It’s more than just a trend — recent studies show that many people today may have a very real deficiency in vitamin B12. The symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency include depression, fatigue, a reduced attention span and a weaker memory. Severe vitamin B12 deficiency can eventually lead to mania. What is Vitamin B12 and Why is it So Important? Vitamin B12 ensures that both your brain and nervous system function as they should. It’s also an intrinsic part of your cell’s metabolic controls. Thus, a deficiency in vitamin B12 can play havoc on a person’s entire system. Vitamin B12 is found naturally in many foods but it can only be synthesized via bacterial symbiosis. What Causes Vitamin B12 Deficiency? There are two major causes of vitamin B12 deficiency: a poor diet and poor dietary absorption. Foods such as fish, soy and red meat are all high in vitamin B12, but those who are not eating a balanced diet may inadvertently become deficient. However, even those with a good diet can still be vitamin B12 deficient.
This occurs when a person’s body simply is not absorbing vitamin B12 as it should. This can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are so vague. How Can You Treat Vitamin B12 Deficiency? Supplements and vitamin B12 booster shots are both very popular ways to treat a vitamin B12 deficiency, depending on the source of the deficiency. Vitamin B12 shots are generally used for those who are already consuming enough vitamin B12 but are not seeing any benefits, whereas supplements can be used by those who have milder deficiencies. Why Are Vitamin B12 Booster Shots the Best Solution? Even if you don’t have issues absorbing vitamin B12, a booster shot is still the fastest way to get the vitamin into your system. And even if you don’t have any form of B12 deficiency, additional B12 may be just what the doctor ordered to improve your mental and physical health. With a vitamin booster shot, you can find yourself feeling better within hours rather than days.
As with most vitamins, it’s nearly impossible to overdose on vitamin B12. Even very large quantities of vitamin B12 usually don’t have any adverse effects. Consequently, it may be worth inquiring about vitamin B12 supplements or shots with your physician if you expect that you have a deficiency. There have been some indications that a boost of vitamin B12 can even be helpful to those who are not deficient but instead simply suffering from fatigue or depression. About Latest Posts Latest posts by HealthStatus (see all) 10 Secrets You Really Shouldn’t Keep From Your OB/GYN When Pregnant 5 Simple Ways To Demolish Your Debt In 2017 Paint Your Plate With Purple Produce For American Heart MonthAppointments at Mayo Clinic Mayo Clinic offers appointments in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota and at Mayo Clinic Health System locations. What's the relationship between vitamin B-12 and depression? Answers from Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D. Vitamin B-12 and other B vitamins play a role in producing brain chemicals that affect mood and other brain functions.
Low levels of B-12 and other B vitamins such as vitamin B-6 and folate may be linked to depression. Low levels of a vitamin can result from eating a poor diet or not being able to absorb the vitamins you consume. Older adults, vegetarians and people with digestive disorders such as celiac disease or Crohn's disease may have trouble getting enough B-12. Sometimes a vitamin B-12 deficiency occurs for unknown reasons. Your doctor may order a blood test to check levels of B-12 or other vitamins if a deficiency is suspected. The best way to make sure you're getting enough B-12 and other vitamins is to eat a healthy diet that includes sources of essential nutrients. Vitamin B-12 is plentiful in animal products such as fish, lean meat, poultry, eggs, and low-fat and fat-free milk. Fortified breakfast cereals also are a good source of B-12 and other B vitamins. Taking a daily supplement that includes vitamin B-12 may help your body get the nutrients it needs, especially if you're older than 50 or you're a vegetarian.
However, B-12 and other vitamin supplements can interact with some medications, especially in high doses. Talk to your doctor before you take a vitamin supplement. Keep in mind, the role of B vitamins in depression isn't clear. If you have a vitamin deficiency, taking a supplement may help. But no supplement can replace proven depression treatments such as antidepressants and psychological counseling. Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D. Dietary supplement fact sheet: Vitamin B12. Office of Dietary Supplements. Lim SY, et al. Nutritional factors affecting mental health. Lang UE, et al. Nutritional aspects of depression. Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry. Accessed Oct. 18, 2016. Mikkelsen K, et al. The effects of vitamin B in depression. Vitamin deficiencies are supposed to be a thing of the past. But a lack of vitamin B12 may be surprisingly common. Most people don’t think twice about this nutrient, also known as cobalamin. Vitamins B, C and D are sexier and get more attention.
But inadequate levels of vitamin B12 can have devastating consequences: “I want to warn your readers about my experience with tetracycline. This antibiotic was prescribed by a dermatologist to keep my skin clear and I took it for years. “Gradually I began having difficulties such as burning, tingling and numbness in my fingers and feet. I lost a lot of hair, which was once my best feature. Even worse, my short-term memory became very poor. I am an attorney and this affected my work. “I was having trouble walking when I noticed a poster in the pharmacy describing the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency. I realized that I had all of them. When I was tested, the doctors were astonished that my B12 levels were so low. “They started vitamin B12 injections twice a week and then gradually changed me to twice a month. My hair has grown back and my nerve problems are much better, though not perfect. The tetracycline was the culprit.” It took a long time for this woman’s problem to be diagnosed.
Her doctors had not considered the possibility that her many symptoms could be due to a drug-induced lack of cobalamin. anemia, nerve damage (burning, tingling, weakness or numbness in hands and feet), difficulty in sensing vibration, unsteadiness and psychological side effects. Depression, confusion and poor memory may be mistaken for early onset of Alzheimer’s disease. This vitamin deficiency often appears very gradually. Patients may describe complaints such as mental fuzziness or poor coordination for months before a proper diagnosis is made. Few people realize that certain medications can interfere with the absorption of this crucial nutrient. Acid in the stomach is essential for this function, so long-term use of strong acid-suppressing medications such as Aciphex (rabeprazole), Nexium (esomeprazole), Prevacid (lansoprazole), Prilosec (omeprazole), or Protonix (pantoprazole) may contribute to a problem for some individuals, especially when taken for a long period of time.
The diabetes medicine Glucophage (metformin) can also lead to problems with vitamin B12. Anyone taking this drug should be monitored very carefully and supplementation may be necessary. Potassium supplements such as Slow-K, Micro-K, Kaon Cl, K-Tab and Klor-Con can also wreak havoc with cobalamin levels. Older people may be especially susceptible to this deficiency. As we age, the stomach can become less acidic. It may also stop making a key chemical called intrinsic factor, which promotes vitamin B12 absorption. Seniors are not the only vulnerable population. Vegetarians, especially teenage girls who are not as nutrition savvy, may also suffer. Dutch researchers recently reported adolescents on a strict vegetarian diet performed poorly on a battery of tests designed to evaluate mental ability and coordination. You may think vitamins are boring, but the consequences of a deficiency are devastating. Sometimes even a well-balanced diet cannot overcome the vitamin-depleting effects of medication.