Vitamin B12 is a nutrient that's important for the formation of red blood cells and for the proper functioning of nerves. If you are not getting enough vitamin B12 in your diet, the consequences can be quite severe. Since vitamin B12 is mostly found in animal products, those who follow vegetarian and vegan diets are at the highest risk of this condition. Older adults, alcoholics, and those with digestive abnormalities are also at risk since their bodies may not adequately absorb vitamin B12 from their food. If you fall into one of these categories, it is important that you know the signs of a vitamin B12 deficiency and how such a deficiency can be treated.

What are the signs of a vitamin B12 deficiency?

Most patients with a vitamin B12 deficiency become extremely fatigued. They may feel tired and need a rest after walking only a short distance, and may feel the need to return to bed even after getting a full night's sleep. Palpitations, which are abnormal heat beats that can be sensed through the chest, are also common. Some people who are deficient in B12 also experience panting or shortness of breath.

If a vitamin B12 deficiency has been present for a while, you can expect to experience weight loss, diarrhea, and tingling in the fingers or toes. General muscle weakness is also common, along with confusion and forgetfulness. Women with vitamin B12 deficiencies may lose their periods or experience other menstrual irregularities.

What can be done about a vitamin B12 deficiency?

If you suspect you have a vitamin B12 deficiency, your doctor will likely want to run tests to measure the levels of B12 in your blood and to ensure your symptoms are not originating from another issue. Once a vitamin B12 deficiency is confirmed, the first course of treatment will probably be a vitamin B12 infusion.

A vitamin B12 infusion is a procedure in which vitamin B12 is introduced to your body through an IV. This helps quickly raise your vitamin B12 levels so that your symptoms start subsiding promptly and no further damage is done to your body's tissues.

Following your infusion, your doctor will recommend one or more solutions to keep your B12 levels from falling again. Including more animal products in your diet is a great solution, assuming you're willing to take this step. For those who are not willing to modify their diets or have difficulty absorbing vitamin B12 from their food, regular injections of the vitamin are an option. There are oral vitamin B12 supplements, but since most come from animal products or are poorly absorbed, the injections are often the preferred method of deficiency prevention.

For more information, talk to a professional like Idaho Arthritis Center.