B12 deficency and more

Vitamin B12 deficiency:

Vitamin B12 deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficiency. Symptoms like fatigue, tingling and forgetfulness may result upon deficiency and they are due to the functions of vitamin B12 in the body.

B12 Function

Vitamin B12 is important for DNA the genetic power of body. In addition it reduces homocysteine which is a chemical that cause inflammation and toxic damage to the body.

Symptoms and Effects:

Anaemia: Diminished red blood cells due to vitamin B12 deficiency. Megaloblastic anaemia is the type of anaemia resulted from deficiency and it cause dizziness and fatigue. RBC are important for providing the body with needed oxygen.

Peripheral neuropathy: Deficiency of vitamin B12 impaired nerves themselves or myelin which is important for normal nerve functioning.

With B12 deficiency, direct nerve damage combined with a decrease of myelin interferes with normal nerve function. The peripheral nerves control movement and sensation of the body.

Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy usually affect the feet and hands and may extend to include the arms and legs as well. The most common symptoms include:

• Tingling

• Numbness

• Weakness

Dementia:

is a disease related to memory loss. It is may be due to vitamin B12 deficiency or related to elevated homocysteine levels.

Symptoms of dementia include:

• Forgetfulness

• Absent mindedness

• Problem solving difficulties

• Inability to concentrate

• Loss of ability to take care of oneself

• Apathy

• Hallucinations

Depression is a possible manifestation of vitamin B12 deficiency and may be accompanied by anaemia or dementia.

Stroke is characterized by interrupted blood flow to the brain resulting in physical or mental handicap. Vitamin B12 deficiency may increase the risk of storke among young people who are not otherwise at risk of stroke. Or may be due to elevated homocysteine too.

Myelopathy means disease of the spinal cord. Vitamin B12 deficiency causes a type of spine disease called subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord, which is loss of the protective myelin of certain areas of the spinal cord that control moment, balance and sensation.

Symptoms of subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord include:

• Weakness

• Numbness, tingling

• Spasticity

• Balance problems

Tongue swelling also results from vitamin B12 deficiency. Glossitis is the name used to describe a painful, unusually smooth tongue that can result from this nutritional deficiency.

Associated Conditions

Thyroid disease and multiple sclerosis (MS) are both conditions believed to be related to an autoimmune process. An autoimmune disease is a condition caused by the body attacking itself.

Intrinsic factor deficiency is an autoimmune disease that results from a ‘self’ attack on the region of the stomach that is involved in vitamin B12 absorption. Often, individuals who have thyroid disease or MS also have intrinsic factor deficiency and its associated vitamin B12 deficiency.

Vitamin B12 multiple Screlosis

Causes:

Low Dietary Intake

The most common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency is a lack of vitamin B12 in the diet. Vitamin B12 is a nutrient that is only found in animal products such as meat, chicken, fish, eggs, and dairy. Therefore vegans are at especially high risk of low nutritional vitamin B12, as are non-vegan individuals who do not eat enough of these vitamin B12 rich foods.

Some foods are fortified with vitamin B12, and if you want to get your vitamin B12 through vegan foods, you have to make an effort to seek out those types of foods.

Low Absorption

Vitamin B12 is absorbed by the small intestine, but it requires some preliminary processing in the stomach first. Therefore, some conditions that affect the stomach or the small intestine can interfere with proper vitamin B12 absorption. Intrinsic factor is a protein produced in the stomach that combines with vitamin B12 before it can be absorbed in the small intestine.

Autoimmune disease, gastric by pass and inflammation of the stomach are all situations that interfere with the production and function of intrinsic factor, and thus the vitamin B12 in the diet may not be adequately absorbed into the body, and instead, it is eliminated through bowel movements.

Heavy alcohol use causes changes in the lining of the stomach, interfering with production of intrinsic factor, causing B12 deficiency.

Intestinal disease such as Crohn’s disease and celiac disease can prevent the proper absorption of vitamin B12 in the small intestines, causing a deficiency even if there is enough vitamin B12 in the diet.

Pernicious anaemia is an autoimmune disease that reduces or eliminates intrinsic factor, the protein in the stomach that binds dietary B12 so that it can be absorbed. This leads to B12 deficiency through malabsorption. This type of B12 deficiency cannot be treated with oral B12 replacement and requires treatment with vitamin B12 shots.

Symptoms of pernicious anaemia include:

FatigueLack of energyLight-headednessDepression HeadachesRapid heartbeat Ringing in the ears

Medications can interfere with vitamin B12 absorption. The most common medications that can cause low vitamin B12 levels include:

Metformin: a medication used to treat diabetesColchicine: a medication used to treat goutChloramphenicol: an antibiotic used to treat infectionsMany medications used for the treatment of heartburn

Last word:

If you have vitamin B12 deficiency, many of the effects can be reversed, particularly at the early stages. In general, if your vitamin B12 deficiency is caused by a nutritional deficiency, supplements or fortified foods can help improve your vitamin B12 levels.

If impaired absorption is the reason for your vitamin B12 deficiency, it is generally considered more effective to get your vitamin B12 supplementation through injections rather than by mouth, as this allows the nutrient to enter into the body’s tissue directly.

Sources:

https://www.verywellfit.com/causes-and-effects-of-vitamin-b12-deficiency-

https://beautyhealthtips.in/vitamin-b12-rich-foods-importance-and-symptoms-causes-of-vitamin-b12-deficiency/