Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms

September 19th, 2011 by admin 2 comments »

Have you recently been feeling blue and dragging though your day? There could be a few causes to your sluggishness, so one of the first things your doctor will order is a blood test. The blood test can determine whether a B12 deficiency is causing the symptoms you are feeling or not. And when you find out if you have a vitamin B12 deficiency, there are several things you can do to correct the problem and get back to feeling like your normal self again.

Some of the B12 Deficiency symptoms include:

  • Pale skin
  • Bleeding gums
  • Easy to bruise/bleed
  • Chronic constipation
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Memory loss
  • Eye twitching
  • Palm/finger pain
  • Migraines
  • Fatigue
  • Itchy tongue
  • Irregular periods

One person might suffer only a couple of symptoms, but another person might have many of the symptoms. The severity of the vitamin B12 deficiency might also affect how many symptoms are felt and the severity of each symptom.

Once your doctor has made a diagnosis for a vitamin B12 deficiency there are several different kinds of treatment. The first kind of treatment includes changing your diet. There are many kinds of vitamin B12 foods that can boost your vitamin levels quickly, giving you a boost of energy as soon as it has been processed in your system. These vitamin B12 foods include caviar, beef liver, sardines, oysters, tuna patties and lamb kidneys. Fish are also a good source of vitamin B12, as well as octopus, lean beef, cheese and eggs. If you happen to be a vegetarian, a vitamin B12 deficiency might be pretty common. If you cannot or will not consume the animal products, then a synthetic version of B12 is the route you will need to go.

Another method of treatment is to receive vitamin B12 injections. These injections are just like any other shot, with the vitamin B12 in the serum your body is given. B12 is great for people who are severely deficient and need to get their levels up quickly to prevent symptoms from getting worse. Vitamin B12 injections are also great for vegans and vegetarians to get their own supply of B12 nutrients. The injections are given daily and can be done from home, once instruction is given from a medical practitioner.

A B12 injection is also given to people who need to lose weight in trial research programs. The preliminary findings show people who have adequate supplies of vitamin B12 have an easier time of losing weight than those who do not and are deficient. The vitamin B12 helps in that it makes for a balance in the chemical makeup in the system and it provides energy for the person. When a person who is trying to lose weight has more energy, it is easier for them to exercise and stay on an exercise routine instead of getting tired quickly.

The only downfall with adding vitamin B12 to your diet is the rare case of an overdose. If your body is getting too much vitamin B12, whether it is from an injection, natural foods rich in B12 or by a vitamin source, it will react. Some symptoms of a vitamin B12 overdose include anemia and neurological disorders. If you feel ill or funny and think it is related to what you are eating or taking, you need to consult with your doctor to have your blood levels checked and correct the dose of the vitamin B12 you are taking.

Vitamin B12 is counteracted by vitamin C. In order to have better absorption of B12 products, then reduce the amount of vitamin C you are eating and drinking. Vitamin C hinders vitamin B12 absorption.

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Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms

August 6th, 2011 by admin No comments »

The human body is a very complex structure that requires various substances for it to perform well. Carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals belong to those substances that our body needs, to maintain and enhance the body’s performance.  One of those vitamins is vitamin B12 or cyanocobalamin, which is very necessary for a good nerve functioning and blood production. If the body is compared with a car, vitamin B12 would be the oil, giving a smooth mechanical functioning. Deficiency of vitamin B12 can lead to a very serious illness that can put your health in danger. Nobody wants to suffer from the dangerous symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, most especially its complications if not controlled or attended immediately.

Vitamins B12 deficiency is not an illness, but if left untreated, this can lead to a worst scenario. Normally our stomach’s parietal cells produces intrinsic factors so the vitamin B12 will bind to it and it will be absorbed on our small intestines.

There are different reasons why an individual have this kind of problem. It can be anatomical or due to other existing problem. There could be a damage in the stomach, leading to the decrease production of intrinsic factor thus creating a problem with the absorption of B12. B12 deficiency can affect the total body’s performance. Some of the symptoms of B12 deficiency are fatigue, related to the decrease production of red blood cells that transport the substances that the cells need, another is neuropathy which is a problem that affects the body sensations. Some people experience a tingling sensation and there are times that they can’t feel a body part causing accidents due to failure to recognize harmful stimuli on the body surface. » Read more: Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms

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B12 Shots

July 30th, 2011 by admin No comments »

Vitamin B12 is a water soluble vitamin that is necessary for cellular metabolism and functioning.  And some people require supplementation or shot due to various reasons. Those who have problem in the production of intrinsic factor, those who have problem with their small intestine and many other reasons which might require shot/supplementation of B12 for normal functioning. Normally B12 is absorbed in the ileum of the small intestine with the aid of the intrinsic factor being produced by the linings of the stomach. But due to the presence of the said reasons intramuscular B12 is more preferred than oral because it is not affected by the various processes in the digestive system for its absorption and metabolism.

Vitamin B12 deficiency can be a serious problem if left untreated. It can affect your normal function due to the incapability of your cells to compensate to your activity because of the decrease in a co-factor for cellular formation and metabolism. Vitamin B12 is commonly given intramuscularly to skip the digestive processes so it will not take so much time for its effect can be seen. And if oral B12 is given to a person with pernicious anemia or any problem of the gastrointestinal system that renders the inability to produce intrinsic factor it would be useless. In time your B12 stores will continuously decline that’s why Vitamin B12 therapy is done not just to supply the patient’s daily needs but also to refill liver stores of B12. It can be given daily, weekly or according to the doctor’s preference until symptoms subsides. For those patient who no longer have the ability to absorb B12 properly are generally receiving intramuscular injection monthly for the rest of their lives.

Recently Vitamin B12 injections became popular due to its energy boosting effect, that’s why entertainers, politicians and other highly active individuals use it. It increases the metabolic activity, calories are burned easily which is the reason why others thought it has weight losing ability.

Vitamin B12 shots side effects are generally minor; its most common side effects are pain at the side of injection, nausea and diarrhea. But if symptoms of allergy occur, you should contact your physician immediately.

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