Four out of twelve people across the world suffer from vitamin B12 deficiency. The condition might not produce any symptoms, but it can cause some complications in the long term if left untreated.
What is vitamin B12, and what are its functions?
- It is a highly essential water-soluble vitamin naturally available in some foods.
- It helps in making DNA in our cells.
- It keeps blood cells and nerves healthy.
- It is also vital for a healthy brain and immune system
How is vitamin B12 absorbed in the digestive tract?
Our body does not produce vitamin B12. It comes from the food we eat. When the food reaches the stomach, gastric acid separates the vitamin B12 from the food.
The free vitamin B12 then binds with a protein called “intrinsic factor” produced by the stomach lining. This complex moves all along the intestine and reaches the terminal ileum, where it gets absorbed into the body.
What are the risk factors for vitamin B12 deficiency?
- Diet: Vitamin B12 is mainly available in red meat, chicken, fish, dairy products, and eggs. If your diet does not include any of these food items, you might be at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency.
- Medications: People who use medicines that suppress gastric acid secretion or the antidiabetic drug metformin could be at higher risk of vitamin B12 deficiency.
- Age: The stomach of older people might not secrete enough gastric acid, which could cause deficiency.
- Issues in the stomach lining: Some people having problems in their stomach lining might not produce enough of the intrinsic factor. It causes malabsorption of vitamin B12 and deficiency.
- Surgery: People who underwent surgical removal of a part of the stomach may experience the deficiency. People who underwent surgery to remove their terminal ileum due to IBD are also at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency.
- Coeliac disease: People with coeliac disease are allergic to gluten and suffer from malabsorption, causing the deficiency.
- IBD: Vitamin B12 gets absorbed mainly in the intestine. Any disease that affects the terminal ileum could also affect its absorption. Thus, people with inflammatory bowel disease or Crohn's disease are at risk of developing vitamin B12 deficiency.
- Gut health: People with an unhealthy gut may have low levels of vitamin B12.
- Alcohol: Drinking alcohol regularly could damage the digestive system and increase the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency.
What are the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency?
Vitamin B12 deficiency does not always produce symptoms. But having low levels of vitamin B12 over longer periods can cause various symptoms.
- Physical symptoms: Feeling excessively tired, lack of energy, reduced appetite, sore tongue with difficulty tasting and swallowing, loss of weight, skin discolouration to pale or lemon yellow.
- Neurobiological symptoms: Numbness or tingling sensation in the hands and feet, memory issues, forgetfulness, lack of concentration, vision disturbances, balance issues, unsteady walking and talking
- Psychological symptoms: Depression, mood changes, feeling irritable.
How to correct vitamin B12 deficiency?
Vitamin B12 deficiency can be diagnosed using blood tests. People with low levels of this vitamin can discuss with their doctors the treatment options, including diet and medicines.
- People on a vegetarian diet should include eggs, milk, curd, paneer, and cheese to get enough vitamin B12 from the diet.
- People on a vegan diet or those who do not take animal products can consume foods fortified with vitamin B12, mushrooms, and fermented grains and add nutritional yeast to their salads and foods.
- People who do not find a suitable food source of vitamin B12 or those with vitamin B12 absorption issues and other risk factors can take supplements in the form of tablets or injections.
Takeaway points
- Vitamin B12 is essential for a healthy body. Low levels of vitamin B12 for longer periods can cause complications.
- Most people can prevent or correct the deficiency by consuming vitamin B12-rich foods.
- People with stomach lining and absorption issues should seek advice from a gastroenterologist.
A gastroenterologist is a digestive health specialist who is trained in treating issues in the gastrointestinal tract. A gastroenterologist will identify the gastro reasons for the deficiency and help treat it. The top gastroenterologists at Bangalore Gastro Centre in Hospitals will work with nutritionists to help treat vitamin B12 deficiency with supplements and medicines.
