Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble nutrient that helps to keep the body’s nerve and blood cells healthy, as well as helping to make DNA.
The vitamin also helps to prevent the body from developing a type of anaemia known as megaloblastic anaemia, which makes you feel tired and weak.
The body absorbs vitamin B12 from food, which it does so in two steps.
Firstly, hydrochloric acid in the stomach separates vitamin B12 from the protein which it is attached to food.
The B12 then combines with a protein made by the stomach called intrinsic factor and is absorbed by the body.
Foods high in vitamin B12 are beef liver, clams, fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk and some breakfast cereals.
Vitamin B12 can also be found in almost all multivitamins – as well as in dietary supplements or folic acid.
A lack of the vitamin can cause illness and occurs when the body is unable to absorb vitamin B12.
What are symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency?
A deficiency in vitamin B12 can cause anaemia, which presents a wide range of symptoms.
According to the NHS: “Anaemia is where you have fewer red blood cells than normal or you have an abnormally low amount of a substance called haemoglobin in each red blood cell.”
General symptoms of anaemia include extreme tiredness, breathlessness, headaches, pale skin, loss of appetite and palpitations.
However, having anaemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency can cause symptoms such as:
- A pale yellow tinge to your skin
- A sore and red tongue (glossitis)
- Mouth ulcers
- Pins and needles (paraesthesia)
- Changes in the way that you walk and move around
- Disturbed vision
- Irritability
- Depression
- Changes in the way you think, feel and behave
- A decline in your mental abilities, such as memory, understanding and judgement (dementia)
The treatment for Vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia involves injections of the vitamin in a form known as hydroxocobalamin.
These injections at first will be given every other day for two weeks, or until symptoms begin to improve.
Should your deficiency be caused by diet, vitamin B12 tablets will be prescribed to take every day between meals.
However, if your deficiency isn’t diet related, you will need to have an injection of hydroxocobalamin every three months for the rest of your life.
Regular blood tests will also be required to check the deficiency is under control.
