Vitamin B12 is an essential water-soluble nutrient. Its role is indispensable, as it participates in numerous processes within the human body. Even slightly deficient levels may cause dangerous health issues.
First of all, vitamin B12 plays a fundamental part in the proper functioning of the nervous system. Its deficiency may lead to various neurological conditions, such as peripheral neuropathy. The latter is characterized by abnormal feelings like tingling or numbness and usually affects the hands and the feet. These misleading symptoms may hide other underlying conditions, and that is why a medical examination is needed.
Furthermore, the second crucial ability of vitamin B12 is the one related to the production of red blood cells. The impaired functioning of this mechanism leads to megaloblastic anemia. The corresponding symptoms stemming from it are not specific, which means that a person may mistake them for something else. Finally, the reduced synthesis of DNA can occur due to vitamin B12 deficiency as well. This genetic material is responsible for the proper functioning of all cells in the body.
Despite being essential for life, vitamin B12 cannot be synthesized in the body. Therefore, it has to be obtained from food, and a person following a vegan diet is at higher risk of being deficient in it. Moreover, as people age, their ability to absorb this nutrient decreases. In cases like this, a supplement may become necessary.
It is vital to recognize the signs of vitamin B12 deficiency and to know who is at higher risk of experiencing it. Some of the most common ones are megaloblastic anemia, peripheral neuropathy, as well as impaired mental state. Although the former two conditions are rather dangerous, they are not the only ones. Fatigue, irritability, loss of memory or concentration, and even depression may appear as well. Needless to say, a medical intervention is necessary if any of these symptoms occur.
On the other hand, a person should be careful about taking supplements. While they are needed in cases of deficiency, an excess of some vitamins can be harmful. That is why before taking any supplements, it is advisable to consult a healthcare professional in order to avoid the potentially dangerous interactions of different supplements.