VeryWell
https://www.verywell.com/causes-and-effects-of-vitamin-b12-deficiency-4126428
By Heidi Moawad, MD | Reviewed by a board-certified physician
August 17, 2017
Vitamin B12 deficiency is one of the most prevalent nutritional deficiencies. It causes an array of symptoms ranging from fatigue to forgetfulness to tingling of the hands and feet. The reason for the wide variety of symptoms is that vitamin B12 plays a principal role in numerous body functions.
What Does Vitamin B12 Do?
Vitamin B12 has an important function in the production of DNA, which is the body's genetic code.
DNA directs proper formation of every part of the body.
Vitamin B12 also reduces homocysteine, one of the body’s naturally occurring chemicals. If homocysteine is not properly metabolized because of a vitamin B12 deficiency, then it causes inflammation and toxic damage to the body. This is why the effects of vitamin B12 deficiency have an impact on so many body systems.
Symptoms and Effects of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Anemia is diminished function of the red blood cells. The chief clinical manifestation of B12 deficiency is megaloblastic anemia, which is a type of anemia that often produces fatigue and tachycardia (rapid heart rate), and sometimes dizziness. Vitamin B12 is a nutrient required for normal red blood cell production. RBCs deliver energy-producing oxygen throughout body to power all of the body’s needs.
Peripheral neuropathy is a type of nerve damage. This means that nerves are actually damaged or that there is a deficiency of myelin, which is a protective covering of the peripheral nerves.
Vitamin B12 is a co-factor in myelin formation, and thus a vitamin B12 deficiency prevents myelin from forming as needed.
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 include:
Tingling
Numbness
Weakness
Dementia is a disease characterized by memory loss and behavioral changes. There are many causes of dementia, and vitamin B12 deficiency is one of the more recently recognized causes. Scientific research suggests that the dementia associated with vitamin B12 deficiency may be a result of elevated homocysteine levels.
Symptoms of dementia include:
Forgetfulness
Absentmindedness
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 anemia or dementia.
Stroke is a medical condition characterized by interruption of blood flow to the brain, causing a physical or mental handicap. Vitamin B12 deficiency may increase the risk of stroke among young people who are not otherwise at risk of stroke. Whether or not there is a link is highly controversial, and the risk may result from excess homocysteine levels.
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 result from vitamin B12 deficiency. Glossitis is the name used to describe a painful, unusually smooth tongue that can result from this nutritional deficiency.
Conditions Associated With Vitamin B12 Deficiency
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.
Causes of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
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 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 in the small intestine.
Autoimmune disease, gastric bypass surgery 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 is not absorbed into the body, and it is eliminated through bowel movements.
Heavy alcohol use causes changes in the lining of the stomach and thus interferes with production of intrinsic factor, causing B12 deficiency.
Intestinal disease such as Crohn’s disease and Celiac Disease can interfere with proper absorption of vitamin B12 in the small intestines, causing a deficiency even if there is enough vitamin B12 in the diet.
Pernicious anemia is an autoimmune disease that reduces or eliminates intrinsic factor, a protein in the stomach that binds dietary B12 so that it can be absorbed. This leads to B12 deficiency through malabsorption, and this type of B12 deficiency cannot be treated with oral B12 replacement, and requires treatment with vitamin B12 shots.
Symptoms of pernicious anemia include:
Fatigue
Lack of energy
Lightheadedness
Depression
Headaches
Rapid heart beat
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 diabetes
Colchicine: a medication used to treat gout
Chloramphenicol: an antibiotic used to treat infections
Many medications used for the treatment of heartburn
A Word From Verywell
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:
Desouza C, Keebler M, McNamara DB, Fonseca V, Drugs. Drugs affecting homocysteine metabolism: impact on cardiovascular risk. 2002;62(4):605-16.
Cerit L, Duygu H, Gulsen K, Kemal H, Tosun O, Ozcem B, Cerit Z, Gunsel A, Kardiol Pol. The relation between vitamin B12 and SYNTAX score. 2017;75(1):65-70.
https://www.verywell.com/causes-and-effects-of-vitamin-b12-deficiency-4126428
By Heidi Moawad, MD | Reviewed by a board-certified physician
August 17, 2017
Vitamin B12 deficiency is one of the most prevalent nutritional deficiencies. It causes an array of symptoms ranging from fatigue to forgetfulness to tingling of the hands and feet. The reason for the wide variety of symptoms is that vitamin B12 plays a principal role in numerous body functions.
What Does Vitamin B12 Do?
Vitamin B12 has an important function in the production of DNA, which is the body's genetic code.
DNA directs proper formation of every part of the body.
Vitamin B12 also reduces homocysteine, one of the body’s naturally occurring chemicals. If homocysteine is not properly metabolized because of a vitamin B12 deficiency, then it causes inflammation and toxic damage to the body. This is why the effects of vitamin B12 deficiency have an impact on so many body systems.
Symptoms and Effects of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Anemia is diminished function of the red blood cells. The chief clinical manifestation of B12 deficiency is megaloblastic anemia, which is a type of anemia that often produces fatigue and tachycardia (rapid heart rate), and sometimes dizziness. Vitamin B12 is a nutrient required for normal red blood cell production. RBCs deliver energy-producing oxygen throughout body to power all of the body’s needs.
Peripheral neuropathy is a type of nerve damage. This means that nerves are actually damaged or that there is a deficiency of myelin, which is a protective covering of the peripheral nerves.
Vitamin B12 is a co-factor in myelin formation, and thus a vitamin B12 deficiency prevents myelin from forming as needed.
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 include:
Tingling
Numbness
Weakness
Dementia is a disease characterized by memory loss and behavioral changes. There are many causes of dementia, and vitamin B12 deficiency is one of the more recently recognized causes. Scientific research suggests that the dementia associated with vitamin B12 deficiency may be a result of elevated homocysteine levels.
Symptoms of dementia include:
Forgetfulness
Absentmindedness
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 anemia or dementia.
Stroke is a medical condition characterized by interruption of blood flow to the brain, causing a physical or mental handicap. Vitamin B12 deficiency may increase the risk of stroke among young people who are not otherwise at risk of stroke. Whether or not there is a link is highly controversial, and the risk may result from excess homocysteine levels.
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 result from vitamin B12 deficiency. Glossitis is the name used to describe a painful, unusually smooth tongue that can result from this nutritional deficiency.
Conditions Associated With Vitamin B12 Deficiency
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.
Causes of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
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 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 in the small intestine.
Autoimmune disease, gastric bypass surgery 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 is not absorbed into the body, and it is eliminated through bowel movements.
Heavy alcohol use causes changes in the lining of the stomach and thus interferes with production of intrinsic factor, causing B12 deficiency.
Intestinal disease such as Crohn’s disease and Celiac Disease can interfere with proper absorption of vitamin B12 in the small intestines, causing a deficiency even if there is enough vitamin B12 in the diet.
Pernicious anemia is an autoimmune disease that reduces or eliminates intrinsic factor, a protein in the stomach that binds dietary B12 so that it can be absorbed. This leads to B12 deficiency through malabsorption, and this type of B12 deficiency cannot be treated with oral B12 replacement, and requires treatment with vitamin B12 shots.
Symptoms of pernicious anemia include:
Fatigue
Lack of energy
Lightheadedness
Depression
Headaches
Rapid heart beat
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 diabetes
Colchicine: a medication used to treat gout
Chloramphenicol: an antibiotic used to treat infections
Many medications used for the treatment of heartburn
A Word From Verywell
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:
Desouza C, Keebler M, McNamara DB, Fonseca V, Drugs. Drugs affecting homocysteine metabolism: impact on cardiovascular risk. 2002;62(4):605-16.
Cerit L, Duygu H, Gulsen K, Kemal H, Tosun O, Ozcem B, Cerit Z, Gunsel A, Kardiol Pol. The relation between vitamin B12 and SYNTAX score. 2017;75(1):65-70.