Vitamin B File Vitamin B Deficiency Symptoms and Everything You Need to Know — Vitamin B12 File Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms and Everything You Need to Know

Vitamin B12 plays the leading role in many important processes in the body. Vitamin B12, which has water-soluble properties, is necessary for many important processes such as metabolism, DNA formation and nerve function, especially red blood cell production. Most people alsoHow much should vitamin B12 be?” and learns the benefits of this essential vitamin in the body. Contributing to normal homocysteine metabolism, supporting red blood cell formation, contributing to the normal function of the immune system, supporting the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, taking part in cell division, contributing to normal energy formation metabolism are the main benefits of vitamin B12.

How Is B12 (Vitamin B12) Deficiency Diagnosed?

B12 deficiency can manifest itself with many effects. In order to clearly understand the deficiency and make the diagnosis, it is absolutely necessary to consult a specialist and get support from the specialist. With blood tests, vitamin values can be checked and it can be understood whether vitamin B12 is among the reference values.

Vitamin B12 deficiency can manifest as weakness, fatigue and dizziness. In addition, it is possible to encounter the following symptoms: (1)

Heart palpitations
Sweet talk
Muscle weakness
Shortness of breath
Depression, behavioral changes, and memory loss
Constipation or diarrhea
walking problems
Anorexia
Gas
pale skin
Numbness
Loss of vision

Who Should Have a Vitamin B12 Test?

Experts recommend that every person, especially those experiencing symptoms of B12 deficiency, have their vitamin values checked throughout their daily life. Periodic checks can help prevent possible situations. Thus, supplements can be taken beforehand and B12 level can be increased above normal values.

There are also some groups that should have a vitamin B12 test done. Among these priority groups, pregnant women take the first place. Pregnant women may need more vitamin B12 daily. This is why experts recommend that pregnant women get tested regularly. At the same time, it is recommended that adults over the age of 50, breastfeeding women, vegetarians and vegans regularly take a vitamin B12 test.(2)

What Causes Vitamin B12 Deficiency?

There are many factors that trigger vitamin B12 deficiency. Both genetic conditions and habits in daily life are among the main reasons for the insufficient level of vitamin B12. A severe vitamin B12 deficiency is rare, as the body can usually store vitamin B12 for several years. Researches emphasize that there may be a slight deficiency in 26% of the population. (2)

Vitamin B12 deficiency can occur, especially due to improper diets. Sometimes, without any mistake, decreases in vitamin B12 can occur due to any kind of diet. In addition, problems in the absorption of the vitamin or the use of drugs that prevent absorption can lead to a deficiency of vitamin B12. At the same time, vitamin B50 deficiency can be experienced after a vegetarian and vegan diet, after the age of 12, due to some gastrointestinal disorders such as celiac, regular use of alcoholic beverages, genetic mutations, use of metformin and acid-reducing drugs, and various digestive system operations such as weight loss surgery. (2)

What Causes B12 Deficiency?

Vitamin B12 is known as an extremely important nutrient that is critically important to the body. The deficiency of vitamin B12, which can generally be obtained from animal products, can lead to some diseases. At the same time, physical problems such as slowing mental movements, constant fatigue and weakness are both symptoms and consequences of vitamin B12 deficiency. (3)

Untreated vitamin B12 deficiency anemia can lead to many serious diseases over time. Degeneration of the spinal cord, paralysis, nervous system disease that causes numbness and pain in the hands and feet, peripheral neuropathy, fecal incontinence (Bowel incontinence), urinary incontinence (urinary incontinence), erectile dysfunction in men (Erectile dysfunction), depression, memory loss, paranoia and delusions B12 It is one of the serious diseases caused by its deficiency. (3)

How is Vitamin B12 Deficiency Treated?

Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia is a condition that can be treated with the help of injections. At this stage, experts generally prefer two methods. One of them is hydroxycobalamin and the other is cyanocobalamin. (4) Of these, hydroxycobalamin is preferred more often because it can stay in the body longer. Experts decide which method to use and how, according to your B12 level and general condition.

In the treatment of vitamin B12, the initial period and the progressing processes may differ from each other. Initially, B12 can be injected into your body intensely, then the dose can be gradually reduced. The treatment can be shaped according to the course of the decrease in neurological and physiological problems caused by vitamin B12. In this process, it may be necessary to consume foods containing plenty of vitamin B12.

Which Foods Have Vitamin B12?

There are many foods rich in vitamin B12. These are usually meat products, and vegetarians and vegans are therefore deficient in vitamin B12. In order to take vitamin B12, which is extremely important for energy production, it is necessary to eat foods rich in B12 and get the daily dose of B12 from these foods. (5)

Foods rich in B12 include animal products such as eggs, meat, seafood, dairy products. In addition, cereals, tuna, fortified nutritional yeast, soy, almond and rice milk are among the foods rich in vitamin B12. At the same time, some foods, even if they do not have B12 naturally, can be added later to have B12 content. (5)

How Much Vitamin B12 Should You Have?

One of the most curious about vitamin B12 is “How much should vitamin B12 be? is the question. There are reference values for vitamin B12 for each age group. The general acceptance is that B300 levels around 12 pg/mL and above this value are normal. Borderline levels are 200-300 pg/mL. At levels below 200 pg/mL, a diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency can be made. (6) The body's daily need for B12 is 2-3 mcg, but this rate increases even more in pregnant and lactating women. (2)

Vitamin B12 is an important vitamin, the deficiency of which can cause some negative consequences in the body. Deficiency may lead to some diseases, as well as certain age groups, those with special diets and those with special conditions may be among the risky groups. You can learn your vitamin B12 level by taking your measurements regularly; If necessary, you can prevent deficiency by taking advantage of supplements.

REFERENCES:

Vitamin B12 File: Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms and Everything You Need to Know