Do I Have Vitamin B12 Deficiency?

Do you feel weakness and fatigue?

Do you have pale skin or a slight yellow tinge to the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)?

Do you have the sensation of “pins and needles” (a sensation of uncomfortable tingling or prickling, usually felt in the arms, legs, hands or feet)?

Do you feel breathless and dizzy?

Do you have a smooth, painful, red, or swollen tongue that makes it difficult for you to eat and speak?

Do you have mouth ulcers?

Do you have constipation, diarrhea, loss of appetite, or gases?

Do you have difficulty walking (you walk unsteadily), balance and coordination problems (you are prone to falling)?

Do you have difficulty thinking and reasoning (cognitive difficulties), or memory loss?

Do you have blurred or disturbed vision?

Do you have mood changes or you often feel irritable or depressed?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12, also called cobalamin, is a vital B vitamin, needed for the proper functioning of the brain and the production of red blood cells. The human body cannot produce vitamin B12, so it must be gotten from the food we eat. Vitamin B12 can be found in meat, fish, eggs and dairy products. The average adult should consume 2.4 micrograms of vitamin B12 a day. People who do not eat meat can get vitamin B-12 in supplement form. For most people, a healthy, balanced diet is the best way to prevent vitamin B12 deficiency.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 is a nutrient that helps keep your brain and blood cells healthy. Some people have vitamin B12 deficiency because they do not consume enough vitamin B12 to meet their daily needs. Others, however, have an adequate daily intake of vitamin B12, but their body cannot absorb the vitamin from food. Mild forms of vitamin B12 deficiency can be corrected by dietary changes and standard multivitamins, but severe forms of this condition should be treated with vitamin B12 injections and high doses of B12 tablets.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in the functioning of the brain and the production of red blood cells. Vitamin B12 deficiency can be caused by numerous factors such as pernicious anemia, some stomach conditions or stomach operations (gastrectomy), Crohn’s disease, or some types of medicine used to treat indigestion. People who follow a vegan diet or eat diet poor in meat, fish and dairy products can develop vitamin B12 deficiency as well. Treatment includes treating the underlining cause, tablets and injections of vitamin B12 and dietary changes.