2023-09-22 14:50:00
Vitamin-B12-Deficiency – Symptoms
If you suffer from a Vitamin B12 Deficiency, it can be harmful to your health. Vitamins are essential substances that control vital functions in our body. Therefore, it is clear that a vitamin deficiency has negative effects on our health. A Vitamin B12 Deficiency develops slowly and therefore often goes unnoticed for a long time.
Vitamin B12 is not a single vitamin, but rather a group of compounds that all have the same effect. They are also known as “cobalamins”. These substances are vital for the body. Both in the Formation of blood as well as new genetic material (DNA), Cobalamins play a central role. They also have a positive effect on cell division and the breakdown of certain fatty acids, explains the German Society for Nutrition (DGE).
The main store of vitamin B12 is in the liver. Since there are vitamin B12 reserves for three to four years stored, a Vitamin B12 Deficiency only develops gradually. The deficiency can remain asymptomatic for a long time and is usually only noticed when nerves have already been damaged. However, there are symptoms you should watch out for.
The following symptoms indicate a vitamin B12 deficiency:
– Burning tongue
– Permanent fatigue
– Lack of concentration
– Memory loss
– Headache
– Dizziness
– Paleness
– Confusion
– Mood swings
The symptoms are mainly due to one thing – Anemia due to the vitamin B12 deficiency. Because red blood cells can only be formed with sufficient vitamin B12. The vitamin activates certain enzymes that transform hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein responsible for the oxygen transport in the blood. So if the body doesn’t get enough B12, a whole chain reaction starts: We have too little hemoglobin and therefore too few red blood cells. This is how anemia, also called Anemia, develops. As a result, the symptoms are persistent fatigue and weakness, paleness, dizziness, or even a higher heart rate. Anemia can also arise from other deficiency symptoms, such as iron deficiency.
Another function of B12 comes into play when it comes to blood formation and nerves. In addition to its important role in blood formation, vitamin B12 also ensures the protection of our nerve cells. Vitamin B12 is involved in the formation of the nerve covering, the myelin sheath. This forms a kind of insulating layer around the nerve fibers and thus guarantees rapid transmission of sensory perceptions and stimuli.
If the body suffers from a Vitamin B12 Deficiency, this myelin layer can no longer be sufficiently preserved and is gradually destroyed. As a result, the transmission function of the nerves is impaired and slowed down. But the protective layer around the nerve fibers is also missing, which causes further damage.
Nerve damage caused by vitamin B12 deficiency can be seen as follows:
– Tingling in hands and feet
– Numbness or pain in the limbs or even paralysis
– Muscle weakness
– Coordination problems and unsteady walking
– Sensory disorders
– Reflex disorders
– Vision problems
Here the deficiency can have led to chronic damage to the nervous system. Some people with vitamin B12 deficiency also complain of depression and other psychological problems.
On the one hand, the cause of a Vitamin B12 Deficiency can be attributed to reduced intake. Vitamins are essential substances. They cannot be produced by the body itself, but must be consumed regularly through food. The main suppliers for this are animal products such as eggs, milk, seafood, salmon, and meat, which is why vegetarians and especially vegans have to take care to absorb this vitamin differently. According to the DGE, it is not possible to cover the need for vitamin B12 through plant-based foods.
According to the DGE, the daily requirement for vitamin B12 is four micrograms for young people aged 13 and over and for adults. For comparison: There are around 0.81 micrograms of vitamin B12 in 100 grams of mountain cheese. Meat or fish have a particularly high proportion of the vitamin. In salmon, for example, between two and three micrograms of vitamin B12 per 100 grams are contained. Another cause of vitamin B12 deficiency lies in the stomach. In order for the body to be able to absorb vitamin B12 from food, a special protein is necessary. It is the so-called intrinsic factor, which is produced in the stomach. In chronic stomach and intestinal diseases or after surgical procedures, this mechanism may be disturbed. Despite the right diet, a deficiency can arise.
In pregnancy or with increasing age, the vitamin B12 requirement increases. This and also the long-standing taking of diabetes medications and long-term, pathological alcohol consumption can also be the cause of a vitamin B12 deficiency. Particular caution should be taken when taking medication for a long time with increased stomach acid production.
As soon as the first signs of nerve damage appear, a Vitamin B12 Deficiency is usually still reversible, i.e. fixable. After months or years, the damage can also be irreversible. That’s why you should consult a doctor at the first symptoms that indicate damage to the nerves. A Vitamin-B12-Test can be carried out.
Ask your doctor for advice on how you can prevent nerve damage with an adequate intake of vitamin B12. He will explain to you whether and which B12 supplements you should take. Dietary supplements should never be consumed simply on suspicion. Instead, the dosage should be clarified beforehand with a doctor and supported therapeutically.
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