by Dr Pandula Siribaddana

Created on: September 09, 2010

Overview of vitamin B12:

Vitamin B12 is one of the several B vitamins that has been recognized and it performs several vital functions in the body in relation to cell formation, energy production, metabolism, nervous system function…etc. Its absence can give rise to many symptoms although the deficiencies are not so common among the general population. A person is required to take about 2.4 micro grams of vitamin B12 daily and the richest sources of vitamin B12 is known to be beef liver, certain sea foods, mackerel, dairy products, certain types of cheeses…etc. The vitamin B12 can also be synthesized outside from the human body although this would require bacterial involvement as neither the plants nor animals have the capacity to produce vitamin B12 by themselves.

What are the causes of vitamin B12?

One of the major causes of vitamin B12 deficiency has been identified as helicobacter pylori infection in the developed world. Apart from this, malabsorption syndrome, intestinal diseases such as chrones disease, post intestinal or more specifically gastric surgery, gastric bypass surgery…etc can also cause a vitamin B12 deficiency in susceptible individuals. Among the others who can develop vitamin B12 deficiency, people who are alcoholics, with cancers, chronic diseases…etc can also be seen and among these individuals the process of vitamin B12 absorption and metabolism would be deranged.

What are the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency?

When talking about the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, it is possible to categorize them into, neurological, intestinal and anemia related symptoms and manifestations. Thus, excessive fatigue, pallor, breathlessness, numbness and tingling of the hands and feet, weakness of the muscles, sensory impairment, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, poor memory, poor balance and easy bruising can be seen among people suffering from vitamin B12 deficiency.

What are the side effects related to vitamin B12 deficiency?

Use of vitamin B12 does not usually show any side effects of significant nature in most of the occasions and the toxic level of the same is relatively very high. But, in rare instances, the injection can give rise to allergic reactions which needs to be identified early and treated as necessary. Apart from such allergic manifestations, vitamin B12 is also known to cause peripheral vascular thrombosis as well as deteriorate the condition known as the lebers disease in which the underlying problem is the optic nerve atrophy. Furthermore, when vitamin B12 is used to correct megaloblastic anemia, it can give rise to side effects such as gout and hypokalemia unless close monitoring of the blood levels are maintained.

Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_B12

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