Vitamin B12 deficiency is also known as folic acid deficiency anemia, and those with it can show symptoms slowly.
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Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to many health problems that may be serious if left untreated, so it will be helpful to be aware of the warning signs of vitamin B12 deficiency so that you can alert your doctor. The NHS says that noticeable heart palpitations could be a symptom of this condition.
Other signs may include fatigue, lethargy, feeling faint, tinnitus, or loss of appetite and weight loss.
People with a vitamin B12 deficiency may feel headache, pale skin, and shortness of breath.
There is a whole host of warning signs to watch out for, including:
A pale yellow undertone on the complexion
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Sore tongue and redness
Mouth ulcers
Paresthesia
Changes in the way you walk and move
Blurred vision
Irritability
Depression
Changes in the way you think, feel, and behave
A decrease in your mental abilities, such as memory, understanding and judgment (dementia).
Other symptoms include decreased sense of taste, muscle weakness and diarrhea.
Discussion of symptoms and a blood test can help identify a deficiency.
“The longer the condition goes untreated, the greater the chance of permanent damage,” the NHS warns.
The most common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency is a condition called pernicious anemia.
This autoimmune condition causes the body’s immune system to mistakenly attack healthy cells in the body. In particular, the stomach cells that secrete a special protein are targeted.
In a healthy individual, a protein called intrinsic factor is formed in the stomach.
Then the intrinsic factor binds to vitamin B12, which you get from your diet, and is absorbed in the intestine.
Without an intrinsic factor, no matter what you eat, the body is unable to absorb vitamin B12.
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Vitamin B12 is found in meat, fish and dairy products, so vegetarians and vegans are more likely to develop this condition.
Some medications, such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), may worsen vitamin B12 deficiency.
This is because proton pump inhibitors block the production of stomach acid, which is necessary for the release of vitamin B12 from the foods eaten.
Your doctor will be aware of any medications you take that may increase your risk of developing a vitamin B12 deficiency and will monitor them as necessary. Depending on the cause of vitamin B12 deficiency, treatment may vary.
For example, vitamin B12 injection may be recommended and administered by a healthcare professional.
This will happen if the person has an autoimmune condition, while vegetarians may be offered vitamin B12 tablets.
Your doctor may also advise you to eat more sources of folic acid, which include:
Broccoli
-asparagus
Peas
Chickpeas
Brown rice
Source: Express
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