How to Identify Symptoms of Vitamin B-12 Deficiency

Most people don't realize how very important each vitamin and mineral is to various functions in the human body. The lack of even one vitamin in adequate amounts may wreak havoc in a large number of body systems and functions. Lack of vitamin B-12 is one of them. Learning how to identify symptoms of vitamin B-12 deficiency may help prevent complications such as anemia, gastric issues, irreversible nerve damage and congestive heart failure. Vitamin B-12 is vital for making red blood cells and proper nervous system functions. A vitamin B-12 deficiency will affect the blood, and in early stages, the stomach.

Things You'll Need

• Vitamin supplements

Instructions

1. Pay attention to any indications of weakness in the body, especially the arms and legs. This weakness may be mild or severe. It is not accompanied by sore muscles, as is common after a physical workout, but a lethargic feeling that affects coordination and strength.

2. Watch for a sore mouth or tongue. Look inside the mouth for signs of pale or bleeding gums. Lips may also be pale. This is a sign of anemia, one of the major symptoms of a vitamin B-12 deficiency.

3. Look at your skin. Is is a yellowish color? What about the whites of your eyes? This is also a symptom of hepatitis, but lack of red blood cells that induces anemia also creates this affect.

4. Experiencing shortness of breath or difficulty maintaining your balance is also an indication that something is not right.

5. Watch for episodes of decreased concentration and memory function. Vitamin B-12 deficiency may also cause depression and in some cases, dementia.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you are receiving adequate amounts of Vitamin B-12 through proper diet and nutrition. The best sources for Vitamin B-12 are eggs, milk, cheese, fish, liver, beef and pork. The daily recommended dose of vitamin B-12 is 2 mcg. for healthy adults, 2.2 mcg for pregnant women and 2.6 mcg. for nursing mothers.

• Keep in mind that too much of anything may be bad for you. Do not ingest massive amounts of vitamin B-12, and always take with calcium to facilitate absorption in the body.