The Effects of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Vitamin B12 plays an absolutely vital role in the human body. It is essential for the brain and nervous system to work properly, as well as being crucial in the synthesizing of DNA and the formation of blood. When the level of B12 in the blood drops too low, the patient will begin to experience a variety of unpleasant symptoms, and things only get worse as the B12 level drops further.

One of the primary causes of vitamin B12 deficiency is an autoimmune disorder known as pernicious anemia, where the body is incapable of producing a protein called intrinsic factor, without which B12 cannot easily be absorbed. In fact vitamin B12 was only discovered when scientists were studying pernicious anemia.

Pernicious anemia cannot yet be cured, but treatments do exist. As it is a lifelong disease, treatment must be maintained until the patient dies, which is of course restricting, although the medication is sufficiently effective that many patients never even feel ill as a result of their condition. However, if medical care is not sought, pernicious anemia is fatal, and will usually kill within just three short years.

There are a number of other serious long term effects of vitamin B12 deficiency if it is left untreated, including irreversible damage to the brain and nervous tissue. The damage is likely to become permanent within no more than about six months, and the chances of making a full recovery diminish as time goes by, so it's important to do something about it as soon as possible.

Mental health can also be affected by a lack of B12, with depression and impaired memory being regular symptoms of the deficiency. Changes in personality may also occur in the unfortunate sufferer, and some patients even display signs of psychosis. Some studies have also suggested that there may be a link with Alzheimer's disease, which naturally has an enormous impact on the close friends and family of the patient as well as the patient themselves.

An expectant mother suffering from B12 deficiency also puts her unborn child at risk, as the fetus gets all of its nutrition from the mother. Being born without enough B12 puts a baby at a major disadvantage, as they may well find it hard to put on weight and stunted development is a further worrying possibility.

Vitamin B12 deficiency affects a far higher number of individuals than most people realize, and the figure may even be as high as 20% among the over-65s. If your vitamin B12 level is only slightly lower than it should be, the symptoms are mild - depression, fatigue and poor memory, for example - but this is the time to seek treatment or start taking supplements, before the really serious effects have a chance to kick in.

Categories: Health and Fitness