Vitamin B12 : vital and abundant though very often deficient in some people
Vitamin B12 is an important vitamin that is easily found in a variety of food sources such as meat, fish, milk, cheese, eggs, and some fortified breakfast cereals. This vitamin is absorbed in the stomach through the use of intrinsic factors. The lack of vitamin B12 can result in generalized weakness, exertional fatigue, somnolence, numbness and tingling in the feet and hands, heart palpitations, leg stiffness, impaired memory, depression, irritability and personality changes and general weakness, pernicious anemia
Most of the patients we see in the clinic with deficiency of vitamin B12 are most often related to the following causes.
1) Decreased production of stomach wall atrophy due to gastritis especially in the elderly population
2) People who have undergone gastric bypass, whipple procedure, gastrectomy and iliac resection, or short bowel syndrome.
3) Chronic inflammatory disease such as crohn's disease celiac,
4) Not taking enough vitamins as with vegan diet, alcoholism, and and in the elderly, or psychiatric disorders.
5) Prolonged intake of certain medication such as metformin, opioids, ranitidine, proton pump blockers, acid reducing medicines such as omeprazole
How is vitamin B12 deficiency diagnosed ?
To better understand your medical condition, our provider will ask you questions on how you are feeling. This expert will further check your vital signs and physical exams. Lab tests are completed to know your Vitamin B12 levels and your hemoglobin levels.
How is Vitamin B12 deficiency treated?
Once diagnosed, our doctors will discuss treatment options that works best for you. Vitamine B12 injection provides the fastest relief to symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency anemia.
What are some complications of Vitamin B12 deficiency?
Being deficient in Vitamin B12 may lead to serious complications in adults, children, pregnant women, and their unborn babies. Complications such as memory loss, nerve damage, bleeding, infections, birth defects and developmental delays can occur if vitamin B12 deficiency is left untreated.
References
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/anemia/vitamin-b12-deficiency-anemia
https://fpnotebook.com/HemeOnc/Anemia/VtmnBDfcncy.htm