Vitamin B12 is naturally found in animal foods, including meats, fish, poultry, eggs and dairy. It can also be found in products fortified with B12, such as some varieties of bread and plant-based milk. Vitamin B12 is a nutrient that helps keep the body’s nerves and blood cells healthy and helps make DNA which is the genetic material in all cells. Vitamin B12 helps prevent a type of anaemia called megaloblastic anaemia that makes people tired and weak.
Symptoms that a person may be lacking in vitamin B12 include weakness, tiredness, or lightheadedness, experiencing heart palpitations, having pale skin, and having a smooth tongue.
When there is a short supply of the vitamin, the body won’t make as many red blood cells, they will be abnormally large and won’t last for as long as they should, according to Bupa.
When a person does not have enough red blood cells, their tissues and organs may not get enough oxygen.
This leads to symptoms of anaemia which is a condition that develops when the blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells or haemoglobin.
There is another symptom that the body may be lacking in vitamin B12 and that lies in a person’s smelling abilities.
Having a severe vitamin B12 deficiency damages the nerves throughout the body, which include nerves required for olfaction which is a sense of smell.
As a result, people with severe vitamin B12 may lose or diminish their sense of smell, as well as experience numbness and pins and needles.
Vitamin B12 injections or nasal gels can help relieve a cobalamin deficiency, but might not reverse the nerve damage.
Eating more foods such as beef, liver, chicken, fish, shellfish, salmon, tuna, low-fat milk, yogurt and eggs will help stave off vitamin B12 deficiency.
If you suspect you may be deficient in vitamin B12 it’s important to speak with your GP.
Vitamin B12 deficiency is usually treated with vitamin B12 supplementation.
Bupa said: “This could include a course of injections which are administered once a week for six weeks.
“After this, you may need repeated doses every three months or so.”
The Department of Health advises that a person shouldn’t take too much vitamin B12 supplements as this could be harmful.
Taking 2mg or less a day of vitamin B12 in supplements is unlikely to cause any harm.
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