Recognizing and Combating Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Symptoms and Solutions

2024-04-07 16:21:30

A vitamin B12 deficiency is often only recognized late, even though it has physical consequences. Read about the symptoms and what you can do about them.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is widespread in Germany: around one in ten people is affected by it! This can lead to nerve damage, which in turn is accompanied by symptoms such as tiredness or fatigue. This particularly affects older people and vegans. In this article you will find out what causes a vitamin B12 deficiency, how it manifests itself and how it can be remedied.

What is vitamin B12 deficiency and why is B12 so important?

Vitamin B12 is an important substance for the human body: it needs it for energy metabolism, for the formation of blood cells and for building the nerve sheaths. If there is a deficiency of vitamin B12, i.e. the body has too little available, it damages the nerves. Although it is so important, the body cannot produce vitamin B12 on its own, so it must be obtained through food. Since vitamin B12 is mainly found in animal products such as meat, fish or dairy products, vegetarian and vegan people are particularly affected by it.

What are the causes of a vitamin B12 deficiency?

A vitamin B12 deficiency can have various causes.

Possible causes of vitamin B12 deficiency

• Chronic inflammation in the stomach or intestines
• Medication for diabetes or too much stomach acid
• Regular and excessive alcohol consumption
• A vegetarian or vegan diet
• Increasing age: As we age, the performance of the gastrointestinal tract decreases, which is why vitamins can no longer be absorbed as well.

Symptoms: How does a vitamin B12 deficiency manifest itself?

The human body stores large amounts of vitamin B12 in the liver, which is why a deficiency usually only becomes apparent after a long period of time. Since the symptoms can be varied, it is even harder to recognize.

Possible symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency include:

• Sensitivity disorders and even paralysis
• A burning tongue
• A tingling sensation in the arms, legs and feet
• Unsteady gait, increased tendency to fall
• Muscle weakness
• Fatigue, lack of concentration
• Memory disorders
• Headache
• Depression
• confusion
• Hair loss
• Anemia

What to do if you have a vitamin B12 deficiency?

The best way to prevent vitamin B12 deficiency is to eat a healthy diet. People who eat animal products can choose meat, fish, shellfish and dairy products (e.g. cheese, quark). Vegetarians and vegans should have their blood values ​​checked regularly by a doctor and, after consultation, take dietary supplements or vitamin preparations. These are available in drugstores or online. B12 is also added to many vegetarian and vegan foods, for example soy milk. Of course, people who eat meat etc. can also use B12 supplements – but this should only be done after consulting a doctor.

Consultation with a doctor is so important because an overdose of vitamin B12 can have side effects. So far, it has not been ruled out that taking too much can increase the risk of lung cancer.

Conclusion: A vitamin B12 deficiency should be recognized and combated

A vitamin B12 deficiency usually only becomes apparent through symptoms after several years. If you notice such signs, you should consult a doctor and, after consultation, adjust your diet and, if necessary, take B12 supplements to counteract nerve damage.■