Vitamin B12 Deficiency

What is Vitamin B12 deficiency?

Vitamin B12 is an important vitamin that your body needs to work properly. When you don't have enough of it, this is called vitamin B12 deficiency.

Your body uses vitamin B12 to make healthy red blood cells. These cells carry oxygen around your body - a bit like delivery trucks carrying important supplies to every part of you. When you don't have enough vitamin B12, your body makes red blood cells that are too big and don't work properly. This can make you feel tired and unwell.

What symptoms might you notice?

If you don't have enough vitamin B12, you might experience:

• Feeling extremely tired all the time
• Having no energy, even after resting
• Pins and needles in your hands or feet
• A sore, red tongue
• Mouth ulcers that keep coming back
• Weak muscles
• Problems with your eyesight
• Feeling low, anxious, or confused
• Problems with memory or thinking clearly

These symptoms can develop slowly over time, so you might not notice them at first.

What causes vitamin B12 deficiency?

There are several reasons why someone might not have enough vitamin B12:

The most common cause is something called pernicious anaemia. This happens when your immune system (which normally fights off germs) mistakenly attacks healthy cells in your stomach. This stops your body from taking in vitamin B12 from food.

Diet reasons include:

• Following a vegan diet without taking B12 supplements
• Not eating foods that contain vitamin B12
• Having a very restricted diet for a long time

Some medicines can also make it harder for your body to absorb vitamin B12, including certain tablets for epilepsy and stomach acid problems.

Age matters too - vitamin B12 deficiency is more common as you get older. About 1 in 10 people over 75 and 1 in 20 people aged 65-74 have this problem.

When should you speak to your GP?

You should speak to your GP if you have any of the symptoms listed above. It's important to get checked because:

• A simple blood test can show if you have vitamin B12 deficiency
• Treatment works well when started early
• Some problems caused by low vitamin B12 can become permanent if left untreated

How is it treated?

The good news is that vitamin B12 deficiency can usually be treated easily.

Injections are often given first to build up your vitamin B12 levels quickly. After that, you might need:

• Regular tablets to take between meals, or
• Regular injections (this depends on what's causing your deficiency)

Some people need treatment for just a few months, while others need it for life.

Food sources of vitamin B12 include meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, and specially fortified foods like some breakfast cereals and plant milks.

Important points to remember

• Some nerve problems caused by vitamin B12 deficiency can be permanent, which is why early treatment is so important
• If you follow a vegan diet, you should take vitamin B12 supplements or eat fortified foods
• Regular check-ups with your GP can help prevent this problem

Based on NHS.uk guidance. Written by Dr Krishnan Pasupathi, NHS GP.