Treating this condition promptly can help prevent serious complications, like confusion and depression.
Vitamin B12 deficiency occurs when your body lacks enough healthy red blood cells due to insufficient amounts of vitamin B12.
Red blood cells carry oxygen to, and remove carbon dioxide from, your body's tissues.
If you lack enough red blood cells, you may feel tired and experience shortness of breath.
Treating vitamin B12 deficiency immediately can help prevent serious complications, like confusion anddepression.
Causes of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
An insufficient diet, certain health conditions, and heartburn medicine can all contribute to not getting enough vitamins, including B12.
Foods high in vitamin B12 include meat, poultry, shellfish, eggs, and dairy products.
Following a strict vegetarian or vegan diet without ingesting any animal products, having a poor diet while pregnant, or being fed a poor diet as an infant can all lead to vitamin B12 deficiency.
The following conditions can inhibit your body from absorbing enough vitamin B12:
Alcoholism
Crohn's disease
Celiac disease
Pernicious anemia
Digestive disorders
Fish tapeworm infection
Surgeries that remove certain parts of your stomach or small intestine
Long-term use of antacids and other heartburn medicines can also cause vitamin B12 deficiency.
Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Some don't show any symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency, while others may experience:
Diarrhea
Constipation
Tiredness
Light-headedness
Loss of appetite
Pale skin
Lack of focus
Shortness of breath
Swollen, red tongue
Bleeding gums
Long-term vitamin B12 deficiency can cause:
Confusion
Dementia
Depression
Loss of balance
Numbness and tingling in your hands and feet
Treatment of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Treatment involves raising your vitamin B12 levels and will vary based on the cause of your deficiency.
Your doctor may recommend:
Shots of vitamin B12 (monthly or more often, if needed)
Vitamin B12 supplements, in pill form or as a nasal spray
Treatment of underlying conditions, such as Crohn's disease, celiac disease, or alcoholism
Dietary changes