Vitamin B12 is a vital vitamin, responsible for keeping your body’s blood and nerve cells healthy. Alongside this it supports your spinal column and your brain.
Dr Eric Berg, a chiropractor who specialises in weight loss through nutritional and natural methods, with 11.2 million subscribers on YouTube, listed potential side effects of vitamin B12 deficiency.
In a video which has had more than 155,000 views he said the following side effects can occur:
- Tingling, numbness and burning
- Chronic pain because of nerve damage
- Depression
- Muscle wasting
- Blurry vision
- Tinnitus
- Anaemia
- Mouth ulcers
- Sore throat
- Hair loss
But what’s the first sign of the condition to spot?
Dr Berg advised: “The first sign initially if you start to become deficient in vitamin B12, that symptom is asymptotic – no symptom.”
He continued: “What I mean by that is it takes a long time for you to feel the effects of a B12 deficiency.”
But one of the first symptoms you would feel would be extreme fatigue, said Dr Berg.
So how does someone become deficient in B12?
It could be because of your diet, said Dr Berg, because you don’t eat animal products.
He explained: “There is no B12 in plants, it’s in animal products, or bacteria that can create B12.
“So if someone’s plant based or vegan they can develop a B12 deficiency, unless they take B12.”
But the more likely reason someone’s deficient, especially if they’re older, is absorption, said Dr Berg, which means they don’t have good absorption in their digestive system.
What are some other causes?
Dr Berg listed the following:
- Having some of your stomach removed such as gastric bypass
- If you have inflammation in your intestines
- If you take aspirin
- If you drink alcohol
- If you eat junk food
- If you’re on antibiotics
- If you’re on birth control pills
Dr Berg added: “If a woman is pregnant or lactating, the need for B12 goes up, so it’s very important for a woman who’s either pregnant or lactating to eat super healthy.”
He also noted if a person is low in folate they can have identical symptoms to a B12 deficiency because folate and B12 work together. And vitamin B12 deficiency can also be caused by a genetic reason – polymorphism
How is vitamin B12 deficiency treated?
Vitamin B12 deficiency is usually treated with injections of vitamin B12, called hydroxocobalamin, says the NHS.
The health body adds: “If your vitamin B12 deficiency is caused by a lack of the vitamin in your diet, you may be advised to take vitamin B12 tablets every day between meals.”
If you suspect symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, speak to your GP.