Many people are deficient in vitamin B12 without knowing it, because the signs are often silent, easily overlooked or confused with common health problems.
According to Dr. Donald Hensrud - Director of the Healthy Living Program at Mayo Clinic (USA), vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to symptoms such as persistent fatigue, pale skin, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness and memory loss.
Some patients feel weak, lose their appetite, or feel numb in their hands and feet signs that may be related to nerve damage caused by prolonged vitamin B12 deficiency, he said.
Another typical manifestation is tongue inflammation: the surface of the tongue becomes red, smooth and painful.This condition can be accompanied by canker sores, taste changes, and unexplained weight loss, Dr. Hensrud added.
In particular, in older adults, vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause confusion, depression or behavioral disorders, easily mistakenly diagnosed as dementia.
Vitamin B12 is mainly found in animal-based foods such as meat, eggs, and milk.Vegetarians, the elderly, people who have had surgery on their stomachs or intestines, people with Crohn's disease, celiac disease or taking prolonged acid-resistant drugs are at high risk of vitamin deficiency.
The older you get, the more your body absorbs vitamin B12 as gastric juice reduces secretion, reducing the ability to metabolize vitamin B12 from food, notes Dr. Hensrud.
According to the recommendation of the Institute of Medicine, adults need about 2.4 micrograms of vitamin B12 per day.Supplementation can be done through diet, supplements or vitamin B12 injections, depending on the deficiency and absorption capacity of each person.
If you feel tired from unknown causes or have unusual signs of neuropathy, see a doctor and request vitamin B12 testing, says Dr. Hensrud.Vitamin B12 deficiency, if not detected and treated promptly, can lead to irreversible nerve damage.
Proactively identifying early signs of vitamin B12 deficiency not only helps improve quality of life but also prevents dangerous complications from occurring later.
