The symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency are strikingly similar to other illnesses.  For this reason, it is important to become familiar with the signs of a vitamin B12 deficiency in order to treat it properly.  People who are at greatest risk for this are smokers, vegans, anyone over the age of fifty, and children of vegans.  Here is a partial list of symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency:

1. Fatigue – Suffering from a lack of energy.  Since vitamin B12 is necessary for proper blood cell formation, a lack of vitamin B12 leads to smaller blood cells, and therefore carries less oxygen and nutrients to the rest of the body, leading to fatigue.
2. Memory loss – Forgetfulness of important information.  As mentioned previously, vitamin B12 is necessary for blood cell formation.  Low levels of B12 lead to smaller blood cells, and less nutrients for the body and the brain.  In the case of someone with a severe vitamin B12 deficiency, the memory loss can be mistaken for Alzheimer’s disease or senile dementia.
3. Depression – Feelings of sadness and worthlessness are often attributed to an underlying mental illness, and a vitamin B12 deficiency may go unnoticed.
4. Anemia – A low red cell blood count.  A vitamin B12 deficiency leads to the creation of fewer red blood cells in the body.
5. Vision loss – Vitamin B12 is necessary for the proper formation of nerve cells in the body.  Specifically, vitamin B12 is needed for the fatty membrane surrounding the nerve cells, known as the myelin sheath.  Without this myelin sheath, the electrical signals being passed by the nerve cells go haywire in the body, with many consequences.   This loss of vision can be reversed with injections of vitamin B12.
6. Dizziness – Poor coordination and clumsiness may be due to a severe vitamin B12 deficiency.  As mentioned previously, improperly formed nerve cells cause electrical impulses to be lost in transmission.
7. Muscle weakness –   Muscle weakness can be in the arms or legs, also due to nerve cell issues.
8. Tingling sensation in either the hands or feet – Low levels of vitamin B12 affects nerve cell development, and loss of muscle control is a symptom of a vitamin B12 deficiency.
9. Urinary incontinence – Also a loss of muscle control due to low levels of vitamin B12.
10. Paralysis – A total loss of muscle control sets in when stores of vitamin B12 are depleted from the body.

As you can see, many symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency can be easily confused with symptoms of other illnesses.  If you are suffering from any of the above, you should have your blood tested for a vitamin B12 deficiency.

Vitamin b12 for anemia is a sound treatment option. Anemia is a disorder of the blood that affects almost thirty percent of all women – although it is not exclusively relevant to women it just seems to affect them more.

Anemia

Anemia is a deficiency in the blood it is a reduction in the red blood count. It is typically associated with an iron deficiency and the course of treatment usually involves prescribing iron supplements, but there is anemia that is completely caused by a vitamin b12 deficiency. Anemia can result in fatigue, dizziness and lowered immunity. Treatment applications usually can sure anemia over the course of a period of time.

Why Vitamin B12?

Anemia is thought to be caused by iron deficiency in the blood, but vitamin b12 is an intrinsic ingredient in the production of red blood cells. Vitamin b12 for anemia taken in conjunction with iron supplements can speed the recovery time. Vitamin b12 can also result in anemia that is not associated with iron poor blood. Vitamin b12 anemia is that there are simply not enough red blood cells in the blood to carry oxygen to vital organs. Vitamin b12 is an important nutrient and usually is sufficiently supplied to the body through the diet. Vegetarians may not receive enough vitamin b12 through the diet because vitamin b12 is not found in substantial amounts in non animal foods. There are other reasons that there may not be enough vitamin b12 in the body to help produce red blood cells. There may be a medical reason in the form of disease. Crohn’s disease prevents vitamin b12 from being absorbed along with bacterial growth in the small intestines and pernicious anemia. There are medications that may prevent the absorption of vitamin b12, typically these medications are associated with heartburn and stomach ulcer medications. Treating the type of anemia that is associated with vitamin b12 deficiency is simply upping the vitamin b12 intake.

Treatment Options

Vitamin b12 for anemia can be delivered in several different ways. There are inject able vitamin b12 supplements that usually require a doctor office visit, there are over the counter vitamin b12 supplements that come in a variety of delivery methods. The over the counter vitamin b12 for anemia options can include, pills, lozenges, drops and patches. There are also prescription strength vitamin b12 supplements and shots for anemia options. The prescription strength options will also require a visit to the doctor’s office.

Prevention

Preventing anemia that is related to vitamin b12 deficiency is a very simple task that can be accomplished by simply adjusting the diet to include foods that are rich in vitamin b12. Supplements can also be taken to head off any potential problems.

Vitamin b12 for anemia can solve the issue, and can result in feeling better and better overall health.