Vitamin B12 deficiency: Have you felt this peculiar sensation in your thighs? Sign to spot

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Vitamin B12 is a crucial ingredient for the healthy running of the body, as it’s needed to make red blood cells. Signs of a deficiency can develop very slowly, so it may be difficult to diagnose the condition. Experiencing this peculiar sensation in your thighs possibly moving to your hips could indicate your levels are extremely low.

Certain medical conditions can also affect a person’s absorption of B12 from foods, such as pernicious anaemia.

If vitamin B12 deficiency is diagnosed early, it can be easily treated, and complications can be avoided.

This makes spotting the symptoms of the condition very important.

One symptom experts say to recognise is tingling along the back of one or both thighs.

If you notice a tingling pain on the back of your legs, you should consider speaking to a doctor.

“If you have any unusual undiagnosed symptoms, perhaps you should consider whether you have a vitamin B12 deficiency. Chances are you don’t, but many people do,” said charity Patient Thyroid Advocacy.

“B12 deficiency sometimes goes undiagnosed until the symptoms become moderate to severe.

“Tingling along the back of one or both thighs, starting at the hips and shooting downward.

“This starts out as more an annoyance than pain but can develop into pain if not treated.”

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The legs aren’t the only part of the body where you may experience tingling.

Sharp stabbing, tingling pain can also occur in the palm of one or both of the hands.

TPA explains: “This occurs suddenly and for no apparent reason in a spot directly below the ring finger, approximately where the first palm crease is.

“If B12 deficiency is not treated, a tingling pain may begin to occur along the outside edge of the hand, starting from the wrist. This pain occurs when the wrist is flexed backward.”

Tingling in the body occurs because vitamin B12 deficiency can affect the nerves. This is called vitamin B12 neuropathy.

People who are vitamin B12 deficient may not produce enough myelin to coat their nerves, explained Medical News Today.

The health site continued: “Without this coating, nerves can become damaged.

“Problems are more common in the nerves in the hands and feet, which are called peripheral nerves.

“Peripheral nerve damage may lead to tingling in these parts of the body.”

The best dietary sources of vitamin B12 include animal products, and some fortified breakfast cereals.

All adults need around 1.5mcg of vitamin B12 every single day.

Most people that eat meat products should be able to get enough B12 in their diet.

But those that follow a vegan diet may be at risk of a deficiency, warned the NHS.
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