mainly due to a lack of stomach acid and intrinsic factor, which prevents the small intestine from absorbing vitamin B12.

Does pernicious anemia shorten your life?

Currently, early recognition and treatment of pernicious anemia provide a normal, and usually uncomplicated, lifespan. Delayed treatment permits progression of the anemia and neurologic complications. If patients are not treated early in the disease, neurological complications can become permanent.

What is the most common vitamin B deficiency?

“The most common vitamin B deficiency is the B12 vitamin and sometimes folate, which is B9,” says Teems. “B12 helps make healthy red blood cells, which keep the nervous system working properly, and folate is crucial in the development of DNA.

Is vitamin B12 deficiency curable?

With proper treatment, symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency begin to improve within a few days. In vegans and other people whose B12 deficiency is diet-related, oral B12 supplements and a diet designed to increase consumption of vitamin B12 should cure the condition.