Vitamin B12 deficiency, also known as B12 hypovitaminosis, is a medical condition that occurs when the body does not have enough of this essential vitamin to function properly.
Vitamin B12 plays a crucial role in the human body, as it is involved in several vital functions, including the formation of red blood cells, the maintenance of the nervous system and cellular metabolism.
Causes of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
The main cause of vitamin B12 deficiency is the lack of adequate intake of this vitamin in the diet. Vitamin B12 is found mainly in foods of animal origin, such as meat, fish, dairy products and eggs.
Therefore, people who follow vegetarian or vegan diets have a greater risk of developing this deficiency unless they take vitamin B12 supplements or consume fortified foods. Other causes include:
- Bariatric surgery: some types of bariatric surgery can reduce significant parts of the stomach, which can result in poor vitamin absorption.
- Medications: some classes of medications (protone inhibitors, cholestyramine, H2 antihistamines, metformin, antibiotics, omeprazole, esomeprazole and pantoprazole) can interfere with vitamin absorption.
- Digestive problems: people with Crohn's disease or celiac disease may have difficulty absorbing vitamin B12, which can lead to deficiency.
- Excessive alcohol consumption.
Symptoms Caused by B12 Deficiency
Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency can range from fatigue and weakness to serious neurological problems, such as swelling and soreness in hands and feet. Without treatment, B12 deficiency can lead to serious complications, such as megaloblastic anemia and permanent damage to the nervous system.
Other common symptoms include loss of sensation in the lower extremities, eye symptoms, headaches and palpitations, mouth ulcers, loss of memory and loss of appetite.
Hypovitaminosis B12 Treatment
It is important to diagnose and treat vitamin B12 deficiency early to prevent long-term complications. Treatment generally involves the administration of oral or injectable vitamin B12 supplements, depending on the severity of the deficiency. Therefore, if you suspect this deficiency due to symptoms, it is recommended that you consult a specialist doctor to assess your health status. In the case of children, it is especially important to seek medical attention as soon as possible, as low levels of vitamin B12 can cause irreversible damage.
The main treatments include intramuscular injections of vitamin B12 (concentration of 100 mcg) in the form of hydroxocobalamin (mainly in cases of pernicious anemia), supplements and multivitamins, and changes in the diet to include foods rich in vitamin B12, such as milk, liver meat, huevos, queso, seafood, yogurt, pollo, fish and yeast.
How to Know If Your Vitamin B12 Level is Low
In addition to consulting a doctor to assess your health status, some tests will be carried out to reach a diagnosis. The recommended tests include a complete blood count that analyzes the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin, as well as their shape, size and color.
It is also important to analyze folate and vitamin B12 (also known as cyanocobalamin) levels using biochemical tests. Levels considered normal for vitamin B12 are 200 to 800 pg/ml.
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