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5 ways a vitamin B12 deficiency affects your body


Posted by Fatima Khalil

Monday, March 13, 2023 10:00 AM

Vitamin B12 is a vital nutrient that helps make DNA, aids in energy production and aids function Nervous system Moreover, it aids in the formation of red blood cells and promotes brain health. It is very important to maintain adequate levels of vitamin B12 in the body or you could suffer from a vitamin B12 deficiency. Deficiency of this important nutrient can lead to various symptoms. And it can affect the body in many different ways, according to the “Times of India” website.

Fatigue, headache and mood problems

Adequate levels of Vitamin B12 in the body can promote the production of red blood cells, which help carry oxygen throughout the body. However, if you do not have enough levels of Vitamin B12 in the body, it can impede oxygen delivery and reduce Normal red blood cell production, which may lead to megaloblastic anemia. All of these effects can leave you feeling tired and tired and even headaches and mood changes.

Digestive problems

Our bodies can get their share of vitamin B12 from foods, it binds to the proteins in the food we consume.

Hydrochloric acid and enzymes in the stomach help break down vitamin B12 in its free form and then bind to a protein called intrinsic factor, which aids its absorption in the small intestine. However, vitamin B12 deficiency can affect the digestive system.

Since a lack of nutrients does not allow enough oxygen to reach the gut at all, this can lead to a person having digestive problems including diarrhoea, nausea, constipation, bloating, gas, loss of appetite and even weight loss.

Nerve damage

Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that helps maintain a healthy nervous system. However, a severe deficiency in vitamin B12 can lead to “permanent neurological damage,” notes a BMJ study.

According to the NHS, “Early manifestations are generally subtle or asymptomatic.” However, “if neurological issues do arise, they may be irreversible.”

The United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) lists some of the symptoms associated with vitamin B12 deficiency.

A pale yellow spot on your skin.

Inflammation and redness of the tongue (glossitis)

Mouth ulcers

Changes in walking and movement.

Vision disorder.

Irritability and depression

Signs of vitamin B12 deficiency on the skin

Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to anemia, also known as cobalamin deficiency, a condition that occurs when the body does not produce enough healthy red blood cells so this can affect skin color. Common symptoms include a pale yellow tinge to your skin.

Symptoms and signs of vitamin B12 deficiency in the mouth

One unusual sign of vitamin B12 in the mouth includes “tongue paresthesia,” an oral condition characterized by an unpleasant sensation, tingling, tingling, or a swollen or burning feeling in the tongue. Also called glossitis, a condition associated with an inflamed and swollen tongue.






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