What You Need to Know About B12 Deficiency Disease

B12 deficiency disease is a common disorder that often goes undiagnosed and untreated. It is highly preventable and treatable, but the signs and symptoms are often missed and overlooked. Here we learn about what B12 deficiency is all about.

Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that is needed in the production of red blood cells and for the optimum functioning of the nervous system. An average adult has about 2-5 mg of Vitamin B12 stored in the body. Everyday, about 0.1% of that is used by the body, which then warrants replacement so that the body will maintain its full functioning. When your diet lacks Vitamin B12, this can lead to Vitamin B12 deficiency disease. There are also other causes of Vitamin B12 deficiency other than its lack in the diet. The most common cause of B12 deficiency disease is the body’s inability to absorb and digest Vitamin B12. This can be caused by certain disorders like celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, atrophic gastritis, pernicious anemia and when a portion of the stomach or the small intestine is removed during surgery.

B12 deficiency disease is a disorder that develops slowly, and the various B12 deficiency symptoms appear gradually. These are the reasons why the symptoms are often missed which then lead to complications like anemia. The symptoms of anemia that are manifested when there is B12 deficiency include easy fatigability, generalized body weakness, pale appearance, palpitations and shortness of breath. Cardiovascular symptoms include palpitations and in some instances, chest pain. B12 deficiency symptoms that concern the nervous system include confusion, dementia, memory loss, dizziness and tingling sensations or numbness of the hands and the feet. There are also gastrointestinal symptoms like constipation and poor appetite. For children, B12 symptoms include general body weakness, weak muscle tone and delays with their growth and development.

The treatment of B12 deficiency disease depends on the underlying cause. If this is caused by insufficient Vitamin B12 in the diet, then all you have to do is to eat foods that are rich in this particular nutrient. Foods with high Vitamin B12 content include poultry products, fish, lean red meat and dairy products. There are also Vitamin B12 supplements that you can take and this is especially recommended to those who are at risk for having B12 deficiency disorder. To receive the proper treatment, an assessment should be done by your doctor so that he will know the cause of your B12 deficiency disease. From then on, he will recommend the treatments that need to be done for you. This is important because untreated Vitamin B12 deficiency disease when left untreated can lead to serious complications such as nerve damage, severe anemia and abnormalities in growth.

B12 deficiency disease is not something that you just ignore, for it warrants immediate treatment once it is diagnosed. If you are feeling of any of the B12 deficiency symptoms, then you should have yourself checked by your physician so that he can determine if you are suffering from B12 deficiency disease or not. This way, you will be able to receive treatment to prevent the complications.