Vitamin b12 : Are you low on ?

Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, is an essential nutrient for the body to function properly. The elderly and those who do not consume animal products are more prone to a deficiency. What are the symptoms of a lack of vitamin B12 and how you can rebalance it ?

Summary

The risk of deficiency increases with age

The main symptoms of a lack

How to diagnose a lack of vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 deficiency and food supplements

Cobalamin or vitamin B12 is essential for the production of red blood cells and the proper functioning of the nervous system. This group B vitamin is found naturally in animal products: dairy products, meats, fish and eggs. People who are vegans and vegetarians, as well as those who have reduced their consumption of foods of animal origin for health reasons, are therefore directly concerned by a risk of deficiency. But other populations can be affected.

The risk of vitamin B12 deficiency increases with age

Severe deficiency can lead to nerve damage, tingling or loss of sensation in the hands and feet, muscle weakness, loss of reflexes, motor difficulties, confusion, and dementia.

Between 10 and 30% of people over the age of 50 are also affected by a lack of vitamin B12, without even being aware of it. This is because absorption of this vitamin becomes more difficult with age. It is increasingly complicated for the body to assimilate the 2.4 micrograms recommended each day (mcg / day) for people over 18 years old.

Some type 2 diabetes medications and acidity regulators can also interfere with vitamin B12. Weight loss surgery and certain conditions such as celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, autoimmune diseases, and pernicious (or Biermer’s) anemia can block the natural absorption process of vitamin B12. People in diet and have reduced their consumption of meat can also encounter a deficiency.

Note: Necessary intakes of vitamin B12 increase for pregnant women (2.6 mcg / day) and for breastfeeding women (2.8 mcg / day)

The main symptoms of a lack of vitamin B12

Deficiency can manifest itself in many ways. Main symptoms are associated with all types of anemia, such as fatigue, weakness, breath shorted, dizziness, palpitations, tingling, numbness of the feet and hands, constipation, memory loss, irritability or swinging mood. Swollen tongue, is a misknown symptom but it is regularly mentioned by the patients.

What is exactly the right dosage of vitamine B12 ?

Government guidelines recommend a daily intake of 2.4 micrograms (mcg) of B12 to prevent deficiency, but for optimal health and disease prevention, a recommend a daily dose will be 25 mcg. To get this much — particularly if you’re a strict vegetarian — you’ll probably need to rely on supplements or fortified foods. Indeed, B12 may be easier to absorb in supplement form.

If you’re over 50 years of age, have acid reflux, or have been told by your doctor that your body has trouble absorbing B12, aim for 400-800 mcg per day to give your body a better chance of absorbing what it needs. Don’t worry about overdoing it – there’s no upper limit, which means there’s no evidence that high levels (up to 1,000 mcg) are harmful.

Vitamin B12 deficiency and food supplements

In case of deficiency, tablets are most often prescribed. If there is a problem with absorption, treatment with injections is considered. Depending on the cause of the deficiency, it may be necessary to follow the treatments for life.

of course, as we saw above, some food contain vitamin B12 such meat, fish, seafood, eggs and dairy products, those food are usually an enough source of vitamin B12 , but with the cooking they loose an important part of their nutrients. helder people and people with gastric issue cannot properly assimilate the vitamin and with time they find them self in deficiency. Here nutriment play their entire role in bringing balance and preventing diseases linked to this deficiency.

The most reliable examination is based on the determination of the concentration of methylmalonic acid in the urine. Blood test is not accurate enough to give you the exact amount.