Many studies show similarities between the symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency and multiple sclerosis (MS).  There is also a very high rate of B12 deficiency among people diagnosed with MS.  How, then, does one differentiate between pernicious anemia (vitamin B12 deficiency) and multiple sclerosis?

What is MS?

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that affects your central nervous system- your brain and spinal cord.  It typically strikes young adults between the ages of 20-40, most of them women.  The exact cause of MS is unknown, but most scientists believe it is an autoimmune disorder.  With multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune reaction attacks myelin, a fatty substance that insulates your nerve fibers responsible for transmitting messages to the rest of your body.  Signs of demyelination are random lesions, or plaques (sclerosis) in the brain and spinal cord, in multiple areas, thus the term “multiple sclerosis.”

What is B12 deficiency?

Vitamin B12 deficiency occurs when your body is unable to maintain sufficient stores of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) in the blood.  There are several reasons this may happen, such as not eating food sources of vitamin B12 (meat, fish, and milk), or having a gastrointestinal disorder that interferes with vitamin B12 absorption.  With pernicious anemia (PA), your body cannot make intrinsic factor (IF), a protein necessary for digesting vitamin B12, due to an autoimmune disorder.  Among its many other benefits, vitamin B12 is essential for building up the fatty myelin sheath.  One of the symptoms of PA is demyelination, the same type of brain damage that occurs with MS.

*Multiple sclerosis and vitamin B12 deficiency- pernicious anemia are both autoimmune disorders.

*Multiple sclerosis and vitamin B12 deficiency-pernicious anemia both involve damage to the nervous system’s myelin sheath.

What are the symptoms of multiple sclerosis?

The earliest symptoms of MS may include:

• Muscular weakness in one or more limbs
• Tingling or numbness
• Loss of balance
• Vision problems or eye pain
• Slurred speech

As the disease advances, symptoms worsen, including:

• Chronic fatigue, despite getting plenty of rest and not overexerting yourself
• Hypersensitivity to heat, such as hot showers or baths
• Muscular spasms in the legs and arms
• Bladder or bowel control problems
• Lightheadedness, or vertigo caused by nerve damage
• Cognitive impairment- “brain fog,” slowed thinking, lack of concentration, or memory loss
• Vision problems- blurring or graying of vision, or temporary blindness in one eye
• Painful “pins and needles” sensations, numbness, itching, or burning
• Speech and swallowing problems caused by damaged nerves
• Seizures
• Difficulty walking without stumbling, caused by muscle weakness, spasticity, or loss of balance from vertigo
• Paralysis

What are the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency?

The most common symptoms of B12 deficiency and pernicious anemia are:

• Chronic fatigue
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Aggressive behavior
• Painful “pins and needles” or numbness in hands and feet
• Sore, swollen red tongue
• Burning mouth sensation
• Difficulty walking without stumbling
• Short-term memory loss
• Difficulty concentrating
• “Brain fog”
• Shortness of breath

*Multiple sclerosis and vitamin B12 deficiency-pernicious anemia both cause nerve damage, including painful tingling or numbness in the hands and feet and impaired gait.

*Multiple sclerosis and vitamin B12 deficiency-pernicious anemia both cause cognitive impairment, like brain fog, memory loss, and low concentration.

Which tests diagnose multiple sclerosis?

There is more than one test used to confirm MS, and your doctor will need to use the process of elimination to exclude other illnesses.  Some common tests and indicators are:

• MRI scan indicating at least two incidences myelin damage- scar tissue (lesions)
• Neurological exams
• Blood tests
• Spinal tap
• Evoked potentials, an electrical test of your nervous impulses

Which tests diagnose vitamin B12 deficiency?

Only one test is required to diagnose vitamin B12 deficiency- a blood test indicating low blood serum levels of vitamin B12.  Patients of pernicious anemia require routine blood tests in order to monitor their B12 levels.

What’s the best treatment for multiple sclerosis?

There is no cure for MS, but various medications are helpful for dealing with the symptoms.

• Some prescribed medicines work by controlling your body’s autoimmune response, thus reducing the frequency and severity of MS symptoms.
• Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a controversial surgery used to treat debilitating tremors in people with MS. Complications may include paralysis, loss of vision, or loss of speech.
• Alternative treatments for MS include physical therapy, exercise like yoga or tai chi, acupuncture, aromatherapy, meditation, massage, and vitamin therapy.

What’s the best treatment for vitamin B12 deficiency?

There are many kinds of B12 supplements on the market, but it’s important to be certain if you are able to digest vitamin B12 in the stomach. If you lack intrinsic factor, or if you’ve had gastrointestinal surgery like gastric bypass, then you will not benefit from dietary forms of vitamin B12.

• Physicians normally prescribe a series of B12 shots for patients with pernicious anemia.  These vitamin B12 injections require a prescription, and not all health care providers cover extensive supplementation of vitamin B12 shots.
• Sublingual vitamin B12 pills that dissolve under the tongue are another option, although they are not very effective, and they often require dosages of three times per day.
• A behind-the-ear vitamin B12 patch is an increasingly popular option for patients who wish to supplement B12 without the need for injections,  The B12 patch also allows you the freedom to take non-dietary vitamin B12 without a doctor’s prescription.

Read more about vitamin B12 symptoms:

Vitamin B12 Deficiency- 4 Causes, 1 Solution

Absorbing Vitamin B12, a Metabolic Gastrointestinal Journey

Sore Burning Tongue, Dry Mouth, and Weird Tastes- What’s the Cause?

Sources:

Multiple sclerosis

Vitamin B12, demyelination, remyelination and repair in multiple sclerosis

WebMD Multiple Sclerosis Guide – Better Information for Better Health

What is pernicious anemia, and how is it different from vitamin B12 deficiency or megaloblastic anemia? That is one of many questions that people have about pernicious anemia- questions that are answered here.

1. What’s the difference between pernicious anemia and megaloblastic anemia?

Pernicious anemia is a form of megaloblastic anemia, a disease of the red blood cells.  Pernicious anemia results from vitamin B12 deficiency; for that reason, it is also called vitamin B12 malabsorption anemia.  (It is worth mentioning that pernicious anemia is only one of many conditions caused by B12 deficiency.)  Other names for pernicious anemia are Biermer’s anemia, Addison’s anemia, and combined systems disease (a disorder of the nervous system).

2. What is the relationship between intrinsic factor and pernicious anemia?

Whenever you eat foods that contain vitamin B12- protein foods like beef, chicken, seafood, cheese, and eggs- your digestive system produces a chemical called intrinsic factor that grabs the B12 from your stomach, carries it through the small intestine, and delivers it to the ileum, where the vitamin B12 is then absorbed and dispersed into your bloodstream. That is how most people digest vitamin B12.

People who suffer from pernicious anemia, a deficiency in vitamin B12, are usually not able to manufacture intrinsic factor.  Even if they eat a strict high-protein diet rich in vitamin B12, the B12 will pass through the intestines without ever reaching the bloodstream, causing symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency.

3. What are the symptoms of B12 deficiency- pernicious anemia?

The most common pernicious anemia symptoms are:

• Extreme fatigue
• Depression
• Trouble concentrating
• Memory loss
• Irritability
• Painful tingling sensations in hands and feet
• Hands and feet often “falling asleep” or going numb
• Sore, red tongue
• Altered taste perception
• Constant stumbling while walking
• Clumsiness
• Muscular feebleness
• Pale complexion
• Diarrhea
• Stomach pains
• Trouble sleeping

Untreated, vitamin B12 deficiency causes low red blood cell production, dementia, severe nerve damage, increased risk for heart attack and stroke, cancer, and osteoporosis.

4. What natural remedies work best for pernicious anemia?

Since pernicious anemia results from vitamin B12 deficiency, the only remedy you need is…more B12!  The real question is: Can your body absorb vitamin B12 naturally from food sources- beef, chicken, fish, milk, and cheese- or not?  Only your doctor can answer that by taking blood tests, and determining if your body makes intrinsic factor.  If it is determined that you lack intrinsic factor, then you will need to take vitamin B12 supplements, most likely for the rest of your life, in order to avoid getting pernicious anemia.

5. Why is a pernicious anemia patient unable to take vitamin B12 orally?

Without intrinsic factor, your body cannot digest dietary sources of vitamin B12- and that includes vitamin B12 pills.  As a rule of thumb, if vitamin B12 passes through a digestive system that does not produce intrinsic factor, then the B12 will pass through without being broken down or digested.  In order to get vitamin B12 into your blood supply, you have to insert it there directly- usually through B12 shots or transdermal means.

6. How long does it take before you start to feel the benefits of vitamin B12 supplements?

Assuming you are getting the correct dose of vitamin B12, and are taking an efficient method of B12 supplements…most patients start to feel notably better within 24 hours of vitamin B12 supplementation.

7. Is Pernicious anemia genetic?

Family history is one of many causes of pernicious anemia.  If your family has a history of suffering from pernicious anemia, then you should take routine blood tests for vitamin B12 deficiency throughout your life.

What are the Symptoms of Pernicious Anemia- B12 deficiency?

8. If I have one autoimmune disease like pernicious anemia, am I more likely to have another autoimmune disease?

Scientists have noted a high correlation between pernicious anemia and many other autoimmune disorders. When other diseases are a factor, pernicious anemia often occurs from drug interactions, comorbid symptoms, or a cyclical relationship with that disease.  Below are some conditions that may accompany pernicious anemia:

• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic fatigue
• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Diabetes
• Leaky Gut Syndrome
• Celiac disease
• Gastritis
• Chronic heartburn
• Hypothyroidism

Leaky Gut Syndrome Symptoms and Causes

9. I’m only 20 years old.  Could someone my age have pernicious anemia?

Pernicious anemia can happen to somebody of any age group.  Because your body stores vitamin B12 in the liver for several years, you may not know that your body has stopped absorbing it until you start to feel the symptoms, by which time your B12 levels will have dropped severely.  If you suspect you have any of the symptoms of pernicious anemia, then do not hesitate to get a blood test.

10. Can pernicious anemia cause gastritis?

Gastritis- painful inflammation of the stomach lining- has many possible causes.  The most common are alcohol abuse, chronic vomiting, and overusing drugs such as aspirin. Untreated, chronic gastritis can cause blood loss, and may lead to stomach cancer.  Other causes of gastritis are:

• Pernicious anemia
• Stomach infection
• Bile reflux
• Viruses

11. Can pernicious anemia shorten your life?

When scientists first discovered vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, they deemed it a fatal disease, and thus named it “pernicious (malicious) anemia.”  Without B12, your body is unable to make sufficiency red blood cells.  Today, doctors are easily able to diagnose vitamin B12 deficiency through blood tests, administer treatment in the form of pure vitamin B12, and prevent further escalation of pernicious anemia.  Untreated, pernicious anemia can lead to life-threatening illnesses, such as heart attack, stroke, and cancer.

12. Can pernicious anemia cause stomach cancer?

Pernicious anemia may cause gastric polyps, increasing one’s risk for getting stomach cancer or gastric carcinoid tumors.

13. Are there any support groups for others with pernicious anemia?

There are many advocacy groups for pernicious anemia, and most of them are on Facebook.  Here are a few:

Pernicious Anaemia Society

Vitamin B12 Deficiency on Facebook

Pernicious Anemia Awareness on Facebook

Pernicious Anaemia – What do you know?…And what they don’t tell you! on Facebook

Last, but not least- Vitamin B12 Patch on Facebook

Read more about pernicious anemia and vitamin B12:

Painful Tingling in Hands and Feet- What’s Up with That?

Lupus and Vitamin B12 Deficiency- What’s the Connection?

Babies, B12, and Fertility- B12 Deficiency during Pregnancy

Sources:

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)- University of Maryland Medical Center

Gastritis: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments, and More

Pernicious Anemia- Medscape

Pernicious Anemia Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention on MedicineNet.com

Image credits, from top:

Danilo Rizzuti, digitalart, Salvatore Vuono

For years, vitamin B12 has been the staple energy vitamin for stars such as Madonna, Justin Timberlake, and Prince.  Now, B12 vitamins are part of Glee star Lea Michele’s regimen against vitamin B12 deficiency. Find out why celebrities such as Lea Michele rely on B12 supplements for added stamina, strength, and mental focus.

The Glee star’s secret to weight loss

How does Lea Michele, who plays the bossy, competitive, (and sometimes infuriating) Rachel on Glee keep her figure?  Recently, she confessed to following a strictly macrobiotic vegan diet, composed of mostly vegetables, grains, and beans. By cutting out meat, chicken, and dairy products from her diet, Lea has managed to lose ten pounds since she first started filming on the set.

Vitamin B12 for Weight Loss- Why it Works

How does she avoid B12 deficiency?

Lea admits to also eating a few servings of fish per week, in order to avoid getting vitamin B12 deficiency.  Since Vitamin B12 occurs only in animal-based foods, such as meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and milk, supplementing with extra vitamin B12 is crucial for avoiding low B12 blood levels.  How does she justify introducing a non-vegan source into her vegan diet?  Apparently, macrobiotic veganism makes special allowances for seafood.  Lea Michele understands that a diet low in vitamin B12 is a diet that leads to B12 deficiency symptoms.

Balance your B12, Balance your Nerves

What are the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency?

People who deplete their stores of vitamin B12 encounter symptoms such as extreme fatigue, muscular weakness, depression, diminished coordination, memory loss, and frequent numbness or tingling sensations (pins and needles) in their hands, arms, legs, and feet. Untreated, vitamin B12 deficiency escalates into pernicious anemia, dementia, neurological damage, osteoporosis, and increased risk for heart attack, cancer, and stroke.

6 Degrees of Vitamin B12- B12 Deficiency and Autoimmune Disease

How does vitamin B12 benefit an active lifestyle?

Vitamin B12 influences a wide range of bodily functions- by ensuring balanced B12 levels in your blood supply, you feel more energized, stimulated, confident, and “gleeful.”

• Vitamin B12 is instrumental in DNA synthesis
• Vitamin B12 protects your nervous system
• Vitamin B12 boosts your metabolism
• Vitamin B12 controls homocysteine levels, reducing your risk of heart disease and stroke
• Vitamin B12 supports cognitive functioning
• Vitamin B12 protects you from vitamin deficiency symptoms of fatigue, depression, anxiety, and “brain fog”
• Vitamin B12 helps you stay on track with your fitness regimen and enables you to make better food choices

Read more about the many health benefits of vitamin B12:

Justin Bieber among 10 Celeb “Beliebers” in Vitamin B12 Shots

The Vitamin B12 Patch for Energy

The Many Benefits of Vitamin B12…

Sources:

Lea Michele Bikini Body Secrets Includes Diet, B12 Shots

Vitamin B12 | ‘Glee’ The star Lea Michele surprisingly fit

Lea Michele Injects B12 and Eats Fish, According to ASOS Magazine

Image credits, from top:

gospelportals, karlnorling,

No, it’s not a new television show about bonding with your inner child; intrinsic factor is an essential antibody which allows you to bond with vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is found in many high protein foods, but unless you have intrinsic factor your body isn’t able to grab the B vitamins it needs to prevent vitamin B12 deficiency.

“Does my body really need vitamin B12? Aren’t all B vitamins alike?”

No. Many of the B vitamins complement each other, but each has its own specific task. Vitamin B12 has some very important duties which are vital for your survival. If the body doesn’t get sufficient vitamin B12, then it will be unable to perform some of these essential functions. Vitamin B12 is indispensable for:

• Maintaining the myelin sheathe which protects nerve sensors, such as those in our hands, mouth and feet
• Directing brain-to-body communication through neuron activity
• Curbing homocysteine levels, which are linked with increased risk for heart attack or stroke
• Producing red blood cells needed to carry oxygen throughout the body and protect the immune system
• DNA synthesis
• Preventing or delaying dementia caused by loss of brain mass

“Which foods are high in vitamin B12?”

Vitamin B12 occurs naturally in food sources which are high in protein. The foods that have high levels of B12 are:

• Meat, including lean beef chuck, veal and liver.
• Poultry, such as boneless chicken or turkey breast
• Fish, including salmon, tuna and halibut
• Shellfish, particularly crabmeat, clams, oysters and mussels
• Dairy products, including Swiss cheese, yogurt and milk.
• Eggs

Vegans are urged to take daily vitamin B12 supplements in order to prevent vitamin deficiency, as their diet specifically excludes food sources which are rich in vitamin B12.

Getting Enough Vitamin B12? Three Reasons Why You Might Not Be

“Okay. So, I eat plenty of protein foods. Do I still need to worry about vitamin B12 deficiency?”

Yes.  Individuals who lack intrinsic factor are unable to properly digest B12 naturally from foods and risk becoming severely deficient in vitamin B12. Some people don’t realize they have low B12 levels until they start experiencing some the characteristic symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency. These include:

• Chronic fatigue
• Depression
• Aggression
• Paranoia
• Short-term memory loss
• Sleep disturbances
• Occasional dizziness
• Difficulty with balance and coordination
• Altered taste perception
• Numbness or tingling in hands and feet

Left unchecked, severe vitamin B12 deficiency
could lead to malnourishment, pernicious anemia, irreversible neurological damage,
heart attack, or stroke.

“How can I find out if I’m suffering from B12 deficiency?”

The only way to diagnose vitamin B12 deficiency is through a blood screening. Some physicians don’t include vitamin B12 blood testing with yearly checkups, so it’s important to ask your doctor to check your vitamin B12 levels in order to avoid deficiency. Chronic B12 deficiency patients are advised to get their B12 levels checked on a regular basis. Also read: Worried about Low B12 Lab Results?

“Which people are at risk for developing vitamin B12 deficiency?”

There are many individuals who must supplement with B12 vitamins, either because they don’t have the intrinsic factor hormone, or because they lack the stomach acids needed to utilize vitamins such as B12; these include gastric bypass patients, people who take regular antacid medication for heartburn or individuals with autoimmune or gastrointestinal diseases, such as Crohn’s disease or AIDS. Other individuals who must take regular vitamin B12 supplements are vegans, strict vegetarians and diabetics who take metformin.

“What kinds of vitamin B12 supplements are available?”

There are several forms of vitamin B12 supplementation; these include:

• Vitamin B12 injections. For treating chronic B12 deficiency, physicians will often prescribe routine B12 shots. These injections are painful, as they must be inserted in the dense muscular flesh below the buttocks. Some patients are given one round of vitamin B12 shots once per week, for 3-4 weeks, while others with severe vitamin B12 deficiency require a more extended regimen of B12 injections.
• Sublingual vitamin B12 tablets. These are dissolvable pills which are placed under the tongue. Physicians might recommend daily B12 pills as a preventative measure against vitamin B12 deficiency. Some questions have been raised as to the effectiveness of B12 pills, and there are reports that sublingual B12 tablets aren’t absorbed efficiently enough to prevent long-term vitamin B12 deficiency.
• Vitamin B12 patch. The B12 patch is one of many transdermal medications; people often prefer medical skin patches because they are convenient, gentle, inexpensive and more efficient than pills and injections. The B12 patch releases vitamin B12 directly into the blood stream; the dime-sized flesh-colored patch adheres firmly and discreetly behind the ear or on the wrist. Because the B12 patch only needs to be applied once per week, it’s more likely to be utilized regularly, as opposed to pills which are often forgotten or misplaced.

Read more about the risks associated with vitamin B12 deficiency:

B12 Deficiency: Don’t Ignore the Symptoms

As reported by Us Magazine, Pregnant Natalie Portman, Oscar winner for The Black Swan, has reportedly taken a leave of absence from her vegan ways; whether this change is permanent or just an extra precaution to deliver more vitamin B12 to her unborn baby remains to be seen.

The 29-year-old actress, who is expecting a child with boyfriend Benjamin Millepied, has always been an outspoken advocate for the vegan lifestyle, which excludes such vitamin B12 sources such as eggs, meat, milk products and fish. Ms. Portman made the decision to become Vegan after reading Jonathan Safran Foer’s Eating Animals in 2009, according to the Daily Mail.

Recent news, such as the death of an infant in France who was exclusively breast-fed by her vegan mother, has brought to light the health risks involved with vitamin B12 deficiency and anemia,  which are common risk factors of veganism.

Are Vegans in France Responsible for Breast-fed Baby’s Death?

Natalie, who called in on the Q100 Bert Show, admitted, “I know there are people who do stay vegan, but I think you have to just be careful; watch your iron levels and your B12 levels, and supplement those if there are things you might be low in in your diet.”

Oprah Pledges 7 Days to Vegan Challenge

Don’t expect to see Natalie heading for the steak house just yet, though; the Star Wars actress is following more of a traditional vegetarian diet, including eggs and dairy products which are rich sources of vitamin B12.

The symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency include:

• Chronic fatigue;
• Depression;
• Feebleness;
• Short term memory loss;
• Aggression;
• Irritability;
• Numbness or tinging in hands and feet;
• Change in taste perception;
• Sleep disturbances;
• “Brain fog”

Left untreated, vitamin B12 deficiency could result in pernicious anemia, neurological damage or in severe cases, death.

Also read:

Benefits and Sources of Vitamin B12, and How to Avoid Deficiency

B12: Celebs Say it’s the New C

Sources:

Us Magazine, Babble, New!, OMG! Yahoo, Daily Mail, Herald Sun

The vegan diet has gained much popularity since Oprah Winfrey took her 7-day Vegan Challenge.  But there’s more to following a vegan diet than just not eating animal products like meat, fish, eggs and dairy foods and observing Meatless Mondays.

A vegetarian diet requires a strict adherence to a nutritious vitamin fortified diet in order to avoid vitamin deficiency.  And since vegans deliberately avoid eating proteins which are rich in vitamin B12, they must make a special effort to supplement everyday in order to avoid the many symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, such as anemia.

Here is a short list of vitamins to include in your diet if you are a strict vegan:

 

• Vitamin B12

If you’re a strict vegan, than you’re not getting enough vitamin B12, which occurs naturally in lean meats ( think beef chuck), cheeses (Swiss), shellfish (clams and mussels, in particular), fish and eggs.

There are great soy products (smoked tofu) which have B12; also nutritional yeast, which many vegans use as a cheesy substitute.

Don’t forget to supplement with extra vitamin B12, though.

Because vitamin B12 deficiency is serious business; your body needs this essential vitamin for proper brain functioning and production of red blood cells. A vitamin B12 deficiency could cause anemia or severe neurological damage.

An easy, inexpensive way to make sure you’re getting enough vitamin B12 is to use a B12 patch; slap one on and forget about it.

Read Are Vegans in France Responsible for Breast-fed Baby’s Death?

• Vitamin D

If you’re a vegan who remembers to wear sunscreen everyday (and we hope you are), or if you live in a particularly cold climate where the sun don’t shine, there is a vegan vitamin D option available to you- ergocalciferol, also known as vitamin D2, which is a form of algae.

 

• Calcium

Everybody needs 1000mg of calcium per day, which is the vegan equivalent of 3 cups of calcium fortified soy milk, a few cups of sauteed dark greens, or a large chunk of tofu with added calcium.  Many seeds and nuts also have a decent amount of calcium in them. Still, in order to preserve you bones and avoid bone brittleness in old age, a vegan calcium supplement is highly regarded.

• Iron

The best, most highly digestible forms of iron are found in non-vegan sources, so as with vitamin B12, the word is supplement, supplement, supplement- but be on the lookout for a low dose that doesn’t irritate the tummy. Women need 32mg or iron per day; men need about 14mg.  Including a source of vitamin C along with your iron supplement will boost iron absorption.

• Zinc

Zinc occurs in few vegan sources, but most people- vegan and meat-eaters alike- are able to eat sufficient amounts of zinc their diets. Zinc is used by many as an alternative medicine for preventing colds.  Wheat germ and pumpkin seeds are very high in zinc- try tossing them into your salad for a tasty vitamin boost.

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Vegan Dieters at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease, After All

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Vegetarian Diets, Pregnant Women and Vitamin B12

Source:

FYI Living

Vitamin B12 is a key component of several body functions. Vitamin B12 plays a key role in the manufacturing of red blood cells, keeps the nervous system working correctly and is key in brain functions.

Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

The symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency ranges from virtually unnoticeable to dementia. Obviously the variable is the extent of time that the deficiency has been present. Normally a person will begin by feeling a bit run down. The first visit to the doctor normally results in being misdiagnosed. Maybe anemia will be diagnosed. Maybe nothing will be diagnosed, unless a blood test is specifically run to determine if the proper levels of Vitamin B12 is apparent than the factor will remain unknown, and usually this is not a common part of a blood panel work up, it has to be requested by the health care provider specifically.

As time passes and the condition is not treated, the symptoms will become much more complex. The complexity of the symptoms will also range from headaches to light headedness to forget fullness and the energy level will be way down. There can be some lasting damage is the condition is not caught and treated by this stage.

Host of Increased Health Problems

The risks of Vitamin B12 deficiency range from Vitamin B12 deficiency based anemia to stroke. The risks include neuropsychiatry disorders. Depression can sometimes be attributed to Vitamin B12 deficiency as can memory loss, dementia and at its worse psychosis. With these neurological disorders simply increasing the dosage of Vitamin B12 to cure the deficiency does not necessarily cure the disorders, because the nervous system, by the time these symptoms present themselves may have been permanently damaged. The incidence of neurological illness is prevalent in the older members of society primarily effecting those sixty two years and older when the body’s natural ability to absorb Vitamin B12 is already naturally declining. Many of whom are misdiagnosed over and over upon the initial consult, complaining of fatigue it is attributed to old age.

Cardiovascular risk factors also increase in cases of prolonged Vitamin B12 deficiency. The increase of myocardial infarction and stroke increase dramatically when there is a prolonged Vitamin B12 deficiency. This heart damage may also be irreversible. Stroke is also increased as a result of prolonged deficiency.

There are also some connections between Vitamin B12 deficiency and Alzheimer’s disease. The research is still in its earliest phases and no conclusions have been made yet, but it is hypothesized with strong anecdotal evidence to support the theory that Vitamin B12 deficiency may play a strong role in the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. The theory is that Vitamin B12 deficiency when prolonged damages the dendrites in the brain and causes sections of the nervous system to die out, resulting in an increased risk of memory loss and dementia.

The risks of Vitamin B12 deficiency are evident and very preventable, a balanced diet and periodic screens can offset any potential problems.