5 Signs of a Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Your body needs a number of different nutrients to survive and function the way it should. Vitamins, in particular, are some of the most essential components to every system in your body. 

Vitamin B12 is vital to the most intricate body processes. Because of its importance, having a low level can trigger uncomfortable symptoms. So how do you know if you have a vitamin B12 deficiency? 

At NuvidaRx Weight Loss - Tallahassee Clinic, our team of experts assists you in determining what’s causing your symptoms. Our team consists of two nurse practitioners and Dr. William Lantz Effinger, who offers vitamin B12 injections when you’re not getting enough of this essential vitamin.

Why is vitamin B12 important?

Like many other vitamins and minerals, vitamin B12 is essential for a number of processes in your body. This includes the formation of DNA and allowing your nervous system to work correctly.

One of the most important ways vitamin B12 impacts your body is by helping in the production of red blood cells. This is so vital because these cells carry oxygen throughout your body to ensure your organs are healthy and working well.

Vitamin B12 isn’t made by your body; you need to get it from the foods you eat. It’s found in animal products, including red meat, eggs, and dairy. If you don’t eat meat, you’ll need to find other foods that contain this vitamin, such as non-dairy milk and bread. 

Causes of a vitamin B12 deficiency

There are a number of different reasons you may be deficient in vitamin B12. If you don’t eat enough foods containing this vitamin, it’s easy to fall short of vitamin B12. 

Certain medical conditions, like celiac disease and Crohn's disease, can also affect the way vitamin B12 is absorbed in your gastrointestinal system.

You also absorb less of the vitamin as you get older, due to the natural aging process. 

Signs you’re deficient in vitamin B12

A vitamin B12 deficiency affects your body in a number of ways, particularly due to the effect on red blood cell production. Understanding the signs of this condition helps you get treatment earlier so you can get back to normal. 

Common signs of a vitamin B12 deficiency include:

1. Fatigue

When you’re deficient in vitamin B12, it’s common to feel more tired than normal. This is because it impairs the production of red blood cells, meaning less oxygen travels throughout your body.

2. Headaches

Low vitamin B12 also leads to headaches in many people. This vitamin is important in supporting your nervous system, so when it’s low, headaches are bound to occur.

3. Stomach problems

In some cases, a vitamin B12 deficiency causes issues in your gastrointestinal tract. Because of the decreased oxygenation to the gut, a lack of B12 can lead to symptoms like gas, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation.

4. Mouth pain

Your oral cavity is also affected by a low level of vitamin B12. It can lead to glossitis, which is a term that describes inflammation and redness of your tongue. Along with this condition, you may notice sores and ulcers in your mouth as well.

5. Pins and needles in your extremities

Paresthesias, or a burning feeling and pins and needles, is common in your hands and feet when you have a vitamin B12 deficiency. It can sometimes be misdiagnosed as peripheral neuropathy, especially if you’re diabetic.

How to get your levels back to normal

A vitamin B12 deficiency can leave you feeling down in the dumps, in more ways than one. Among the uncomfortable symptoms, your body is trying to compensate for the low levels of the vitamin.

At our facility, the team offers vitamin B12 injections to help you restore your levels of B12 to normal. These injections not only allow you to feel better, but they can also assist with medical weight loss. 

The benefit of B12 injections is that they bypass your gastrointestinal tract. Oral vitamins can be lost in your gut, meaning less of the actual vitamin gets absorbed. However, the injections get you the B12 you need, both quickly and efficiently.

If you’d like to learn more about vitamin B12 injections, call our office today at 682-217-5757, or request an appointment online using our convenient tool.