Signs of Vitamin B12 deficiency or toxicity

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Vitamin B12 has many roles in the body. However, the human body cannot make or store this vitamin, so it must be obtained from animal foods or supplements on a regular basis. In fact, supplementing with too much or too little vitamin B12 is not good for health, so consider using an appropriate amount or supplementing as directed by your doctor.

1. Signs of vitamin B12 deficiency

Measuring vitamin B12 blood levels is really not the best way to determine if a person has a vitamin B12 deficiency. That's because some people with a vitamin B12 deficiency can still see normal blood levels. Meanwhile, blood levels of methylmalonic acid, a protein breakdown product, and homocysteine ​​​​are better markers of vitamin B12's actual activity. These results are enhanced with vitamin B12 deficiency. According to one statistic, up to 15% of the general population is deficient in vitamin B12.

1.1. Factors that can cause vitamin B12 deficiency

Factors that can cause vitamin B12 deficiency include:
Abstaining from animal products: People who do not eat meat, fish, poultry or dairy are at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency, as this vitamin is only found Found naturally in animal products. Studies have shown that vegetarians have low blood levels of B vitamins. For this reason, people following a vegetarian or vegan diet should actively include vitamin B12-rich foods or supplements along with the appropriate diet. This is especially important for pregnant women, as the fetus needs enough vitamin B12 for nerve development and a deficiency can lead to permanent nerve damage. Lack of intrinsic factors: Pernicious anemia is an autoimmune disease that attacks and potentially destroys intestinal cells so that intrinsic factor is not present, which is very important for vitamin B12 absorption. into the blood. Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to various forms of anemia and nerve damage. In fact, even the ingestion of high doses of vitamin B12 supplements by the gastrointestinal tract will not solve this problem, since the intrinsic factor is not available for absorption. Not enough acid in the stomach or medicines that reduce stomach acid. The more common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency, especially in older adults, is a lack of stomach acid, because stomach acid is needed to release vitamin B12 from food. An estimated 10-30% of adults over the age of 50 have difficulty absorbing vitamin B12 from food. People who regularly take medicines that suppress stomach acid for conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease or peptic ulcer disease, such as proton pump inhibitors, H2 blockers, or other antacids It can be difficult to absorb vitamin B12 from food. These drugs can slow the release or decrease the production of stomach acid. This could theoretically prevent the vitamin from being released into a free form that can be absorbed in the stomach, but research has not shown an increase in deficiency rates in people taking the drugs. this. Anyone taking stomach medications for a long time and at risk of developing a vitamin B12 deficiency for other reasons should be closely monitored by a doctor. They may also choose to use fortified foods or vitamin B12 supplements, as these forms are usually well absorbed without stomach acid. In addition, after intestinal surgery or digestive disorders cause malabsorption. Surgery that affects the stomach, where intrinsic factor is made, or the ileum (the last part of the small intestine) where vitamin B12 is absorbed can increase the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency. Certain diseases such as Crohn's and celiac disease negatively affect the digestive tract, increasing the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency.

1.2. Signs of a vitamin B12 deficiency

Signs of vitamin B12 deficiency may include:
Fatigue, weakness Nerve damage with numbness and tingling in hands and feet Memory loss, confusion Dementia Depression Co Pernicious anemia is a type of megaloblastic anemia caused by a lack of intrinsic factor for vitamin B12 not to be absorbed. Also, giant cell anemia, a condition in which red blood cells are larger than normal but the number is lower than normal, this occurs because there is not enough vitamin B12 in the diet or steamed. poor revenue.

2. Signs of vitamin B12 poisoning

Today, vitamin B12 has been studied extensively, but even after decades of research, almost no overdose symptoms have been noted following extremely high doses of vitamin B12. Therefore, no maximum dose of vitamin B12 has been determined. Because the body has the ability to excrete unnecessary excess substances. In theory, it is possible to take large amounts of vitamins without worry and fear of side effects.
However, in some individual cases, intramuscular injection of high doses of vitamin B12 has resulted in mild immune reactions, such as skin irritation and acne breakouts. Hot flashes, dizziness, and nausea have also been reported as a result of vitamin B12 toxicity. However, the latter is mainly attributed to the preservatives present in the supplements and not to the vitamin B12. Sometimes serious side effects of vitamin B12 injection, such as anaphylaxis, can also occur, with the cause still not well understood.
In short, an effective vitamin B12 supplement needs to come from a variety of foods every day. Excess or deficiency of vitamin B12 also causes the body to have diseases. However, the ability to absorb vitamin B12 can become more difficult as the patient gets older or after digestive surgery. In these cases, it is necessary to consult an expert, to avoid abuse of functional foods, which can easily lead to vitamin B12 poisoning.

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References: health.harvard.edu, msdmanuals.com, hsph.harvard.edu