Vitamin B12 Deficiency


	VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY


	Alternative Medicine > Healthy Living > Vitamin B12 Deficiency

The Effects of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

The recommendation for B12 for adults is around 2.4 mcg daily, though most doctors are saying that you should get anywhere from 100 to 400 mcg a day.

If you are elderly or vegetarian, supplementation of this vitamin is especially important. Vitamin B12 deficiency is specifically noted by memory loss, fatigue, confusion, depression, muscle weakness, numbness, and tingling in extremities which is caused by neurological damage. Anemia and dementia are also known effects, though these effects can be reversed if early detection occurs.

The amount of Vitamin B12 in the body decreases as we get older. As many as 20% of the elderly are thought to be deficient in Vitamin B12, and most of them do no present with any symptoms. The pneumonia vaccine will not be as affective in the elderly that are deficient in this Vitamin. A study was done on 30 elderly and it was found that those deficient in Vitamin B12 were unable to manufacture antibodies to the pneumonia virus compared to those with adequate supplies of B12.

Another issue that arises for the elderly when it comes to Vitamin B12 deficiency is they will develop digestion issues. As people age, they often develop a condition called atrophic gastritis which reduces stomach acid production. Without enough acid the body cannot separate vitamin B12 from the protein in foods. However, the body is able to absorb enough B12 from supplements or fortified breakfast cereals, forms in which the vitamin doesn't have to be separated from protein. Anyone with known gastric issues such as Crohn's Disease or ulcers may be at risk of a Vitamin B12 deficiency. Also those that take medication to treat epilepsy, gout, or chronic heartburn may suffer from Vitamin B12 deficiency due to ineffective absorption of the Vitamin.

The important issue is to keep the RDA of Vitamin B12 in your diet to avoid any of these complications which range from mild to severe in any population.

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