Causes
According to Dr. Manjusha Agarwal, senior consultant in internal medicine at Gleneagles Parel Hospital (Mumbai), more and more people, including those who eat all food groups of meat, fish, eggs and milk, are still deficient in vitamin B12.
One of the most common reasons is poor absorption. Health conditions such as anemia, celiac disease, Crohn's disease, or long-term drug use can affect the ability to absorb vitamin B12 from the digestive tract.
Dr. Agarwal says the older you get, the higher the risk of B12 deficiency. Elderly people tend to produce less stomach acid, a necessary factor for releasing vitamin B12 from food. In addition, some people lack a special protein that helps absorb B12 properly, causing the body to not be able to take advantage of the vitamin despite eating a lot of meat.
Sharing the same view, Dr. Narander Singhla, consultant internist at CK Birla Hospital (Delhi), added that some popular drugs can reduce B12 absorption.
Medications such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), H2 blockers used to reduce stomach acid, or diabetes medications metformin can interfere with the absorption of this vitamin.
Not only that, the way food is prepared is also significantly affected. Cooking at too high a temperature or for too long can cause vitamin B12 to be lost. The type of meat consumed also plays an important role. Visceral meats such as liver contain a very high amount of B12, while muscular meats such as beef or chicken have a lower content.
Note
Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to many symptoms such as fatigue, memory loss, numbness in the limbs and mood swings.
To prevent this condition, experts recommend maintaining a balanced diet, prioritizing foods rich in B12 such as liver, kidneys, seafood, eggs, milk and fortified products such as breakfast cereals or plant milks supplemented with B12.
If you suspect a deficiency, people should have a blood test to check B12 levels and consult a doctor before using dietary supplements.
Supplements should be done according to professional prescriptions, not arbitrarily or abusing, notes Dr. Agarwal.
